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HISTORYHISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTScareer Pro Bowl nomination. In total, the 49ers hadsix players travel to the islands for the annual all-stargame. In addition to Hearst on offense, QB Jeff Garciaand WR Terrell Owens made their second straightappearances, C Jeremy Newberry played in his firstPro Bowl, G Ray Brown made the first Pro Bowl appearancein his 16-year career, and on defense DTBryant Young made his third Pro Bowl appearance,anchoring the 49ers defense that improved fromranking 29th in 2000 to 13th in 2001. The offensewas again in the capable hands of Garcia. The Gilroynative proved that 2000 wasn’t a fluke. He completed316-of-504 passes for 3,538 yards. The thirdyearveteran also threw 32 touchdowns, becomingthe first 49ers quarterback to throw for 30 or moretouchdowns in consecutive seasons. Owens was oneof Garcia’s favorite targets, especially when it cameto the endzone. Owens caught 93 balls for 1,412yards and a career-high and NFL leading 16 touchdowns.While Hearst was the big story, the offensiveline, which returned all five starters from the 2000season, proved to be vital to the team’s success. Forthe fifth consecutive season, San Francisco produceda 1,000-yard rusher, which set a new teamrecord. The defense was still young, but improvedas the season progressed. The defensive line addedtwo new starters to the mix, although one of themwas not so new. DT Dana Stubblefield returned to the49ers after spending three seasons with Washingtonand rookie DE Andre Carter made an impression, especiallyin the last four weeks of the season when hewas named NFC Rookie of the Month. Carter led theteam in sacks with 6.5, adding 4.5 of those in the lastfive games. The unit as a whole improved over thelast half of the season, posting a team-record threeshutouts in the last month of the campaign. Anotherbig addition was LB Derek Smith, who came overfrom the Redskins as well. Smith brought with himfour consecutive seasons of 100 tackles or more.Smith kept that streak alive as he led the defensewith 126 total tackles. Also helping the defense withits improvement was S Zack Bronson and CB AhmedPlummer. Both players recorded career-highs withseven interceptions each. Bronson also returned twofor touchdowns, including a career-high and teamrecord 97-yard return at Chicago.2002The San Francisco 49ers entered 2002 with hopesof advancing past the first round of the NFC playoffs.The team accomplished the mission finishingthe season with 10 wins and advancing to the NFCDivisional Playoffs in grand fashion with the secondlargest playoff comeback in NFL history. The 49ersfinished the season with a 5-1 division record andwon their first division title since 1997. The team’ssuccess came from its ability to minimize turnovers,along with a strong running game. The 49ers gained2,244 yards on the ground for the second consecutiveseason and RB Garrison Hearst established acareer-high with eight rushing touchdowns. HelpingHearst were Pro Bowlers G Ron Stone and C JeremyNewberry, who anchored an offensive line thatwas third in the NFL in fewest sacks allowed. SanFrancisco had the least amount of turnovers in theNFC with 17. In his third season as director of the49ers offense, QB Jeff Garcia earned his third consecutivePro Bowl berth. He completed 62 percentof his passes and tied a team record by directingfive fourth-quarter comebacks. WR Terrell Owenscontinued his dominance with a career-high 100receptions and led the NFL with 13 receiving touchdowns.Owens surpassed 1,000 receiving yards forthe third consecutive season and earned his thirdconsecutive Pro Bowl bid. Defensively, LB JulianPeterson had a breakout season with a career-high104 tackles. He shut down several of the league’stop tight ends and made history by playing four positionsin a single game against Dallas (12-8). Hiseffort earned him his first career Pro Bowl appearance.DT Bryant Young added an interior presencewith his fourth career Pro Bowl nomination and STony Parrish proved to be an invaluable pickup witha career-high seven interceptions. He won the LenEshmont and the Ed Block Courage Award, both firstsfor a player in his inaugural season.2003Head Coach Steve Mariucci was released from thefinal year of his contract on January 15, 2003. The49ers conducted an extensive search for Mariucci’ssuccessor and in the end hired Dennis Erickson. Ericksonwas introduced as the 14th head coach in49ers team history on February 12, 2003. The Ericksonera started with a 7-9 record for the 49ersin 2003. The team struggled on the road, winningonly one game, but was impressive at home, scoringmore than 45 points in two separate home games.The team was represented in the Pro Bowl, the 23rdconsecutive year the 49ers had at least one teamrepresentative in the islands. In 2003, WR TerrellOwens made his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl, LBJulian Peterson made his second consecutive tripand FB Fred Beasley made his first career appearancein Hawaii. On offense, QB Jeff Garcia missedthree games due to injury, but threw for 2,704 yardsand 18 touchdowns. In his place, QB Tim Rattayresponded admirably, throwing for 856 yards andseven touchdowns while posting a 2-1 record inthose three games. RB Kevan Barlow recorded hisfirst career 1,000-yard rushing season after becomingthe main tailback after RB Garrison Hearstwent down with a knee injury and missed the finalfour games. Owens recorded his fourth consecutive1,000-yard season, amassing 1,102 yards despitemissing the final game of the year. The 49ers defensefinished the year ranked 13th overall in theNFL and ninth against the run. The unit was led byPro Bowler Peterson, who led the team in sacks withseven, and S Tony Parrish, who tied for the leaguelead with nine interceptions. The group as a wholerecorded 42 sacks on the year, the highest total since1998, which was good for second in the NFC and tiedfor fourth in the NFL. In addition, the 49ers defensiveunit allowed only 268 yards per game, the lowest totalsince 1997. San Francisco also caused turnoversas evidence by its 13 fumble recoveries, its highesttotal since 1997.2004The San Francisco 49ers continued to build depthwith a young squad of versatile and talented athletesin 2004. Despite a 2-14 overall record, thegroup was able to gain significant experience whileindividuals on both sides of the ball notched careermilestones over the 16-game span. The 49ers alsoswept NFC West rival Arizona in two thrilling overtimebattles in the confines of both Monster Park andSAN FRANCISCO 49ERS \\383// MEDIA GUIDEon the road in Sun Devil Stadium. The team was alsorepresented in the Pro Bowl for the 24th consecutiveyear as LS/TE Brian Jennings made his first tripto the Pro Bowl. Jennings was chosen to serve as a“need” player in Hawaii by the NFC coaching staff.On offense, TE Eric Johnson returned to the lineupafter missing 2003 with a broken collarbone andpaced the team with 82 receptions for 825 yardsand two touchdowns. His performance was thebest-ever by a 49ers’ tight end. WR Brandon Lloydled the scoring attack with six touchdown receptionswhile RB Kevan Barlow steadied the ground gamewith 244 carries for 822 yards and seven touchdowns.Under center, QB Tim Rattay battled shoulder,forearm and foot injuries to play in nine games,including a career-best 417-yard performance inthe 49ers first of two bouts against Arizona. Rattayrallied the offense from a 16-point fourth-quarterdeficit to win 31-28 in overtime. In the process, hecompleted a team-record 38 passes en route to hisfirst 400-yard game. DT Bryant Young’s 11 years ofNFL experience served as the veteran voice behindthe defensive unit. Young led the line with 79 tacklesand three sacks and enjoyed a career game againstChicago after notching 10 tackles and two sacks,his 17th career multi-sack game. For his efforts,Young was presented the team’s Len Eshmont andBill Walsh Awards. It was an unprecedented fifth LenEshmont award win for Young. DE John Engelbergerresponded with a career year, with a career-high 64tackles. He led team with 6.0 sacks. Also a steadyrock on defense was SS Tony Parrish, who startedall 16 games to give him 112 consecutive careerstarts, the third-longest active streak at his position.LB Derek Smith also chipped in at the linebackerpost, reaching the 100-tackle plateau for the eighthstraight year. Smith and fellow LB Jeff Ulbrich led theteam with 167 tackles. After a season-ending Achillesinjury to LB Julian Peterson, LB Jamie Winbornstepped up with 104 tackles, 4.5 sacks and threeforced fumbles. The 49ers also saw much promisefrom a handful of young participants. Second-yearT Kwame Harris played in 14 contests and did notallow a sack in the last five games after returning tothe starting lineup on the left side. Also gaining experienceon the line was rookie G Justin Smiley whoplayed in all 16 games with nine starts. On the oppositeside of the ball, rookie RCB Shawntae Spencerfinished third in the league with 12 starts as a rookie.He also led the defensive unit with 12 passes defensed.Second-year DT Anthony Adams continuedto flourish in his role, registering a career-high ninestops against Washington. The special teams unitremained staunch, led by the efforts of rookie P AndyLee. Lee finished the season with a 41.6-yard average,the highest since P Reggie Roby during the1998 campaign. He led all rookies in the NFC ingross average and boomed an 81-yard punt againstTampa Bay (11-21-04) which was the longest of2004 and the fourth-longest in team history. Anotherrookie, S Keith Lewis, also made his presence felt ashe became the first player in 49er history to blocka punt, force a fumble and recover a fumble in thesame season. Lewis was able to accomplish this trifectaon only special teams plays.