In 1991 the 49ers tried to change their logo. Someone said, Imagine being the guy who designed it. He was probably so proud and honored they were gonna use it, just to have the entire fanbase shit on it so hard that they changed their minds in 24 hours. Ouch. Thirty-five years ago, the 49ers unveiled a new logo and helmet design, replacing the iconic “SF” with blocky and outlined text that read “49ers.” Consultants from NFL Properties, the league’s former marketing arm, recommended the switch, saying it would make the franchise more appealing to the entire Bay Area. At the time, 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. went along with the idea. The 49ers hadn’t even conducted focus-group testing beforehand. After photos from the news conference hit the newspapers the next day, angry calls bombarded 49ers HQ in Santa Clara. Fan uproar forced the team to reverse course. Six days after the news conference, DeBartolo announced that the 49ers would be reverting to their classic uniforms. One of the two failed helmet prototypes is now in the 49ers Museum at Levi’s Stadium. 📸: Deanne Fitzmaurice