The game against the Eagles was a turning point for the 49ers despite the lopsided score. Young was benched in the 3rd quarter and was later seen livid on the sidelines, shouting profanities at head coach George Seifert. The following week in Detroit, the 49ers trailed the Lions 14-0. After throwing a pass, Young was hit, picked up, and driven into the ground by three Lions defenders. After the hit, Young was screaming with his face dark red in color. He crawled most of the way off of the field before refusing help from the trainers as he limped the remaining way off the field. He miraculously returned to the field one play later (NFL rules state that after trainers attend to an injured player, that player must leave the field for at least one play) to lead the 49ers to a 27-21 victory. The team rallied around Young to win 10 straight games, including a 21-14 victory over the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys. During that span the 49ers' average margin of victory was nearly 20 points per game, a sustained dominance not seen since the 1985 Chicago Bears. Despite scoring only 8 points in one game and 14 in another the 49ers set a new record for total regular season and post season combined points scored. That record was later broken by the Minnesota Vikings in 1998 and the New England Patriots in 2007.
Even after those initial rough spots early in the season, the 49ers finished the season 13-3 and with homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. In their first game, they easily defeated the Chicago Bears, 44-15, setting up the third straight 49ers-Cowboys NFC Championship Game. The 49ers took advantage of three early Cowboys turnovers, taking a 21-0 lead in the first quarter. Taking a 31-14 lead into halftime after a perfect 29 yard pass from Young to Rice in the closing seconds, the game appeared to be far out of reach for the Cowboys. A 49er fumble on the opening kick of the 3rd quarter led to a Cowboy score, cutting the lead to 31-21. Later, the 49ers responded with a Steve Young touchdown run, making it 38-21, before the Cowboys scored another touchdown in the final minutes for a final score of 38-28. The convincing win qualified the 49ers for their fifth Super Bowl appearance, and the first to be played by two teams from California. The 49ers steamrolled the San Diego Chargers 49-26,and at the time becoming the first team to win a record five Super Bowls.They are the only multiple Super Bowl winner that has never lost and are 5-0. With a record 6 touchdown passes, Steve Young was named the game's MVP. Their run of 5 Super Bowl wins in 14 seasons (1981–1994) solidified them as one of the all time greatest NFL teams.
1995–98: Seifert steps down, Mariucci steps in
The 49ers made the playoffs in 1995 and again in 1996, being eliminated by the Green Bay Packers both times. On January 17, 1997, George Seifert retired as 49ers head coach; on the same day, the 49ers hired Cal head coach Steve Mariucci as his replacement. At the time, Mariucci only had one year of head coaching experience at any level. The first game of the 1997 season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was a disaster, as both quarterback Steve Young and receiver Jerry Rice went down with injuries. Rice appeared to be out for the season with a serious knee injury, while Steve Young left the game with one of the many concussions he suffered throughout his career. However, Steve Young returned just two weeks later and, along with the league's number one defense, lead the 49ers to a strong finish with a final record of 13-3. Even Jerry Rice returned for one and a half quarters late in the season, before getting another injury to his knee (unrelated to the first one). In the NFC Championship game, the 49ers would again meet the Green Bay Packers at Candlestick Park and would lose 23-10.
In 1998 Jerry Rice finally returned from his knee injury and helped the 49ers to a 12-4 record and their 16th straight winning season (all with 10 wins or more). Once again, the 49ers faced the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs. Things looked bleak when the 49ers trailed 27-23 in the waning seconds. However, in one last moment of glory, Young hit Terrell Owens on a dramatic, game-winning 25-yard touchdown pass, dubbed by many as "The Catch II". That put the Niners ahead 30-27 with just three seconds left on the game clock, sealing the win. After beating the Packers, San Francisco would go on to lose 20-18 to the eventual NFC champion Atlanta Falcons a week later, in a game that was marked by pro bowl running back Garrison Hearst suffering a gruesome broken ankle on the first play from scrimmage.
1999–2003:The end of a dynasty/Jeff Garcia years
In the late 1990s, Eddie DeBartolo, Jr. was involved in a corruption investigation regarding Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards and one of his Mississippi riverboat casinos. DeBartolo later pled guilty to a failure to report a felony charge in 1998. He was suspended from active control of the 49ers for one year. His sister, Denise DeBartolo York, and her husband, Dr. John York, took over operations of the team.
Eddie DeBartolo returned from his suspension in 1999, but a series of lawsuits over control of the family's vast holdings led him to surrender controlling interest to the Yorks as part of a 2000 settlement. Denise York is now chairwoman of the board, while John York is CEO.
On the field, the 1999 version of the 49ers got off to a 3-1 start, then in a nationally televised Monday Night Football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Steve Young suffered a blindside hit from cornerback Aeneas Williams that would eventually convince him to retire. At the time it was believed the severe hit ended his career but Young later said in interviews he could have come back to play another season or two. After meeting with then GM Bill Walsh and being told about how the salary cap troubles would make the team non-competitive, Young chose to retire rather than risk his long-term health further for a likely losing club. Without their future Hall of Famer, the 49ers lost 11 of their last 12 games, and suffered their first losing season since 1982. Bobb McKittrick, 49ers offensive line coach since 1979, also died of cancer following the 1999 season.
In 2002, they produced the second-greatest comeback in playoff history when Jeff Garcia led the team back from a 24-point deficit to win 39-38 against the New York Giants. They lost their subsequent game to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This would be, to date, the last postseason appearance for the 49ers. Following the season, head coach Steve Mariucci -- whose published statements about his degree of power in the organization had frayed already-strained relations with management—was fired by John York, despite a winning record. York has since said he made the correct decision to fire Mariucci, but could have handled it better; for instance, he admitted he should have made the announcement himself rather than hand that responsibility to general manager Terry Donahue. The replacement, former Seattle Seahawks and Oregon State University head coach Dennis Erickson was signed to a five-year contract. The hiring of Erickson was highly criticized by the fans and the media. During the coaching search, three defensive coordinators emerged as candidates for the job, but the offensive-minded Erickson was chosen despite the fact that Erickson's offensive philosophy was very different from the West Coast Offense.
Although they finished the 2003 season with a losing record of 7–9, Erickson was retained as coach for the 2004 season. The 2003 season also marked the end for volatile wide receiver Terrell Owens with the San Francisco 49ers. Owens scored 85 touchdowns in 8 seasons for the 49ers, including 4 in the playoffs. But his on and off-field antics lead to the 49ers trading him to the Philadelphia Eagles during the offseason.
2004–2010: Difficult years
49ers running back Frank Gore in action against the St. Louis Rams in 2007
On September 26, 2004, the Niners were shut out 34–0 by the Seattle Seahawks, their first shut-out loss in 420 regular season and 36 playoff games, a league record. The last shutout had been 27 years prior in 1977—they were defeated 7-0 by Atlanta at Candlestick Park. The 49ers had several chances to score in the fourth quarter, but an interception and a fumble recovery sealed their fate in this game.
The 49ers finished that season with a record of 2–14, and thus finished last in the NFC West division for the first time since 1979, ending what had been the NFL's longest active streak for not finishing last in a division. It was also the worst record that season among the 32 NFL teams, securing them the right to the first pick in the NFL Draft. Erickson and the man who hired him, General Manager Terry Donahue, were fired.
After an extensive coaching search, the 49ers announced the hiring of Mike Nolan—defensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens—as their head coach for the 2005 season. He is the son of Dick Nolan, who led the team to three consecutive playoff appearances from 1970 to 1972. Among many NFL franchises, the general manager makes strategic, player and coaching personnel decisions; the 49ers hired a head coach without hiring a GM, indicating that Nolan will likely possess substantial control in all of these areas. In his inaugural draft as head coach, Mike Nolan selected with the first pick of the draft, quarterback Alex Smith of the University of Utah. It was a pick predicted by most, though many predicted the 49ers might select local product Aaron Rodgers of the University of California. Nolan had a strong personality, and he thought Smith to be cerebral, introspective, and non-confrontational. Nolan also evaluated Rodgers but did not believe that Rodgers' attitude could co-exist with him.
Tragedy struck the Niners on August 20, 2005, when OL Thomas Herrion died immediately following a preseason loss to the Denver Broncos at Invesco Field. Coach Mike Nolan had just finished addressing the players in the locker room when Herrion collapsed. He was taken to a local Denver hospital, where he died several hours later. An autopsy revealed that Herrion died of a heart disease, which had not been previously diagnosed.
In 2005, the 49ers finished 4th in the NFC West for the second consecutive year, but were able to double their win total from 2004, ending the season with a 4–12 record. They ended the season on a high note with two consecutive wins; their first two game winning streak since 2003. Also, they swept their division arch-rival, the St. Louis Rams for the first time since 1998.
The 49ers finished the 2006 regular season with a 7–9 record and 3rd in the NFC West, their fourth consecutive losing season. The team displayed vast improvement, however. The most impressive victory of the season came in the last week vs. the Denver Broncos. The 49ers managed to come back from a 13–0 deficit and knock Denver out of the playoffs in an OT win (26–23). They also defeated division rival, and defending NFC Champion, Seattle Seahawks in both meetings on the season.
At the beginning of the 2006 season, the team made perhaps their most important decision, awarding the top running back spot to second year veteran Frank Gore from Miami. Gore ran for a franchise record of 1,695 rushing yards, which led the NFC, along with 8 TDs. He was awarded his first Pro Bowl appearance as a starter.
Before the beginning of the 2007 season, former coach and Hall of Fame coach Bill Walsh died of complications from leukemia. In the off-season, cornerback Nate Clements was signed as a free agent from the Buffalo Bills. Clement's contract was worth $80 million for 8 years, the largest contract given to a defensive player in NFL history at the time. In the NFL Draft that year, the 49ers made another key addition to their defense, selecting middle linebacker Patrick Willis with the 11th overall pick. Willis was named the 2007 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
The 49ers started that season 2–0, winning their first two games against the Arizona Cardinals and the St. Louis Rams. This marked the first time the 49ers started 2–0 since 1998. In the fourth game of the season, against the Seattle Seahawks, QB Alex Smith suffered a separated shoulder on the third play of the game, an injury that would severely hamper his play and ultimately lead to an early end to his 2008 campaign after having shoulder surgery. Chiefly due to QB Trent Dilfer's struggles and Alex Smith's injury, the 49ers lost 8 straight consecutive games from week 3 through week 12, ending the year with a disappointing 5–11 record.
Questions were raised about the future of Alex Smith, whose first three seasons had been plagued by inconsistent play, injuries, and not having had an offensive coordinator remain on the team for consecutive years. Head coach Mike Nolan and new Offensive Coordinator Mike Martz stated that a competition between Smith, Shaun Hill, and NFL journyman J. T. O'Sullivan would run through the first two preseason games of 2008, with the hope of naming a starter soon after. O'Sullivan was named the 49ers starter because of his familiarity with the Martz offense and after performing better than Smith or Hill in the first three preseason games. On the night of October 20, 2008, after struggling through the beginning of the season, Mike Nolan was fired. Assistant head coach Mike Singletary, a Hall of Fame linebacker with the Chicago Bears, was named as the interim head coach. Singletary proved to be a fan favorite when after his first game as head coach he delivered a memorable post game interview. Singletary said of their loss: "... right now, we've got to figure out the formula. Our formula. Our formula is this: We go out, we hit people in the mouth.". The team had won five of its final seven games and went 5–4 overall under Singletary after Nolan's dismissal,They ended the season with a 7-9 record After the last game of the season, Singletary was announced as head coach by Jed York, who had been appointed as team president just days before. Jed York is the oldest son of John York and Denise DeBartolo York (and nephew of former team owner Edward DeBartolo Jr.).
On April 25, 2009, the 49ers selected Texas Tech WR Michael Crabtree with the 10th pick in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft. A Player many people thought would go in the top 5. The 2009 training camp was the first time since 2005 that the 49ers failed to have all drafted rookies signed and in training camp on time. Michael Crabtree, reached a contract agreement with the team on October 7, 2009, after having missed the first four games of the regular season. After an up and down season, featuring many close games, the 49ers posted an 8-8 record, the team's first non-losing season since 2002. Despite missing the playoffs for the seventh straight season, several key players continued to show signs of improvement. Alex Smith regained his role as the 49ers' starting quarterback (after Shaun Hill had won the starting job in training camp), passing for more than 2,000 yards with 18 touchdowns, while Frank Gore collected his fourth consecutive season with 1,000 or more rushing yards, a 49ers record. Safety Dashon Goldson showed signs of potential in his first year as full-time starter, as he tallied 94 tackles, 4 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles, and 2 sacks. Vernon Davis, in particular, had a breakthrough year at tight end, earning Pro Bowl honors with 965 yards and 13 touchdowns (tying the NFL record for his position). 2010 saw five Pro-Bowl Players for the 49ers. Patrick Willis, Vernon Davis, Frank Gore, Justin Smith, and Andy Lee.
Before the 2010 Season, the 49ers became the heavy favorites to win the NFC West. This was because Cardinals QB and future hall of famer Kurt Warner retired early in the offseason. Also, the 49ers had promising young talent and a solid draft: Rutgers offensive tackle Anthony Davis, 11th overall, and Idaho offensive guard Mike Iupati, 17th overall, in the first round. However, the 49ers' 2010 season was a surprising disaster. They started the season with an 0-5 record, their worst start since 1979. By week 3, the 49ers fired offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye, who was hand picked by Singletary in the 2009 offseason, and starting safety Michael Lewis had demanded to be released after he was demoted in favor of rookie safety Taylor Mays. By mid-season, Singletary would constantly switch QBs between Alex Smith and Troy Smith, who was picked up in free agency after the preseason. The 49ers gained their first win of the 2010 season when they won at home against the Oakland Raiders in week 6. On Week 11, the 49ers were shut out 21-0 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, their first shut out at home since 1977. On December 27, 2010, the San Francisco 49ers fired Mike Singletary as head coach, and Defensive Lines coach Jim Tomsula stepped in to be interim Head Coach for the last game of the season,where they blew out the Cardinals 38-7 and finished a disappointing 6-10.
2011 San Francisco 49ers season
On January 4, 2011 Jed York promoted Interim General Manager Trent Baalke to be the General Manager,Baalke took over the General Manager role after former GM Scot McCloughan was relieved of his duties the year before. 2 days later, former head coach of Stanford University Jim Harbaugh was hired to become the new head coach.
In the 2011 NFL Draft, the 49ers selected defensive end/linebacker Aldon Smith from the University of Missouri with the seventh pick of the first round. In the second round they traded up nine spots to select Nevada Wolf Pack quarterback Colin Kaepernick, giving three picks to the Denver Broncos in exchange for the 36th overall pick. Later selections included defensive back Chris Culliver in the third round, running back Kendall Hunter in the fourth round, offensive lineman Daniel Kilgore in round five, wide receiver Ronald Johnson and safety Colin Jones in round six, and fullback Bruce Miller, offensive lineman Michael Person, and cornerback Curtis Holcomb in the seventh round. The 49ers did not draft any players from Stanford, despite the recent hiring of Harbaugh.
In the first game of the 2011 regular season, the 49ers defeated the Seattle Seahawks 33-17 at Candlestick. Ted Ginn Jr. was the star of the game as he returned two kicks, a kickoff and a punt, for touchdowns late in the 4th quarter. The win marked Harbaugh's first career win as a head coach in the NFL. In week two, the Dallas Cowboys came to town. The 49ers built a 14-0 lead in the first half but ended up losing the game 27-24 in overtime. The 49ers traveled to Cincinatti the next week to play the Bengals. The 49ers won that game 13-8. In week four, the 49ers visited Philadelphia to take on the Eagles. At halftime, Philadelphia was winning 20-3. In the 3rd quarter the Eagles added a field goal to extend their lead to 23-3. With a 20-point deficit, the 49ers retaliated with touchdowns scored by Joshua Morgan and Vernon Davis bringing the Niners within 6 points. Late in the 4th quarter, Frank Gore ran for a 12-yard touchdown with three minutes remaining, giving the Niners their first lead of the game. On the Eagles next possession, they drove into 49ers territory and field goal range. However, Eagles receiver Jeremy Maclin took a bubble screen pass from quarterback Michael Vick up the field and was stripped recovered by the 49ers' Justin Smith and Dashon Goldson respectively, sealing their victory. The 49ers' 20-point comeback was their biggest since 1996. The next game was at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They defeated them 48-3, one of the biggest leads they've had. They then traveled to Detroit to take the once undefeated Detroit Lions. They gave Detroit their first loss, 25-19.
Proposed new 49ers stadium
On November 8, 2006, reports surfaced that the 49ers ended negotiations with the city of San Francisco about building a new stadium and plan to move to Santa Clara, 30 miles south of San Francisco; Santa Clara already hosts the team's administrative headquarters and training facility. The Yorks and then-San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom had been talking over the last few months about building a privately financed stadium at Candlestick Point that was going to be part of the city's bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics. The 49ers' decision ended the Olympic bid. San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Chicago were the three cities competing to be the U.S. Olympic Committee's choice to bid on the 2016 games, with Chicago emerging as the eventual victor.
The team's current lease at Candlestick Park could extend through 2013.
The 49ers sponsored Measure J, which appeared on the June 8, 2010 Santa Clara, California ballot, to build a new stadium as home for 49ers in that city. The measure passed with 58.2% of the total vote. This is seen as the first step for the 49ers relocation to a new venue to be built in Santa Clara.
On the 49ers website, owner and business man John York had a letter stating that after a move to Santa Clara, the team would retain its name "San Francisco". York, who is a businessman/owner will use the S.F Brand in order to help keep the team marketable. In the history of the NFL, Teams who have relocated have embraced the city/community support for its stadium and name change. Diane Feinstein and other leaders will attempt to keep the name "San Francisco ".
York later confirmed in a press conference on November 9 that the team would move to Santa Clara with plans to build a state of the art stadium without a shopping mall in time for the 2015 season.
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