1956 San Francisco 49ers season

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Program from the 1956 season finale game against the visiting Baltimore Colts. Fortyniners-Colts-program-561216.jpg
Program from the 1956 season finale game against the visiting Baltimore Colts.
1956 San Francisco 49ers season
Owner Tony Morabito
General manager Louis Spadia
Head coach Frankie Albert
Home field Kezar Stadium
Results
Record5–6–1
Division place3rd NFL Western
Playoff finishDid not qualify

The 1956 San Francisco 49ers season was the team's seventh season in the National Football League (NFL) (eleventh in team history).

Contents

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]

Offseason

NFL draft

1956 San Francisco 49ers draft
RoundPickPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
1 2 Earl Morrall  *  Quarterback Michigan State
215 Bruce Bosley  *  Center West Virginia
326 Bill Herchman   Defensive tackle Texas Tech
440Frank Pajaczkowski  Back Richmond
664 Tony Sardisco   Guard Tulane
775 Larry Barnes   Fullback Colorado State played with 49ers in 1957.
888Charley Smith  Defensive end Abilene Christian
999Jim Cox  End Cal Poly
10112 Jerry Zaleski  BackColorado State
11123Stew Pell  Tackle North Carolina
12136Roger Swedberg Tackle Iowa
13147Ralph Moody Back Kansas
14160 R. C. Owens   Halfback College of Idaho began play with 49ers in 1957.
15171 Reed Henderson  Tackle Utah State signed with Edmonton Eskimos (WIFU)
15172Gene Boyd BackAbilene Christian
16184 George Herring  Quarterback Mississippi Southern
17195Dick Weiss Tackle Ole Miss
18208Bill Yelverton Defensive endOle Miss
19219Pete Arrigoni Back Arizona
20232Bob Scarbrough Center Auburn
21243 L.C. Joyner  Halfback Contra Costa JC
22256Clarence Wessman End San Jose State
23267Mike Monroe Back Washington
24280Ed Wallace Tackle San Diego City College
25291 Paul Goad  FullbackAbilene Christian
26304 Rommie Loudd   Linebacker UCLA signed with BC Lions (WIFU)
27315 Jerry Gustafson  Quarterback Stanford signed with BC Lions (WIFU)
28328Jerry Drew Back California
29339Dean Benson Guard Willamette
30351Bob Mitchell Tackle Puget Sound
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career
Source: [2]

Personnel

Staff / Coaches

1957 San Francisco 49ers staff

Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

  • Chief of Offense / Offensive Coordinator - Red Hickey
Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

  • None - N/A



Roster

1956 San Francisco 49ers roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs


Special teams

Reserve lists
  • Vacant

rookies in italics

Source:

Regular season

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendanceRecap
1September 30 New York Giants L 21–380–1 Kezar Stadium 41,751 Recap
2October 7 Los Angeles Rams W 33–301–1Kezar Stadium56,489 Recap
3October 14 Chicago Bears L 7–311–2 Wrigley Field 47,526 Recap
4October 21 Detroit Lions L 17–201–3 Briggs Stadium 55,662 Recap
5October 28Chicago BearsL 21–381–4Kezar Stadium52,612 Recap
6November 4Detroit LionsL 13–171–5Kezar Stadium46,708 Recap
7November 11Los Angeles RamsL 6–301–6 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 69,828 Recap
8November 18 Green Bay Packers W 17–162–6 City Stadium 17,986 Recap
9November 25 Philadelphia Eagles T 10–102–6–1 Connie Mack Stadium 19,326 Recap
10December 2 Baltimore Colts W 20–173–6–1 Memorial Stadium 37,227 Recap
11December 8Green Bay PackersW 38–204–6–1Kezar Stadium32,433 Recap
12December 16Baltimore ColtsW 30–175–6–1Kezar Stadium43,791 Recap
Note: Intra-conference opponents are in bold text.

Standings

NFL Western Conference
WLTPCTCONFPFPASTK
Chicago Bears 921.8188–2363246W2
Detroit Lions 930.7508–2300188L1
San Francisco 49ers 561.4555–5233284W3
Baltimore Colts 570.4173–7270322W1
Los Angeles Rams 480.3333–7291307W2
Green Bay Packers 480.3333–7264342L2
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
NFL Eastern Conference
WLTPCTCONFPFPASTK
New York Giants 831.7277–3264197W1
Chicago Cardinals 750.5837–3240182W1
Washington Redskins 660.5005–5183225L2
Cleveland Browns 570.4174–6167177L1
Pittsburgh Steelers 570.4174–6217250W1
Philadelphia Eagles 381.2733–7143215L3
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

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References

  1. ↑ Jack Cavanaugh (2008). Giants Among Men, p.46. Random House, ISBN   978-1-4000-6717-6
  2. ↑ "1956 San Francisco 49ers Draftees". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
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