List of San Francisco 49ers seasons
This article is a list of seasons completed by the San Francisco 49ers, an American football franchise representing the San Francisco Bay Area. The 49ers are members of the West division in the National Football Conference (NFC) of the National Football League (NFL). The list documents the season-by-season records of the 49ers' franchise from 1946 to present, including postseason records, and league awards for individual players or head coaches. The San Francisco 49ers began play in 1946 as charter members of the All-America Football Conference. When the 49ers joined the NFL after the AAFC-NFL merger in 1950, they never won a division or conference title, and only finished as high as second once from 1950 to 1969. After winning three consecutive division titles from 1970 to 1972, they would return to losing in 1973 and achieved only one winning season for the rest of the decade. From 1981 to 1998, the 49ers had one of the most successful stretches of dominance in NFL history. Armed with Bill Walsh's innovative West Coast offense, Hall of Fame level quarterback play in Joe Montana and later Steve Young, and a dominant defense, the 49ers would win 5 Super Bowls in 1981, 1984, 1988, 1989, and 1994, and made the playoffs every year besides 1982 and 1991 during their run of dominance.
Another playoff drought lasted from 2003–2010, a stretch of eight non-winning seasons. This drought came to end under rookie head coach Jim Harbaugh when the 49ers won their division with a 13–3 record in 2011. From 2011 to 2013, they earned three straight berths in the NFC Championship Game, which included a loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII. They would have another stretch of non-winning seasons from 2014-2018 before a 13-3 turnaround season in 2019 saw them win the NFC, but lose to the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV.
Seasons
| NFL champions (1920–1969)§ | Super Bowl champions (1966–present)† | Conference champions* | Division champions^ | Wild Card berth# | One-game playoff berth+ |
| Season | Team | League | Conference | Division | Finish | W | L | T | Postseason results | Awards | Head coaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | 1946 | AAFC | Western | 2nd | 9 | 5 | 0 | Buck Shaw | |||
| 1947 | 1947 | AAFC | Western | 2nd | 8 | 4 | 2 | ||||
| 1948 | 1948 | AAFC | Western | 2nd | 12 | 2 | 0 | ||||
| 1949 | 1949 | AAFC | 2nd# | 9 | 3 | 0 | Won First-Round Playoffs (Yankees) 17–7 Lost AAFC Championship (at Browns) 7–21 |
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| 1950 | 1950 | NFL | National | 5th | 3 | 9 | 0 | ||||
| 1951 | 1951 | NFL | National | 3rd | 7 | 4 | 1 | ||||
| 1952 | 1952 | NFL | National | 3rd | 7 | 5 | 0 | ||||
| 1953 | 1953 | NFL | Western | 3rd | 9 | 3 | 0 | ||||
| 1954 | 1954 | NFL | Western | 3rd | 7 | 4 | 1 | ||||
| 1955 | 1955 | NFL | Western | 5th | 4 | 8 | 0 | Red Strader | |||
| 1956 | 1956 | NFL | Western | 3rd | 5 | 6 | 1 | Frankie Albert | |||
| 1957 | 1957 | NFL | Western | 2nd+ | 8 | 4 | 0 | Lost Conference Playoff (Lions) 27–31 | |||
| 1958 | 1958 | NFL | Western | 4th | 6 | 6 | 0 | ||||
| 1959 | 1959 | NFL | Western | 4th | 7 | 5 | 0 | Red Hickey | |||
| 1960 | 1960 | NFL | Western | 3rd | 7 | 5 | 0 | ||||
| 1961 | 1961 | NFL | Western | 5th | 7 | 6 | 1 | ||||
| 1962 | 1962 | NFL | Western | 5th | 6 | 8 | 0 | ||||
| 1963 | 1963 | NFL | Western | 7th | 2 | 12 | 0 | Red Hickey (0–3) Jack Christiansen (2–9) | |||
| 1964 | 1964 | NFL | Western | 7th | 4 | 10 | 0 | Jack Christiansen | |||
| 1965 | 1965 | NFL | Western | 4th | 7 | 6 | 1 | ||||
| 1966 | 1966 | NFL | Western | 4th | 6 | 6 | 2 | ||||
| 1967 | 1967 | NFL | Western | Coastal | 3rd | 7 | 7 | 0 | |||
| 1968 | 1968 | NFL | Western | Coastal | 3rd | 7 | 6 | 1 | Dick Nolan | ||
| 1969 | 1969 | NFL | Western | Coastal | 4th | 4 | 8 | 2 | |||
| 1970 | 1970 | NFL | NFC | West^ | 1st^ | 10 | 3 | 1 | Won Divisional Playoffs (at Vikings) 17–14 Lost NFC Championship (Cowboys) 10–17 |
John Brodie (MVP) Bruce Taylor (DROY) | |
| 1971 | 1971 | NFL | NFC | West^ | 1st^ | 9 | 5 | 0 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Redskins) 24–20 Lost NFC Championship (at Cowboys) 3–14 |
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| 1972 | 1972 | NFL | NFC | West^ | 1st^ | 8 | 5 | 1 | Lost Divisional Playoffs (Cowboys) 28–30 | ||
| 1973 | 1973 | NFL | NFC | West | 4th | 5 | 9 | 0 | |||
| 1974 | 1974 | NFL | NFC | West | 2nd | 6 | 8 | 0 | |||
| 1975 | 1975 | NFL | NFC | West | 2nd | 5 | 9 | 0 | |||
| 1976 | 1976 | NFL | NFC | West | 2nd | 8 | 6 | 0 | Monte Clark | ||
| 1977 | 1977 | NFL | NFC | West | 3rd | 5 | 9 | 0 | Ken Meyer | ||
| 1978 | 1978 | NFL | NFC | West | 4th | 2 | 14 | 0 | Pete McCulley (1–8) Fred O'Connor (1–6) | ||
| 1979 | 1979 | NFL | NFC | West | 4th | 2 | 14 | 0 | Bill Walsh | ||
| 1980 | 1980 | NFL | NFC | West | 3rd | 6 | 10 | 0 | |||
| 1981 | 1981 | NFL† | NFC* | West^ | 1st^ | 13 | 3 | 0 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Giants) 38–24 Won NFC Championship (Cowboys) 28–27 Won Super Bowl XVI (1) (vs. Bengals) 26–21 |
Joe Montana (SB MVP) Bill Walsh (COY) | |
| 1982 | 1982 | NFL | NFC | West | 11th1 | 3 | 6 | 0 | |||
| 1983 | 1983 | NFL | NFC | West^ | 1st^ | 10 | 6 | 0 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Lions) 24–23 Lost NFC Championship (at Redskins) 21–24 |
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| 1984 | 1984 | NFL† | NFC* | West^ | 1st^ | 15 | 1 | 0 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Giants) 21–10 Won NFC Championship (Bears) 23–0 Won Super Bowl XIX (2) (vs. Dolphins) 38–16 |
Joe Montana (SB MVP) | |
| 1985 | 1985 | NFL | NFC | West | 2nd# | 10 | 6 | 0 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Giants) 3–17 | ||
| 1986 | 1986 | NFL | NFC | West^ | 1st^ | 10 | 5 | 1 | Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Giants) 3–49 | Joe Montana (CBPOY) | |
| 1987 | 1987 | NFL | NFC | West^ | 1st^ | 13 | 2 | 0 | Lost Divisional Playoffs (Vikings) 24–36 | Jerry Rice (OPOY) | |
| 1988 | 1988 | NFL† | NFC* | West^ | 1st^ | 10 | 6 | 0 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Vikings) 34–9 Won NFC Championship (at Bears) 28–3 Won Super Bowl XXIII (3) (vs. Bengals) 20–16 |
Jerry Rice (SB MVP) Roger Craig (OPOY) | |
| 1989 | 1989 | NFL† | NFC* | West^ | 1st^ | 14 | 2 | 0 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Vikings) 41–13 Won NFC Championship (Rams) 30–3 Won Super Bowl XXIV (4) (vs. Broncos) 55–10 |
Joe Montana (MVP, SB MVP, OPOY) | George Seifert |
| 1990 | 1990 | NFL | NFC | West^ | 1st^ | 14 | 2 | 0 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Redskins) 28–10 Lost NFC Championship (Giants) 13–15 |
Joe Montana (MVP) | |
| 1991 | 1991 | NFL | NFC | West | 3rd | 10 | 6 | 0 | |||
| 1992 | 1992 | NFL | NFC | West^ | 1st^ | 14 | 2 | 0 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Redskins) 20–13 Lost NFC Championship (Cowboys) 20–30 |
Steve Young (MVP, OPOY) | |
| 1993 | 1993 | NFL | NFC | West^ | 1st^ | 10 | 6 | 0 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Giants) 44–3 Lost NFC Championship (at Cowboys) 21–38 |
Jerry Rice (OPOY) Dana Stubblefield (DROY) | |
| 1994 | 1994 | NFL† | NFC* | West^ | 1st^ | 13 | 3 | 0 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Bears) 44–15 Won NFC Championship (Cowboys) 38–28 Won Super Bowl XXIX (5) (vs. Chargers) 49–26 |
Steve Young (MVP, SB MVP) Deion Sanders (DPOY) | |
| 1995 | 1995 | NFL | NFC | West^ | 1st^ | 11 | 5 | 0 | Lost Divisional Playoffs (Packers) 17–27 | Jerry Rice (PB MVP) | |
| 1996 | 1996 | NFL | NFC | West | 2nd# | 12 | 4 | 0 | Won Wild Card Playoffs (Eagles) 14–0 Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Packers) 14–35 |
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| 1997 | 1997 | NFL | NFC | West^ | 1st^ | 13 | 3 | 0 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Vikings) 38–22 Lost NFC Championship (Packers) 10–23 |
Dana Stubblefield (DPOY) | Steve Mariucci |
| 1998 | 1998 | NFL | NFC | West | 2nd# | 12 | 4 | 0 | Won Wild Card Playoffs (Packers) 30–27 Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Falcons) 18–20 |
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| 1999 | 1999 | NFL | NFC | West | 4th | 4 | 12 | 0 | Bryant Young (CBPOY) | ||
| 2000 | 2000 | NFL | NFC | West | 4th | 6 | 10 | 0 | |||
| 2001 | 2001 | NFL | NFC | West | 2nd# | 12 | 4 | 0 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Packers) 15–25 | Garrison Hearst (CBPOY) | |
| 2002 | 2002 | NFL | NFC | West^ | 1st^ | 10 | 6 | 0 | Won Wild Card Playoffs (Giants) 39–38 Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Buccaneers) 6–31 |
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| 2003 | 2003 | NFL | NFC | West | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | Dennis Erickson | ||
| 2004 | 2004 | NFL | NFC | West | 4th | 2 | 14 | 0 | |||
| 2005 | 2005 | NFL | NFC | West | 4th | 4 | 12 | 0 | Mike Nolan | ||
| 2006 | 2006 | NFL | NFC | West | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | |||
| 2007 | 2007 | NFL | NFC | West | 3rd | 5 | 11 | 0 | Patrick Willis (DROY) | ||
| 2008 | 2008 | NFL | NFC | West | 2nd | 7 | 9 | 0 | Mike Nolan (2–5) Mike Singletary (5–4) | ||
| 2009 | 2009 | NFL | NFC | West | 2nd | 8 | 8 | 0 | Mike Singletary | ||
| 2010 | 2010 | NFL | NFC | West | 3rd | 6 | 10 | 0 | Mike Singletary (5–10) Jim Tomsula (1–0) | ||
| 2011 | 2011 | NFL | NFC | West^ | 1st^ | 13 | 3 | 0 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Saints) 36–32 Lost NFC Championship (Giants) 17–20 (OT) |
Jim Harbaugh (COY) | Jim Harbaugh |
| 2012 | 2012 | NFL | NFC* | West^ | 1st^ | 11 | 4 | 1 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Packers) 45–31 Won NFC Championship (at Falcons) 28–24 Lost Super Bowl XLVII (vs. Ravens) 31–34 |
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| 2013 | 2013 | NFL | NFC | West | 2nd# | 12 | 4 | 0 | Won Wild Card Playoffs (at Packers) 23–20 Won Divisional Playoffs (at Panthers) 23–10 Lost NFC Championship (at Seahawks) 17–23 |
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| 2014 | 2014 | NFL | NFC | West | 3rd | 8 | 8 | 0 | |||
| 2015 | 2015 | NFL | NFC | West | 4th | 5 | 11 | 0 | Anquan Boldin (MOY) | Jim Tomsula | |
| 2016 | 2016 | NFL | NFC | West | 4th | 2 | 14 | 0 | Chip Kelly | ||
| 2017 | 2017 | NFL | NFC | West | 4th | 6 | 10 | 0 | Kyle Shanahan | ||
| 2018 | 2018 | NFL | NFC | West | 3rd | 4 | 12 | 0 | |||
| 2019 | 2019 | NFL | NFC* | West^ | 1st^ | 13 | 3 | 0 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Vikings) 27–10 Won NFC Championship (Packers) 37–20 Lost Super Bowl LIV (vs. Chiefs) 20–31 |
Nick Bosa (DROY) | |
| 2020 | 2020 | NFL | NFC | West | 4th | 6 | 10 | 0 | |||
| 2021 | 2021 | NFL | NFC | West | 3rd# | 10 | 7 | 0 | Won Wild Card Playoffs (at Cowboys) 23–17 Won Divisional Playoffs (at Packers) 13–10 Lost NFC Championship (at Rams) 17–20 |
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| 2022 | 2022 | NFL | NFC | West^ | 1st^ | 13 | 4 | 0 | Won Wild Card Playoffs (Seahawks) 41–23 Won Divisional Playoffs (Cowboys) 19–12 NFC Championship (at Eagles) TBD |
Statistics above are current as of January 22, 2023.
All-time records
| Statistic | Wins | Losses | Ties | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All-America Football Conference regular season record | 38 | 14 | 2 | .722 |
| AAFC postseason record | 1 | 1 | — | .500 |
| National Football League regular season record | 574 | 496 | 14 | .536 |
| NFL postseason record | 36 | 22 | — | .621 |
| AAFC and NFL regular and postseason record | 649 | 533 | 16 | .548 |
1 Due to a strike-shortened season in 1982, all teams were ranked by conference instead of division.
References
- "San Francisco 49ers History". CBS Sportsline. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
- "San Francisco 49ers Team History". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2009-07-21.
- "NFL History: Historical Standings". National Football League. Retrieved 2009-07-21.
- "AAFC Season to Season League Totals". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved 2009-07-21.