1980 San Francisco 49ers season

Last updated

1980 San Francisco 49ers season
Owner Edward J. DeBartolo Jr.
General manager Bill Walsh
Head coach Bill Walsh
Defensive coordinator Chuck Studley
Home stadium Candlestick Park
Results
Record6–10
Division place3rd NFC West
PlayoffsDid not qualify
Pro Bowlers none

The 1980 San Francisco 49ers season was the franchise's 31st season in the National Football League and their 35th overall. This was the second year with the team for both head coach Bill Walsh and quarterback Joe Montana, who became the starter in week seven, [1] replacing Steve DeBerg. [2]

Contents

The 49ers looked to improve on their previous output of 2–14 (both of the two previous seasons); despite succeeding in improving their record, having posted a 6–10 record, they failed to make the playoffs for the eighth consecutive season. [3]

On December 7, 1980, the 49ers rallied from down 35–7, scoring 31 unanswered points to defeat the winless New Orleans Saints in overtime. [4] [5] [6] This was the last full season (excluding the strike shortened 1982 season) until 1999 that the 49ers finished with fewer than ten wins.

Offseason

Draft

1980 San Francisco 49ers draft
RoundPickPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
1 13 Earl Cooper  Fullback Rice from N. Y. Jets
1 20 Jim Stuckey  Defensive tackle Clemson from Denver
239 Keena Turner * Linebacker Purdue from Minnesota
365 Jim Miller  Punter Ole Miss from Minnesota
377 Craig Puki  Linebacker Tennessee
484 Ricky Churchman  Safety Texas
498David Hodge Linebacker Houston
5112Kenneth Times Defensive Tackle Southern
6139 Herb Williams  SafetySouthern
8210 Bobby Leopold  Linebacker Notre Dame
9237Dan Hartwig Quarterback Cal Lutheran
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Personnel

Staff / Coaches

1980 San Francisco 49ers staff

Front office

Head coaches

  • Head coach – Bill Walsh

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

  • Special teams – Milt Jackson

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and Conditioning – Al Vermeil

Roster

1980 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 (ST)

Reserve


Rookies in italics

Preseason

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendance
1August 9 Oakland Raiders W 33–141–0 Candlestick Park 55,585
2August 16at San Diego Chargers W 17–142–0 San Diego Stadium 48,836
3August 23 Seattle Seahawks L 7–102–1Candlestick Park41,841
4August 30vs. Kansas City Chiefs W 31–213–1 Arizona Stadium 27,000

[7]

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendance
1September 7at New Orleans Saints W 26–231–0 Louisiana Superdome 58,621
2September 14 St. Louis Cardinals W 24–212–0 Candlestick Park 49,999
3September 21at New York Jets W 37–273–0 Shea Stadium 50,608
4September 28 Atlanta Falcons L 17–203–1Candlestick Park56,518
5October 5at Los Angeles Rams L 26–483–2 Anaheim Stadium 62,188
6October 12at Dallas Cowboys L 14–593–3 Texas Stadium 63,399
7October 19Los Angeles RamsL 17–313–4Candlestick Park55,360
8October 26 Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 23–243–5Candlestick Park51,925
9November 2at Detroit Lions L 13–173–6 Pontiac Silverdome 78,845
10November 9at Green Bay Packers L 16–233–7 Milwaukee County Stadium 54,475
11November 16at Miami Dolphins L 13–173–8 Miami Orange Bowl 45,135
12November 23 New York Giants W 12–04–8Candlestick Park38,574
13November 30 New England Patriots W 21–175–8Candlestick Park45,254
14December 7New Orleans SaintsW 38–356–8Candlestick Park37,949
15December 14at Atlanta FalconsL 10–356–9 Atlanta Fulton County Stadium 55,767
16December 21 Buffalo Bills L 13–186–10Candlestick Park37,476
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 14: vs. New Orleans Saints

Week 14: New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Quarter1234OTTotal
Saints142100035
49ers071414338

at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California

Game information

The 49ers fought back from a 28-point deficit in the second half to win in overtime 38–35. The game was named as #8 on NFL Top 10 on Top Ten Comebacks. [8]

Week 16: vs. Buffalo Bills

Team1234Total
Bills675018
49ers607013

[9]

Standings

NFC West
WLTPCTDIVCONFPFPASTK
Atlanta Falcons (1)1240.7505–110–2405272L1
Los Angeles Rams (5)1150.6885–19–3424289W2
San Francisco 49ers 6100.3752–44–8320415L2
New Orleans Saints 1150.0630–60–12291487L1

References

  1. "Rams, 31-17". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). wire service reports. October 20, 1980. p. 4B.
  2. "Cowboys, 59-14". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). wire service reports. October 13, 1980. p. 4B.
  3. 1980 San Francisco 49ers
  4. "49ers come from 28 behind to win". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. December 8, 1980. p. 3B.
  5. NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, ISBN   0-7611-2480-2, p. 260
  6. New Orleans Saints 35 at San Francisco 49ers 38
  7. "1980 San Francisco 49ers (NFL)". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  8. "Top 10 greatest comebacks in NFL history". National Football League . January 7, 2009. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
  9. Pro-Football-Reference.com