1971 San Francisco 49ers season

Last updated

1971 San Francisco 49ers season
OwnerJosephine Morabito
Jane Morabito
General manager Louis Spadia
Head coach Dick Nolan
Home field Candlestick Park
Results
Record9–5
Division place1st NFC West
Playoff finishWon Divisional Playoffs
(vs. Redskins) 24–20
Lost NFC Championship
(at Cowboys) 3–14
Pro Bowlers C Forrest Blue
TE Ted Kwalick
WR Gene Washington
RB Vic Washington
OLB Dave Wilcox
CB Jimmy Johnson
CB Bruce Taylor

The 1971 San Francisco 49ers season was the franchise's 22nd season in the National Football League (NFL) and their 26th overall. The 49ers appeared in the NFC Championship Game for the second consecutive year. The team moved into a new home, eleven-year-old Candlestick Park, which they shared with the baseball Giants.

Contents

After winning two of their first three games on the road, the 49ers lost their first game at Candlestick Park to the Los Angeles Rams 20–13. The 49ers rebounded and successfully defended their NFC West title by posting a 9–5 record. For a second year in a row, the 49ers’ season ended in disappointment with a 14–3 loss in the NFC Championship Game to the Dallas Cowboys, this time on the road.

Offseason

1971 San Francisco 49ers draft
RoundPickPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
1 23 Tim Anderson   DB Ohio State Signed with Toronto Argonauts (CFL)
237 Ernie Janet   G Washington
249 Joe Orduna   RB Nebraska
355Sam Dickerson  WR USC
375 Willie Parker   C North Texas State
4101Tony Harris DB Toledo
5114Dean Shaternick  T Kansas State
5122 George Wells   LB New Mexico State Signed with Toronto Argonauts (CFL)
5127 Marty Huff  LB Michigan Made roster in 1972
6153Al Bresler WR Auburn
7179 John Watson  G Oklahoma
8205Jim McCann  P Arizona State
9231Therman Couch LB Iowa State
10236 Ron Cardo  RB Wisconsin–Oshkosh
10257 Ernie Jennings  WR Air Force
11283 Joe Reed   QB Mississippi State Made roster in 1972
12309Jim Bunch  DT Wisconsin–Platteville
13335John Bullock RB Purdue
14361 Bill Dunstan  DT Utah State
15387John Lennon T Colgate
16414Dave Pursell DT Kentucky
17438Leroy Charlton DB Florida A&M
      Made roster  
Source: [1]

Personnel

Staff / Coaches

1971 San Francisco 49ers staff

Front office

  • Team Owner(s) - Josephine Morabito & Jane Morabito
  • General manager / Team President – Louis Spadia
  • Personnel Scout - Dick Gallagher

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches



Roster

1971 San Francisco 49ers roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

 Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

 Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams

Practice squad


Rookies in italics

Preseason

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendance
1August 8 Cleveland Browns W 38–241–0 Candlestick Park 40,000
2August 13at Miami Dolphins T 17–171–0–1 Miami Orange Bowl 57,008
3August 22 San Diego Chargers W 28–172–0–1Candlestick Park40,000
4August 28vs. Denver Broncos W 33–173–0–1 Joe Albi Stadium 33,184
5September 4at Oakland Raiders L 28–343–1–1 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 53,696
6September 9at Los Angeles Rams L 20–233–2–1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 55,607

[2]

Regular season

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendance
1September 19at Atlanta Falcons L 17–200–1 Atlanta Stadium 56,990
2September 26at New Orleans Saints W 38–201–1 Tulane Stadium 81,595
3October 3at Philadelphia Eagles W 31–32–1 Veterans Stadium 65,358
4October 10 Los Angeles Rams L 13–202–2 Candlestick Park 44,000
5October 17 Chicago Bears W 13–03–2Candlestick Park44,000
6October 24at St. Louis Cardinals W 26–144–2 Busch Memorial Stadium 50,419
7October 31 New England Patriots W 27–105–2Candlestick Park45,092
8November 7at Minnesota Vikings W 13–96–2 Metropolitan Stadium 49,784
9November 14New Orleans SaintsL 20–266–3Candlestick Park45,138
10November 21at Los Angeles RamsL 6–176–4 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 80,050
11November 28at New York Jets W 24–217–4 Shea Stadium 63,936
12December 6 Kansas City Chiefs L 17–267–5Candlestick Park45,306
13December 12Atlanta FalconsW 24–38–5Candlestick Park44,582
14December 19 Detroit Lions W 31–279–5Candlestick Park45,580
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

NFC West
WLTPCTDIVCONFPFPASTK
San Francisco 49ers 950.6432–47–4300216W2
Los Angeles Rams 851.6154–1–17–3–1313260W1
Atlanta Falcons 761.5383–2–14–6–1274277W1
New Orleans Saints 482.3332–44–7266347L3
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

Postseason

Schedule

RoundDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendance
DivisionalDecember 26 Washington Redskins W 24–201–0 Candlestick Park 45,327
NFC ChampionshipJanuary 2, 1972at Dallas Cowboys L 3–141–1 Texas Stadium 63,409

Game summaries

NFC Championship: vs. Dallas Cowboys

NFC Championship: Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
49ers00303
Cowboys070714

at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

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References

  1. ↑ "1971 San Francisco 49ers Draftees". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  2. ↑ "1971 San Francisco 49ers (NFL)". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved October 31, 2023.


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