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1957 San Francisco 49ers season

American football team season

1957 San Francisco 49ers season

American football team season

FieldValue
logoSan-Francisco-49ers-mediaguide-1957.jpg
teamSan Francisco 49ers
year1957
record8–4
division_placeT–1st NFL Western
ownerTony Morabito
general managerLouis Spadia
coachFrankie Albert
stadiumKezar Stadium
playoffsLost [Conference Playoff](1957-nfl-playoffs)
(vs. [Lions](1957-detroit-lions-season)) 27–31
shortnavlink49ers seasons

(vs. Lions) 27–31

The 1957 San Francisco 49ers season was the team's eighth season in the NFL. Coming off a 5–6–1 record in 1956, the 49ers tied for the best record in the Western Conference at 8–4.

Organizational history

San Francisco continued their late-season success from the previous year, and won five of their first six games, and were in first place in the West midway through the season. The Niners then lost three straight on the road to drop to 5–4, but then won the final three games to close out the season at 8–4, their best season since 1953.

The 49ers tied with the Detroit Lions at the top of the Western Conference, and split their two regular-season games in November, with the home teams winning. This forced a tie-breaking playoff game at Kezar Stadium on December 22. The winner would host the Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Browns for the NFL championship the following week.

The 49ers built a 24–7 lead at halftime, and extended it to twenty points in the third quarter. Detroit's hall of fame quarterback Bobby Layne had been lost for the season two weeks earlier, and backup Tobin Rote lead the Lions' rally, scoring 24 unanswered points in the second half to win, 31–27, which ended the 49ers' season.

Eight weeks earlier on October 27, 49ers' owner Tony Morabito, age 47, suffered a heart attack in the press box at Kezar during the second quarter of the game against the Chicago Bears. He died shortly after arriving at Mary's Help Hospital on Guerrero Street. The team was notified of his death at halftime, and with tears in their eyes, they went back out and won a come-from-behind victory.

Quarterback Y. A. Tittle had another strong season for the 49ers, completing 63.1% of his passes for 2,157 yards and 13 TD's. He also rushed for 6 TD's. End Billy Wilson led the club with 52 receptions for 757 yards, along with a team high 6 TD's. Running back Hugh McElhenny led in rushing with 478 yards on 102 attempts.

The 1957 season was the first in 49er franchise history in which the team broke even financially.

Offseason

NFL draft

Main article: 1957 NFL draft

:Source:

Regular season

Schedule

San Francisco 49ersyear=1957border=2}}"GameSan Francisco 49ersyear=1957border=2}}"DateSan Francisco 49ersyear=1957border=2}}"OpponentSan Francisco 49ersyear=1957border=2}}"ResultSan Francisco 49ersyear=1957border=2}}"RecordSan Francisco 49ersyear=1957border=2}}"VenueSan Francisco 49ersyear=1957border=2}}"AttendanceSan Francisco 49ersyear=1957border=2}}"RecapSan Francisco 49ersyear=1957border=2}}"Sources123456789101112
September 29[Chicago Cardinals](1957-chicago-cardinals-season)**L** 10–200–1Kezar Stadium35,743[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195709290sfo.htm)
October 6**[Los Angeles Rams](1957-los-angeles-rams-season)****W** 23–201–1Kezar Stadium59,637[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195710060sfo.htm)
October 13at **[Chicago Bears](1957-chicago-bears-season)****W** 21–172–1Wrigley Field45,310[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195710130chi.htm)
October 20at **[Green Bay Packers](1957-green-bay-packers-season)****W** 24–143–1Milwaukee County Stadium18,919[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195710200gnb.htm)
October 27**Chicago Bears****W** 21–174–1Kezar Stadium56,693[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195710270sfo.htm)
November 3**[Detroit Lions](1957-detroit-lions-season)****W** 35–315–1Kezar Stadium59,702[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195711030sfo.htm)
November 10at **Los Angeles Rams****L** 24–375–2L.A. Memorial Coliseum102,368[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195711100ram.htm)
November 17at **Detroit Lions****L** 10–315–3Briggs Stadium56,915[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195711170det.htm)
November 24at **[Baltimore Colts](1957-baltimore-colts-season)****L** 21–275–4Memorial Stadium50,073[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195711240clt.htm)
December 1at [New York Giants](1957-new-york-giants-season)**W** 27–176–4Yankee Stadium54,121[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195712010nyg.htm)
December 8**Baltimore Colts****W** 17–137–4Kezar Stadium59,950[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195712080sfo.htm)
December 15**Green Bay Packers****W** 27–208–4Kezar Stadium59,100[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195712150sfo.htm)
**Note:** Intra-conference opponents are in **bold** text.

Standings

Program for the November 10 game in Los Angeles to meet the rival Rams.

Western Conference Playoff

Main article: 1957 NFL playoffs

San Francisco 49ersyear=1957border=2}}"RoundSan Francisco 49ersyear=1957border=2}}"DateSan Francisco 49ersyear=1957border=2}}"OpponentSan Francisco 49ersyear=1957border=2}}"ResultSan Francisco 49ersyear=1957border=2}}"RecordSan Francisco 49ersyear=1957border=2}}"VenueSan Francisco 49ersyear=1957border=2}}"AttendanceSan Francisco 49ersyear=1957border=2}}"SourcesWestern Conference
December 22[Detroit Lions](1957-detroit-lions-season)**L** 27–310–1Kezar Stadium60,118

Personnel

Staff / Coaches

  • Team Owner - Tony Morabito

  • General manager – Louis Spadia

  • Head coach - Frankie Albert

  • Chief of Offense / Offensive Coordinator - Red Hickey

  • Offensive Line – Bill Johnson

  • Defensive Assistant – Phil Bengtson

Roster

1957 San Francisco 49ers roster
**Quarterbacks**

:Source:

References

References

  1. (December 9, 1957). "Lions lose Layne but win, 20-7". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  2. "Lions thrilling rally wins playoff, 31-27". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  3. (October 28, 1957). "Morabito dies of heart attack". Milwaukee Journal.
  4. (October 28, 1957). "Morabito, 49ers, dies". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  5. Rosenbaum, Art. (November 4, 1957). "Tony Morabito, The Autocrat Of The San Francisco 49ers, Ran His Team With A Belligerent Disdain For Outsiders. But He Loved His Team, And Last Week He Died As He Would Have Wished—watching Them Take The Division Lead". [[Sports Illustrated]].
  6. Glenn Dickey, ''The San Francisco 49ers: The First Fifty Years.'' Atlanta, GA: Turner Publishing, 1995; p. 25.
  7. "1957 San Francisco 49ers Draftees". Pro Football Reference.
  8. "Divisional Round - Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers - December 22nd, 1957". Pro Football Reference.
Info: Wikipedia Source

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