This Day in The Bay: 49ers Use Shotgun Formation to Defeat Lions

by San Francisco 49ers Staff & Briana McDonald

October 1, 1961

On this day, the 49ers used coach Red Hickey's shotgun formation to defeat the Detroit Lions 49-0.

Hickey unveiled the formation in 1960, then added a new twist in 1961 by rotating three quarterbacks: John Brodie, Bob Waters and Billy Kilmer. The shotgun seemed tailor-made for Kilmer. During a three-game stretch in 1961 t