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1978 San Francisco 49ers season
American football team season
American football team season
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| team | San Francisco 49ers |
| year | 1978 |
| record | 2–14 |
| division_place | 4th NFC West |
| coach | Pete McCulley |
| Fred O'Connor (interim) | |
| off_coach | Fred O'Connor |
| def_coach | Dan Radakovich |
| general manager | Joe Thomas |
| owner | Edward J. DeBartolo, Jr. |
| stadium | Candlestick Park |
| playoffs | Did not qualify |
| pro_bowlers | none |
| shortnavlink | 49ers seasons |
Fred O'Connor (interim)
The 1978 San Francisco 49ers season was the franchise's 29th season in the National Football League, their 33rd overall, and their second and final season under general manager Joe Thomas, who was fired following the end of the season. The Niners' 2–14 record was the worst in the NFL in 1978 and tied for the worst in franchise history with the 2004 and 2016 seasons, dating back to the team's origins in the All America Football Conference (AAFC) in 1946.
Season history
The team began the season hoping to improve upon their previous output of 5–9. Instead, the team started the season 0–4 for the second straight year. The team also suffered a nine-game losing streak.
During the off-season, the 49ers acquired running back O. J. Simpson, who originally hailed from San Francisco, from the Buffalo Bills. Although Simpson had been one of the best backs in the league over the previous decade, he was in poor physical condition and had recently undergone knee surgery. As a result, his playing ability was limited.
Interim head coach Fred O'Connor was hired in the middle of the team's season after first-season head coach Pete McCulley posted an unremarkable 1–8 record. However, after the season ended, O'Connor was let go along with the coaching staff, who had been hired by McCulley.
The 49ers finished with the worst record in the league and scored only 219 points, the fewest in the league in 1978. Making matters worse is that the club was unable to benefit from their miserable performance in the 1979 NFL draft, with the team's first pick already traded to the Bills as part of the O.J. Simpson deal.
The 1978 team set an NFL record with 63 turnovers.
Offseason
NFL draft
Main article: 1978 NFL draft
Source:
Personnel
Staff / Coaches
-
Owner and President – Edward J. DeBartolo, Jr.
-
General manager – Joe Thomas
-
Head coach – Pete McCulley
-
Offensive coordinator – Fred O'Connor
-
Receivers – Les Steckel
-
Offensive line – Mike White
-
Defensive coordinator/linebackers – Dan Radakovich
-
Defensive line – Earl Leggett
-
Defensive backfield – Jimmy Carr
-
Special teams – Frank Gansz
-
Strength and Conditioning – Floyd Reese
Roster
|
Preseason
| San Francisco 49ers | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Week | San Francisco 49ers | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Date | San Francisco 49ers | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Opponent | San Francisco 49ers | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Result | San Francisco 49ers | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Record | San Francisco 49ers | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Venue | San Francisco 49ers | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Attendance | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| at Dallas Cowboys | L 24–41 | 0–2 | Texas Stadium | 63,736 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Seattle Seahawks | L 6–20 | 0–2 | Candlestick Park | 36,069 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| August 20 | Oakland Raiders | L 14–31 | 0–3 | Candlestick Park | 58,658 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| at Denver Broncos | W 24–13 | 1–3 | Mile High Stadium | 73,559 |
Schedule
| San Francisco 49ers | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Week | San Francisco 49ers | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Date | San Francisco 49ers | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Opponent | San Francisco 49ers | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Result | San Francisco 49ers | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Record | San Francisco 49ers | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Venue | San Francisco 49ers | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Attendance | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 3 | at Cleveland Browns | L 7–24 | 0–1 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 68,973 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 10 | Chicago Bears | L 13–16 | 0–2 | Candlestick Park | 49,502 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 17 | at Houston Oilers | L 19–20 | 0–3 | Houston Astrodome | 46,161 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 24 | at New York Giants | L 10–27 | 0–4 | Giants Stadium | 71,536 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 1 | Cincinnati Bengals | W 28–12 | 1–4 | Candlestick Park | 41,107 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 8 | at Los Angeles Rams | L 10–27 | 1–5 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 59,337 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 15 | New Orleans Saints | L 7–14 | 1–6 | Candlestick Park | 37,671 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 22 | Atlanta Falcons | L 17–20 | 1–7 | Candlestick Park | 44,235 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 29 | at Washington Redskins | L 20–38 | 1–8 | RFK Stadium | 53,706 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 5 | at Atlanta Falcons | L 10–21 | 1–9 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | 55,468 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 12 | St. Louis Cardinals | L 10–16 | 1–10 | Candlestick Park | 33,155 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 19 | Los Angeles Rams | L 28–31 | 1–11 | Candlestick Park | 45,022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pittsburgh Steelers | L 7–24 | 1–12 | Candlestick Park | 51,657 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 3 | at New Orleans Saints | L 13–24 | 1–13 | Louisiana Superdome | 50,068 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 10 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 6–3 | 2–13 | Candlestick Park | 30,931 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 17 | at Detroit Lions | L 14–33 | 2–14 | Pontiac Silverdome | 56,674 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. |
Standings
References
References
- "Thomas Is Fired". Washington Post.
- "San Francisco 49ers," in Chuck Benedict and Al Hall (eds.), ''Petersen's Pro Football: 1979 Annual.'' Los Angeles: Petersen Publishing Co., 1979; p. 100.
- [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sfo/1978.htm 1978 San Francisco 49ers]
- [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1978/ 1978 NFL Standings]
- "1978 San Francisco 49ers Draftees". Pro Football Reference.
- "1978 San Francisco 49ers starters and roster". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- "1978 San Francisco 49ers (NFL)". Pro Football Archives.
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