Craig joined the NFL's San Francisco 49ers as a second-round draft choice in 1983 out of the University of Nebraska and was a vital member of the San Francisco offense during three Super Bowl championship seasons. The 6-foot, 219-pound running back set an NFL record for a running back with 92 pass receptions in 1985, gaining 1,016 yards. He also became the first player in history to gain more than 1,000 yards receiving and more than 1,000 yards rushing in a single season. Craig was named the National Football Conference's offensive player of the year by United Press International in 1988, when he rushed for 1,502 yards and caught 76 passes for 534 yards. He scored 3 touchdowns, 2 on pass receptions, when San Francisco beat the Miami Dolphins 38-16 in Super Bowl XIX after the 1984 season. In two other championship seasons, 1988 and 1989, Craig averaged 133 yards a game in total offense during the playoffs. An All-NFL choice in 1988, he played in four Pro Bowls.