San Francisco 49ers Tickets For Sale
| San Francisco 49ers: History of the Football Franchise Early History and Roots The San Francisco 49ers were the first professional sports organization in San Francisco and among the first on the West Coast. The name, "49ers," is derived from gold seekers who came to San Francisco in 1849. The 49ers began playing professional football in the All-America Football Conference in 1946. The 49ers frequently finished second in the league behind the Cleveland Browns, but the league was short-lived and dissolved in 1949. The 49ers, along with the Browns and Baltimore Colts, were granted admission into the National Football League in 1950. Tough Times (1950-69) The franchise clearly had its best season of this period in 1957, finishing 8-4 and tying the Lions for the Western Division title. The 49ers defeated the Lions in the regular season after a dramatic game-winning play known as the "Alley-oop," which featured receiver R.C. Owens making an incredible leaping catch in the end zone. The Lions and 49ers met again in the divisional playoffs, but this time, the Lions had a dramatic finish and defeated the 49ers 31-27. After the 1957 season, the franchise struggled, missing the playoffs each year from 1958-69. One of the only positives during this period came in 1961, when the 49ers became the first team ever to use the shotgun formation often used in football today. Rise and Fall (1970s) The 49ers began this decade strong, clinching three consecutive NFC West titles from 1970-72. After a 13 year hiatus, the 49ers finally returned to the playoffs in 1970, finishing the season with a 17-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Championship. The 49ers lost to the Cowboys in the playoffs two more consecutive seasons and missed the playoffs from 1973-79. Super Bowl Champions (1980s and 90s) After missing the playoffs in 1980, the 49ers went on to dominate the decade, winning four Super Bowl championships in 1981, 1984, 1988 and 1989. The 1981 Super Bowl season featured coach Bill Walsh leading the 49ers to a franchise best 13-3 record, and also included arguably the most classic play in NFL history, known today as "The Catch." The 49ers also defeated the Cowboys for the first time in the playoffs after losing to their rivals three consecutive years during the '70s. The franchise broke an NFL record in 1984 with its 18-1 record, which included another Super Bowl win. In 1988, the 49ers struggled early in the season, but finished 10-6 and won their third Super Bowl. The 1989 team was considered one of the most dominant in history. The 49ers finished 14-2 and set an NFL record for widest margin of victory after defeating the Denver Broncos 55-10 in the Super Bowl. The 49ers would clinch a fifth Super Bowl in 1994, dominating the San Diego Chargers. End of Dominance (2000-current) After winning an NFL record five Super Bowls in 14 seasons from 1981-94, the 49ers have struggled in recent years. Since 2000, the 49ers have had two seasons in which they finished above .500, and have missed the playoffs eight consecutive seasons. Retired Numbers The franchise has retired 12 numbers in franchise history. Among the most memorable are quarterback Joe Montana's number 16, quarterback Steve Young's number 8, wide receiver Jerry Rice's number 80 and defensive back Ronnie Lott's number 42. |