1956 San Francisco 49ers season | |
---|---|
Owner | Tony Morabito |
General manager | Louis Spadia |
Head coach | Frankie Albert |
Home field | Kezar Stadium |
Results | |
Record | 5–6–1 |
Division place | 3rd NFL Western |
Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
The 1956 San Francisco 49ers season was the team's seventh season in the National Football League (NFL) (eleventh in team history).
San Francisco brought in a new head coach for the second straight season, replacing Red Strader with former 49ers quarterback Frankie Albert, who played with the team from their AAFC days in 1946 until 1952.
The Niners got off to a rough start, winning only 1 of their first 7 games to sit in last place in the Western Conference. San Francisco went unbeaten in their final 5 games, and finished the year with a 5–6–1 record, and in 3rd place in the Conference.
Offensively, Y. A. Tittle threw for a team-high 1,641 yards and 7 touchdowns, and had 56.9% of his passes completed. Hugh McElhenny rushed for a team-best 916 yards and 8 touchdowns, while Billy Wilson caught a club-high 60 receptions for 889 yards, along with 5 touchdowns. Bob St. Clair blocked 10 field goal attempts. [1]
1956 San Francisco 49ers draft | |||||
Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | Earl Morrall * | Quarterback | Michigan State | |
2 | 15 | Bruce Bosley * | Center | West Virginia | |
3 | 26 | Bill Herchman | Defensive tackle | Texas Tech | |
4 | 40 | Frank Pajaczkowski | Back | Richmond | |
6 | 64 | Tony Sardisco | Guard | Tulane | |
7 | 75 | Larry Barnes | Fullback | Colorado State | played with 49ers in 1957. |
8 | 88 | Charley Smith | Defensive end | Abilene Christian | |
9 | 99 | Jim Cox | End | Cal Poly | |
10 | 112 | Jerry Zaleski | Back | Colorado State | |
11 | 123 | Stew Pell | Tackle | North Carolina | |
12 | 136 | Roger Swedberg | Tackle | Iowa | |
13 | 147 | Ralph Moody | Back | Kansas | |
14 | 160 | R. C. Owens | Halfback | College of Idaho | began play with 49ers in 1957. |
15 | 171 | Reed Henderson | Tackle | Utah State | signed with Edmonton Eskimos (WIFU) |
15 | 172 | Gene Boyd | Back | Abilene Christian | |
16 | 184 | George Herring | Quarterback | Mississippi Southern | |
17 | 195 | Dick Weiss | Tackle | Ole Miss | |
18 | 208 | Bill Yelverton | Defensive end | Ole Miss | |
19 | 219 | Pete Arrigoni | Back | Arizona | |
20 | 232 | Bob Scarbrough | Center | Auburn | |
21 | 243 | L.C. Joyner | Halfback | Contra Costa JC | |
22 | 256 | Clarence Wessman | End | San Jose State | |
23 | 267 | Mike Monroe | Back | Washington | |
24 | 280 | Ed Wallace | Tackle | San Diego City College | |
25 | 291 | Paul Goad | Fullback | Abilene Christian | |
26 | 304 | Rommie Loudd | Linebacker | UCLA | signed with BC Lions (WIFU) |
27 | 315 | Jerry Gustafson | Quarterback | Stanford | signed with BC Lions (WIFU) |
28 | 328 | Jerry Drew | Back | California | |
29 | 339 | Dean Benson | Guard | Willamette | |
30 | 351 | Bob Mitchell | Tackle | Puget Sound | |
Made roster * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career |
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | September 30 | New York Giants | L 21–38 | 0–1 | Kezar Stadium | 41,751 | Recap |
2 | October 7 | Los Angeles Rams | W 33–30 | 1–1 | Kezar Stadium | 56,489 | Recap |
3 | October 14 | Chicago Bears | L 7–31 | 1–2 | Wrigley Field | 47,526 | Recap |
4 | October 21 | Detroit Lions | L 17–20 | 1–3 | Briggs Stadium | 55,662 | Recap |
5 | October 28 | Chicago Bears | L 21–38 | 1–4 | Kezar Stadium | 52,612 | Recap |
6 | November 4 | Detroit Lions | L 13–17 | 1–5 | Kezar Stadium | 46,708 | Recap |
7 | November 11 | Los Angeles Rams | L 6–30 | 1–6 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 69,828 | Recap |
8 | November 18 | Green Bay Packers | W 17–16 | 2–6 | City Stadium | 17,986 | Recap |
9 | November 25 | Philadelphia Eagles | T 10–10 | 2–6–1 | Connie Mack Stadium | 19,326 | Recap |
10 | December 2 | Baltimore Colts | W 20–17 | 3–6–1 | Memorial Stadium | 37,227 | Recap |
11 | December 8 | Green Bay Packers | W 38–20 | 4–6–1 | Kezar Stadium | 32,433 | Recap |
12 | December 16 | Baltimore Colts | W 30–17 | 5–6–1 | Kezar Stadium | 43,791 | Recap |
Note: Intra-conference opponents are in bold text. |
NFL Western Conference | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | PCT | CONF | PF | PA | STK | ||
Chicago Bears | 9 | 2 | 1 | .818 | 8–2 | 363 | 246 | W2 | |
Detroit Lions | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | 8–2 | 300 | 188 | L1 | |
San Francisco 49ers | 5 | 6 | 1 | .455 | 5–5 | 233 | 284 | W3 | |
Baltimore Colts | 5 | 7 | 0 | .417 | 3–7 | 270 | 322 | W1 | |
Los Angeles Rams | 4 | 8 | 0 | .333 | 3–7 | 291 | 307 | W2 | |
Green Bay Packers | 4 | 8 | 0 | .333 | 3–7 | 264 | 342 | L2 |
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
Joseph Clifford Montana Jr. is an American former football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 16 seasons, primarily with the San Francisco 49ers. Nicknamed "Joe Cool" and "the Comeback Kid", Montana is widely regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. After winning a national championship at Notre Dame, Montana began his NFL career in 1979 at San Francisco, where he played for the next 14 seasons. With the 49ers, Montana started and won four Super Bowls and was the first player to be named the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player (MVP) three times. He also holds Super Bowl career records for most passes without an interception and the all-time highest passer rating of 127.8. In 1993, Montana was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs, where he played for his last two seasons and led the franchise to its first AFC Championship Game. Montana was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000.
Jerry Lee Rice is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for 20 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He won three Super Bowl titles with the San Francisco 49ers before two shorter stints at the end of his career with the Oakland Raiders and Seattle Seahawks. Nicknamed "World" because of his superb catching ability, his accomplishments and numerous records, Rice is widely regarded as the greatest wide receiver of all time and one of the greatest players in NFL history. His biography on the official Pro Football Hall of Fame website names him "the most prolific wide receiver in NFL history with staggering career totals". In 1999, The Sporting News listed Rice second behind Jim Brown on its list of "Football's 100 Greatest Players". In 2010, he was chosen by NFL Network's NFL Films production The Top 100: NFL's Greatest Players as the greatest player in NFL history.
John Gregory Taylor is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver and kick returner with the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He attended Pennsauken High School and was one of six NFL players to come from PHS during the 1980s. Taylor attended Delaware State College and was a member of their football team, the Hornets. He was a member of the 49ers teams that won Super Bowls XXIII, XXIV, and XXIX.
Franklin Gore Sr. is an American former football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 16 seasons. A member of the San Francisco 49ers during most of his career, he ranks third in NFL career rushing yards. His career was also noted for its longevity, rare for his position, and he holds the league record for games played by a running back.
Norman Bailey Snead was an American professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, and San Francisco 49ers. He played college football for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and was selected in the first round of the 1961 NFL Draft with the second overall pick.
Frank Cullen "Frankie" Albert was an American gridiron football player and coach. He played as a quarterback and punter with the San Francisco 49ers in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and later in National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Stanford Indians, where he led the 1940 football team to an undefeated season and the 1941 Rose Bowl.
J.D. Smith Jr. was an American football running back in the National Football League for the Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at North Carolina A&T State University.
Billy Wilson was an American football wide receiver who played for the San Francisco 49ers from 1951 to 1960. He was named to the Pro Bowl six times.
The 1952 San Francisco 49ers season was the franchise's 3rd season in the National Football League and their 7th overall. They were coming off a 7–4–1 record in 1951.
The 1954 San Francisco 49ers season was the franchise's 5th season in the National Football League and their 9th overall. The team was coming off a 9–3 record in 1953, finishing one game behind the Detroit Lions for a spot in the championship game.
The 1955 San Francisco 49ers season was the franchise's 6th season in the National Football League and their 10th overall.
The 1957 San Francisco 49ers season was the team's eighth season in the NFL. Coming off a 5–6–1 record in 1956, the 49ers tied for the best record in the Western Conference at 8–4.
The 1994 season was the San Francisco 49ers' 45th in the National Football League (NFL), their 49th overall, and their sixth under head coach George Seifert. This season was highlighted by a victory in Super Bowl XXIX. The championship made San Francisco the first team to win five Super Bowls. After losing to the Dallas Cowboys in the previous two conference championship games, the 49ers made significant acquisitions in the 1994 free agent market. This included the signing of two-sport star Deion Sanders and Cowboys linebacker Ken Norton, Jr. Sanders had a major impact on the team's success, winning the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award and recording six interceptions. The 49ers won their division, the NFC West, for the eighth time in nine seasons.
The 1965 San Francisco 49ers season was the franchise's 16th season in the National Football League, their 20th overall, and their third under head coach Jack Christiansen. They improved on their 4–10 record from 1964, and finished 7–6–1. However, they failed to qualify for the playoffs for the eighth consecutive season.Christiansen experienced his highest winning percentage in 1965, with a W–L% of .538.
Carlos Dawon Hyde is a former American football running back. He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft.
James Richard Garoppolo, nicknamed "Jimmy G", is an American football quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Eastern Illinois Panthers, setting multiple school records for career passing yards and passing touchdowns and winning the Walter Payton Award as a senior. Garoppolo was selected in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft by the New England Patriots, where he spent his first four seasons as Tom Brady's backup and was a member of two Super Bowl-winning teams.
Kendrick L. Bourne is an American football wide receiver for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Eastern Washington. He also played for the San Francisco 49ers.
Richard Rhondel James Jr. is an American football wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Middle Tennessee and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He has also played for the New York Giants. With the Chiefs, he won Super Bowl LVIII over the 49ers.
Brandon Aiyuk is an American football wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Sierra College and Arizona State and was selected by the 49ers in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft.
Elijah I. Mitchell is an American football running back for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Louisiana.