san francisco 49ers founder

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERSa powerful defensive unit that led the league in quarterbacksacks with 61. RB Delvin Williams set a 49ers single-seasonrushing record with 1,203 yards. DE Tommy Hart was namedAll-Pro and played in the Pro Bowl along with Williams, DECleveland Elam and LB Dave Washington. C Randy Crosswas an All-Rookie team selection. Hart became a two-timewinner of the Len Eshmont Award and CB Jimmy Johnsonretired after a brilliant 16-year career with the 49ers.1977 - In the 32nd year of their existence, the 49ers begana new era. On March 31, 1977, the club became the propertyof Edward J. DeBartolo Jr. and came under the guidance ofJoe Thomas as general manager. The changeover was mademore dramatic because the San Francisco 49ers were one ofthe few NFL franchises which had never previously changedownership or location. On the field, under Coach Ken Meyer,the 49ers ran hot and cold. The club lost its first five games,then won five of the next six before dropping the final threecontests to finish 5-9. SS Mel Phillips was named winnerof the coveted Len Eshmont Award. DE Cleveland Elam wasselected All-Pro and played for the NFC in the Pro Bowl.1978 - The 49ers suffered through their longest season asthe club fell to 2-14 and three coaches were hired and firedin less than 12 months. First Head Coach Pete McCulley departedafter nine games with a 1-8 record, and his replacement,Fred O’Connor, was let go at the end of the year as theteam won just one of its final seven contests. Bill Walsh washired as the new coach and general manager. RB Paul Hofer,who replaced RB O.J. Simpson when the newly-acquiredstar went to the sidelines for the year with a shoulder injury,was named recipient of the Len Eshmont award.1979 - The 49ers suffered through their second consecutive2-14 season, but there were several indications ofimprovement. San Francisco went from virtually the worstrankedoffensive team in the league in ’78 to one of the mostproductive in ’79, ranking first in passing offense in the NFCand sixth in total offense in the NFL. RB Paul Hofer againwas the Len Eshmont Award recipient and individual leader,racking up 615 yards rushing and an additional 662 yardsreceiving on 58 catches in only seven starts. QB Steve De-Berg broke Fran Tarkenton’s NFL record for completions byconnecting on 347 passes. K Ray Wersching set a club recordwith an 83.3 field goal percentage and also led the leaguewith that mark. RB O.J. Simpson retired from the 49ers andthe NFL, finishing as the second leading rusher of all timewith 11,236 yards.1980 - In their second season of the Bill Walsh era, the49ers showed gradual improvement in their rebuilding program.A three-game winning streak to open the season,combined with a three-game victory string from Week 12through Week 14, enabled the Niners to post a 6-10 season,tripling the number of victories from each of the previous two2-14 campaigns. Week 14 was a day when the 49ers madeNFL history. That December 7 at Candlestick Park, the 49ersovercame a 35-7 halftime deficit against the New OrleansSaints to win in overtime, 38-35. The 28-point comebackwas the biggest comeback in NFL history. E Jim Stuckey andP Jim Miller were named to All-Rookie teams, while anotherrookie, FB Earl Cooper, led the NFC in receptions with 83, themost catches ever by an NFL rookie. WR Dwight Clark caught82 passes to break the team wide receiver mark, and QB JoeMontana set the club passing percentage record at 64.5 with176 completions in 273 attempts.1981 - It was a year of firsts and bests for the 49ers in1981. In his third season as head coach and general manager,Bill Walsh guided San Francisco to a 16-3 record (bestrecord in the league that year), the NFC Western Division title(first since ’72), the NFC Championship crown (first ever forthe 49ers) and the World Championship/Super Bowl XVI win(first ever for the 49ers). Walsh earned every possible NFCCoach of the Year award and all seven NFL Coach of the Yearhonors, while six 49ers were named to the Pro Bowl—WRDwight Clark, C Randy Cross, QB Joe Montana, DE FredDean, S Ronnie Lott and S Dwight Hicks. Three San Franciscoplayers were selected to All-Pro teams as recognizedby the NFL—Cross, Lott and Dean. Montana, who led theNFC in passing in ’81, was named MVP of Super Bowl XVI (forleading his team to a 26-21 win over the Cincinnati Bengalsof the AFC). Dean was picked UPI NFL Defensive Player of theYear, NFL Outstanding Defensive Lineman of the Year (NFLPlayers Association) and NFC Defensive Player of the Year(Kansas City Committee of the 101). San Francisco openedand closed the season in Pontiac, MI in drastically differentstyles. The 49ers lost two of their first three games of 1981,including the season opener on the road against Detroit, thenran off seven wins—before a loss to Cleveland 15-12—andran off eight more wins (including playoffs, the NFC Championshipand Super Bowl XVI). The 49ers won 15 of their last16 games, beat five opponents twice—including all threepostseason foes—and became the first team since Chicagoin 1945-47 to go from the worst NFL record (2-14 in 1979)to the league’s best (13-3 in ’81) in just three seasons. Allthis happened with three rookies (S Carlton Williamson, CBEric Wright and Lott) starting in the defensive secondary.Those three rookies, along with Montana, Clark, Cross, WRFreddie Solomon and Hicks, combined with “old veterans”Dean and LB Jack “Hacksaw” Reynolds, formed a nucleus ofworld championship vintage.1982 - As defending world champions, the San Francisco49ers did not enjoy the 1982 season, but then not manyNFL fans, coaches and players throughout the league dideither (except maybe in Washington, where the Redskinswere Super Bowl XVII champs). The Niners fell to 3-6 andmissed out on the playoffs. In the strike-shortened season,San Francisco went winless at home (0-5) but did managea 3-1 road record (the Niners were 0-2 prior to the 57-dayplayers’ strike and 3-4 following it). WR Dwight Clark had anoutstanding season, leading the NFL with 60 receptions andbeing named consensus All-Pro and NFL Player of the Yearby Sports Illustrated. LB Keena Turner (second-team All-Pro), S Ronnie Lott (Pro Bowl), C Randy Cross (Pro Bowl), SDwight Hicks (Pro Bowl), T Keith Fahnhorst and QB Joe Montana(NFL record for five straight 300-yard passing games)were bright spots in an otherwise disappointing season.