49ers’ all-2000s team: Hard-nosed defenders drove NFC title teams

This is the first in a series on the major Bay Area pro teams’ top performers of the last 25 years. The all-2000s Giants, Sharks and Warriors will be unveiled over the next week.

SANTA CLARA – Steve Mariucci displayed a clock at 49ers headquarters reading “NOW … NOW … NOW” instead of the usual intervals of “1 … 2 … 3 … etc.” This emphasized the urgency required in the NFL.

He was the 49ers’ coach when I came aboard as a beat writer in 2000. Back then, we had greater media access ...