Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Its interesting reading about these three 49er receiver-tight ends, who were first-round draft picks but had more bad luck than overall success in their careers.

Dave Parks was the first overall selection in the 1964 draft for SF and was a big receiver who had great success playing his first three years with the team, winning the receiver triple crown in 1965, catching passes for John Brodie. Injuries and a contract dispute in 1967 allowed him to play out his option before joining the Saints in 1968. Yes, he got hurt in 1967 but why didnt the team try to keep him while continuing to get better as a football team? Did they feel his contract demands were too high? Did they dare him to leave the team, knowing they could utilize the reserve clause in case anyone signed him?

The Saints did indeed sign him and had to give a #1 pick to SF as compensation, which the 49ers used in 1969 by drafting and signing Ted Kwalick, another huge receiver who played tight end. Kwalick, like Parks, was heralded coming out of college but started slowly and finally broke through by his third season where he would begin a string of three consecutive pro bowl seasons, including an All-Pro season in 1972. Like Parks though, Kwalick would also succumb to injury problems before leaving the team for the WFL in 1975.
I wonder if anyone on this site who saw him play could describe his blocking ability as well? Despite leaving the 49ers, Kwalick would help the Raiders win a SB in 1976. I need to look at his stats but would assume he was just as affective with Steve Spurrier throwing to him as John Brodie, who was declining by 1972.

Nearly ten years after Kwalick joined the team, the 49ers signed another heralded big receiver who played tight end in Ken MacAfee as their first round pick, who everyone thought would be a huge success but only played two seasons for the team. I read that Bill Walsh wanted to convert him to guard in which MacAfee refused.
He then retired to build a dentistry practice. Despite his ability as a blocker was he too slow to play tight end, or did the Walsh and the team feel he wasnt dedicated enough during the offseason? Did injuries derail his career as well?

Considering where these receivers were drafted, they can be seen as disappointing, but I consider them all just having bad luck. Considering Parks and Kwalick had three All-Pro seasons and six PBs between them, their careers werent busts despite not keeping their momentum going due to injuries. Parks went to the Saints but became a tight end on a team that wasnt very good, though he had a pretty good rapport with QB Billy Kilmer before helping Archie Manning get used to pro football. Kwalick came close to reaching a SB with SF, but was done as a receiver after 1974. Imagine the 49ers having both Parks and Kwalick from 1970-72?

Had MacAfee reached his receiving potential with SF, maybe the 49ers dont trade for Charle Young in 1980 and he contributes to their 1981 SB win? He has to wonder what could have been possible catching passes from Montana?

The compensation for Parks was the #1 1969 draft choice AND Kevin Hardy, who had been the Saints' #1 DC in 1968. I think this was one of the Rozelle Rule compensations where Rozelle actually determined the compensation if the teams couldn't agree. Hardy was an injured bust so it wound up not mattering that much.

Parks would say in a 1971 interview that he regretted leaving the Niners. The Saints had loggerhead issues in their front office and coach Tom Fears never wanted Parks. Parks never developed good chemistry with Kilmer, and Kilmer was one of the reasons he went to New Orleans. Parks said he hurt a hamstring working out on a blocking sled which is something he didn't have to do with the Niners. Then the Saints moved him to TE, which he didn't want to do either. Parks' numbers improved after Fears was gone and further when Archie Manning came in, but he'd lost 3-4 prime years in a bad situation that honestly was of his own making.

The Niners replaced Parks with Clifton McNeil who had a big year in 1968. Their future TE was Bob Windsor who was later traded to the Patriots and started there for a while.

I think the Niners probably knew something was up with Kwalick as they traded for Tom Mitchell, who'd started with the Colts. That's not a move I really understand otherwise. Meaning that Kwalick had some behind the scenes injury like a bad back. So Mitchell started in 1974 when Kwalick was coming off of a Pro Bowl year, which seems unusual to say the least.

Thanks for the info, Jay Z ... I didnt know that about Parks and the Saints. Why would a team sign him if his HC didnt want him? You still have to wonder why the 49ers couldnt meet his contract demands after 1967? Did they feel he wasnt recovering properly from his injuries? Maybe once Dick Nolan came aboard, they were ready to move on from Parks with John David Crow moving to TE. They got a good year from McNeil like you mentioned, but he had been a receiving non-factor with the Browns. I figured Kilmer went to him with NO but he spread the ball to different people with Abramowicz being his favorite.

Yeah, for 1974, it seemed that Kwalick was done so soon after making the Pro Bowl. Imagine if he and MacAfee stayed healthy for 8-10 years? I remember reading in John Madden's book that MacAfee had a tough game and might have gotten hurt against the Raiders(exhibition?)that affected his rookie season, but would have to read it again.

There were apparently factions in the Saints front office that clashed with each other and with Fears.

I learned some of this when I was researching Dave Rowe for the upcoming Raiders book. Rowe was on the first four Saints teams, 1967-70. I think for that first draft, 1967, Fears and whomever was actually making the draft selections were not even in the same city. There are reasons the Saints were bad for so long.

I always wondered what happened to MacAfee. I remember watching him playing at Notre Dame and I thought he was of the same quality as a college TE/WR as Ozzie Newsome (in fact, MacAfee was drafted 16 spots ahead of Newsome in 1978).

Jay Z wrote: ↑Tue Aug 12, 2025 11:53 am The compensation for Parks was the #1 1969 draft choice AND Kevin Hardy, who had been the Saints' #1 DC in 1968. I think this was one of the Rozelle Rule compensations where Rozelle actually determined the compensation if the teams couldn't agree. Hardy was an injured bust so it wound up not mattering that much.

Parks would say in a 1971 interview that he regretted leaving the Niners. The Saints had loggerhead issues in their front office and coach Tom Fears never wanted Parks. Parks never developed good chemistry with Kilmer, and Kilmer was one of the reasons he went to New Orleans. Parks said he hurt a hamstring working out on a blocking sled which is something he didn't have to do with the Niners. Then the Saints moved him to TE, which he didn't want to do either. Parks' numbers improved after Fears was gone and further when Archie Manning came in, but he'd lost 3-4 prime years in a bad situation that honestly was of his own making.

The Niners replaced Parks with Clifton McNeil who had a big year in 1968. Their future TE was Bob Windsor who was later traded to the Patriots and started there for a while.

I think the Niners probably knew something was up with Kwalick as they traded for Tom Mitchell, who'd started with the Colts. That's not a move I really understand otherwise. Meaning that Kwalick had some behind the scenes injury like a bad back. So Mitchell started in 1974 when Kwalick was coming off of a Pro Bowl year, which seems unusual to say the least.

I recall an NFL Films segment on Dave Parks. Of being selected as the first pick in the 1964 draft, Parks said, "I didn't know what a pick was." Parks played a few years with San Francisco, leading the NFL in receiving in 1965. He played out his option and went to the Saints. Parks was never a prominent player again. Had he stayed with the 49ers, Parks might have helped them into a Super Bowl and made the HOF.

And made more money.