2001 San Francisco 49ers season

Last updated

2001 San Francisco 49ers season
Owner Denise DeBartolo York and John York
General manager Terry Donahue
Head coach Steve Mariucci
Offensive coordinator Greg Knapp
Defensive coordinator Jim L. Mora
Home stadium 3Com Park
Results
Record12–4
Division place2nd NFC West
PlayoffsLost Wild Card Playoffs
(at Packers) 15–25
All-Pros Terrell Owens (1st team)
Ray Brown (2nd team)
Bryant Young (2nd team)
Pro Bowlers C Jeremy Newberry
G Ray Brown
QB Jeff Garcia
WR Terrell Owens
RB Garrison Hearst
DT Bryant Young

The 2001 San Francisco 49ers season was the franchise's 56th season and 52nd in the National Football League (NFL). The 49ers rebounded from two losing seasons in 1999 and 2000, achieving their first winning season under quarterback Jeff Garcia and returning to the playoffs for the first time since 1998 behind a strong 12–4 record. However, the 49ers failed to progress further, falling 25–15 to the Green Bay Packers in the wild-card round. This was the fourth time out of five games that they had lost to the Packers in the playoffs since the 1995 season. However, they have won all five meetings since then. For the first time since 1984, Jerry Rice was not on the opening day roster.

Contents

The 49ers' twelve regular-season wins were the most ever for a #5 seed under the 1990 playoff expansion format. Their three overtime wins tied the NFL record at the time, which has since been surpassed by the 2011 Arizona Cardinals and 2021 Las Vegas Raiders. [1]

Offseason

AdditionsSubtractions
LB Derek Smith (Redskins)WR Jerry Rice (Raiders)
LB Terry Killens (Titans)RB Charlie Garner (Raiders)
LB Ken Norton Jr. (retirement)
RB Travis Jervey (Falcons)
DT Brentson Buckner (Panthers)
DE Anthony Pleasant (Patriots)
LB Artie Ulmer (Falcons)

NFL draft

2001 San Francisco 49ers draft
RoundPickPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
17 Andre Carter *  Defensive end California
247 Jamie Winborn   Linebacker Vanderbilt
380 Kevan Barlow   Running back Pittsburgh
6169 Cedrick Wilson   Wide receiver Tennessee
6179 Rashad Holman   Cornerback Louisville
6191Menson Holloway Defensive end UTEP
7209 Alex Lincoln  Linebacker Auburn
7224 Eric Johnson   Tight end Yale
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

[2]

Undrafted free agents

2001 undrafted free agents of note
PlayerPositionCollege
Hilton AlexanderWide receiverMorris Brown
David Allen Running back Kansas State
Tom Ashworth Tackle Colorado
Al BladesSafety Miami (FL)
Wes CallTackle Washington
Antonio Chatman Wide receiver Cincinnati
Stephen Cheek Punter Humboldt State
Dave Costa Guard Wisconsin
Larry DavisWide Receiver New Mexico
Shane ElamLinebacker Ole Miss
Jimmy Farris Wide receiver Montana
Brandon GodseyCornerback Miami (OH)
Moses HarperDefensive tackle Lambuth
Shawn HayDefensive end South Florida
Grant HeardWide receiverOle Miss
Jasen IsomFullback Western Illinois
James JordanWide receiver Louisiana Tech
Jeff McCurleyCenter Pittsburgh
Jamie RheemKickerKansas State
John Schlecht Defensive tackle Minnesota
Brian SmithSafety UMass
Ben Steele Tight end Mesa State
Milford StephensonTackleKansas State
Quincy Stewart LinebackerLouisiana Tech
Keith StokesWide receiver East Carolina
Bruce WigginsCenter Arizona

Staff

2001 San Francisco 49ers staff

Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

Roster

2001 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)

Practice squad

Reserve

Rookies in italics
53 active, 4 reserve, 5 practice squad

Preseason

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenue
1August 11at San Diego Chargers L 24–250–1 Qualcomm Stadium
2August 19 Oakland Raiders W 20–171–1 3Com Park
3August 25 Seattle Seahawks L 18–281–23Com Park
4August 31at Denver Broncos L 7–351–3 Invesco Field at Mile High

Regular season

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendance
1September 9 Atlanta Falcons W 16–13 (OT)1–0 3Com Park 65,989
2 [A] September 23 St. Louis Rams L 26–301–13Com Park67,536
3October 1at New York Jets W 19–172–1 Giants Stadium 78,722
4October 7 Carolina Panthers W 24–143–13Com Park66,944
5October 14at Atlanta Falcons W 37–31 (OT)4–1 Georgia Dome 46,727
6 Bye
7October 28at Chicago Bears L 31–37 (OT)4–2 Soldier Field 66,944
8November 4 Detroit Lions W 21–135–23Com Park67,605
9November 11 New Orleans Saints W 28–276–23Com Park68,063
10November 18at Carolina Panthers W 25–22 (OT)7–2 Ericcson Stadium 72,665
11November 25at Indianapolis Colts W 40–218–2 RCA Dome 56,393
12December 2 Buffalo Bills W 35–09–23Com Park67,252
13December 9at St. Louis Rams L 14–279–3 Trans World Dome 66,218
14December 16 Miami Dolphins W 21–010–33Com Park68,223
15December 22 Philadelphia Eagles W 13–311–33Com Park68,124
16December 30at Dallas Cowboys L 21–2711–4 Texas Stadium 64,366
17 [A] January 6at New Orleans Saints W 38–012–4 Louisiana Superdome 70,020
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Standings

NFC West
WLTPCTPFPASTK
(1) St. Louis Rams 1420.875503273W6
(5) San Francisco 49ers 1240.750409282W1
New Orleans Saints 790.438333409L4
Atlanta Falcons 790.438291377L2
Carolina Panthers 1150.063253410L15

Playoffs

NFC Wild Card at Green Bay Packers

NFC Wild Card: San Francisco 49ers at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
49ers070815
Packers6091025

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

  • Date: January 13, 2002
  • Game time: 11:30 a.m.
  • Game weather: 26 °F or −3.3 °C, relative humidity 77%, wind 10 miles per hour (16 km/h; 8.7 kn), wind chill 17 °F or −8.3 °C
  • TV: FOX Announcers: Pat Summerall, John Madden, and Ron Pitts
  • Scoring
    • GB – Freeman 5 pass from Favre (kick blocked) GB 6–0
    • SF – Hearst 2 run (Cortez kick) SF 7–6
    • GB – field goal Longwell 26 GB 9–7
    • GB – Franks 19 pass from Favre (Two-point conversion failed) GB 15–7
    • SF – Streets 19 pass from Garcia (Streets pass from Garcia) Tie 15–15
    • GB – field goal Longwell 45 GB 18–15
    • GB – Green 9 run (Longwell kick) GB 25–15

Awards

Notes

  1. 1 2 The 49ers were originally scheduled to play the New Orleans Saints during Week 2 of the original NFL schedule (September 16) at Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. However, due to the September 11 attacks, the game was rescheduled to Week 17.

References

Notes
  1. "Football | Team Game Finder". Stathead.com. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  2. "2001 San Francisco 49ers draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  3. 49ers at Falcons October 14, 2001 from Pro Football Reference
  4. Schultz, Derek (November 23, 2021). "Jim Mora's 'Playoffs?!' Rant At 20". Indianapolis Monthly. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
Bibliography