2002 San Francisco 49ers season

Offseason

NFL draft

Main article: 2002 NFL draft

Personnel

Staff

• Owner – Denise DeBartolo York

• Owner – The DeBartolo Corporation

• Director/owner's representative – John York

• President/chief executive officer – Peter L. Harris

• General manager – Terry Donahue

• Consultant – Bill Walsh

• Vice president/director of football operations – John McVay

• Asst. director of football operations/salary cap – Dominic Corsell

• Director of pro personnel – Bill McPherson

• Head coach – Steve Mariucci

• Offensive coordinator – Greg Knapp

• Quarterbacks – Ted Tollner

• Running backs – Tom Rathman

• Wide receivers – George Stewart

• Tight ends – Tom Batta

• Offensive line – Patrick Morris

• Offensive assistant – Andy Sugarman

• Offensive quality control – Jason Tarver

• Defensive coordinator – Jim Mora

• Defensive line – Dwaine Board

• Linebackers – Richard Smith

• Secondary – Brett Maxie

• Defensive assistant – Chris Beake

• Defensive quality control – Dan Quinn

• Special teams – Bruce DeHaven

• Physical development coordinator – Jerry Attaway

• Strength development coordinator – Terrell Jones

Roster

• Brandon Doman

• Jeff Garcia

• Tim Rattay

• Kevan Barlow

• Fred Beasley FB

• Garrison Hearst

• Paul Smith FB

• Terrell Owens

• J. J. Stokes

• Tai Streets

• Cedrick Wilson

• Eric Johnson

• Justin Swift

• Derrick Deese T

• Scott Gragg T

• Eric Heitmann G

• Kyle Kosier T

• Ben Lynch C

• Jeremy Newberry C

• Craig Osika C

• Ron Stone G

• Matt Willig G/T

• Andre Carter DE

• Jerome Davis DT

• John Engelberger DE

• Jim Flanigan DT

• Sean Moran DE

• Chike Okeafor DE

• Josh Shaw DT

• Dana Stubblefield DT

• Bryant Young DT

• Cornelius Anthony OLB

• Brandon Moore OLB

• Julian Peterson OLB

• Saleem Rasheed MLB

• Derek Smith MLB

• Quincy Stewart OLB

• Jeff Ulbrich OLB

• Jamie Winborn OLB

• Zack Bronson FS

• Tim Hauck SS

• Duane Hawthorne CB

• Ronnie Heard FS

• Rashad Holman CB

• John Keith FS

• Jason Moore SS

• Tony Parrish SS

• Ahmed Plummer CB

• Mike Rumph CB

• Jason Webster CB

• Jeff Chandler K

• Brian Jennings LS

• Bill Lafleur P

• Kevin Curtis S (IR) [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]

• Dave Fiore G (IR) [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]

• Terry Jackson RB (IR) [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]

• Alex Lincoln LB (NF-Inj.) [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]

• Cade McNown QB (IR) [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]

• Anthony Parker CB (IR) [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]

• Jamal Robertson RB (IR) [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]

• Frank Strong LB (IR) [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]

• Jimmy Williams CB (IR) [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]

• Mark Anelli TE

• Jasen Isom FB

• James Jordan WR

• Aaron Lockett WR

Regular season

Schedule

Game summaries

Week 1: at New York Giants

At Giants Stadium the 49ers clawed to a 13–6 lead on three Kerry Collins interceptions, but a late Tiki Barber score tied the game 13–13. Two Jeff Garcia passes for 45 yards and three Garrison Hearst runs for seven yards set up Jose Cortez's 36-yard field goal with ten seconds left and the 16–13 49ers win.

Week 2: vs. Denver Broncos

Despite an eight-yard touchdown to Terrell Owens (suffering from a season-long groin issue), Jeff Garcia struggled in San Francisco's home opener, fumbling in the third quarter then throwing an interception to Deltha O'Neal in the fourth. A late rushing score by Garcia made the final score 24–14 for the Broncos.

Week 3: vs. Washington Redskins

Jeff Garcia and Tim Rattay combined for just 125 passing yards as the Niners defeated the Redskins 20–10. Food poisoning forced Garcia out of the game. "I just didn't feel real crisp," Garcia said in the postgame press conference.

Week 5: vs. St. Louis Rams

The Rams' collapse following their loss in Super Bowl XXXVI continued as Jamie Martin started and was intercepted twice. Garrison Hearst and Kevan Barlow rushed for 166 yards as the Niners pummeled the Rams 37–13.

Week 6: at Seattle Seahawks

;First Quarter

• SF – Jose Cortez 37 yard field goal, 10:06. 49ers 3–0.
• SF – Terrell Owens 6 yard pass from Jeff Garcia (Jose Cortez kick), 6:50. 49ers 10–0.
• SEA – Mack Strong 5 yard pass from Trent Dilfer (Rian Lindell kick), 1:45. 49ers 10–7. ;Second Quarter
• SEA – Bobby Engram 61 yard punt return (Rian Lindell kick), 5:41. Seahawks 14–10.
• SF – Jose Cortez 29 yard field goal, 2:09. Seahawks 14–13.
• SF – Kevan Barlow 6 yard run (Jose Cortez kick), 5:29. 49ers 20–14. ;Third Quarter
• SEA – Shaun Alexander 1 yard run (Rian Lindell kick), 1:11. Seahawks 21–20. ;Fourth Quarter
• SF – Terrell Owens 37 yard pass from Garcia (Garrison Hearst pass from Jeff Garcia), 7:46. 49ers 28–21. On Monday Night Football Terrell Owens caught two touchdowns, including what turned out to be the game-winner in the final eight minutes. After one touchdown Owens took out a magic marker and autographed the football before giving it to one of his assistants in the endzone grandstands, a maneuver that caused a stir in football circles. The win was only the second for the Niners over their former offensive coordinator Mike Holmgren as a head coach.

Week 7: at New Orleans Saints

The 4–1 49ers faced the 5–1 Saints for the first time since divisional realignment split the two clubs out of the NFC West and formed the new NFC South. The two clubs put up a combined 840 yards of offense; the Niners led 24–13 after three quarters but the Saints outscored San Francisco 22–3 in the fourth quarter; Jeff Garcia was intercepted with 2:30 to go and Aaron Brooks ran in a one-yard touchdown for the 35–27 Saints win.

Week 8: vs. Arizona Cardinals

Four rushing touchdowns (two of them from Marcel Shipp) were not enough for the Cardinals against the Niners as Jeff Garcia tossed four touchdowns and Jake Plummer was intercepted three times in a 38–28 San Francisco win.

Week 9: at Oakland Raiders

The two Bay Area teams clashed in an overtime grinder as Rich Gannon threw for 164 yards and a one-yard touchdown to Jerry Porter. Garcia threw for 282 yards and two scores and rushed for 46 yards, 21 of them in overtime following a missed 27-yard Jose Cortez field goal attempt at the end of regulation. Cortez nailed the 23-yard kick in overtime for the 23–20 49ers win.

Week 10: vs. Kansas City Chiefs

First quarter

• SF – José Cortez 42-yard field goal, 7:06. ''49ers 3–0. '''Drive: 15 plays, 56 yards, 7:54.'''''
• KC – Morten Andersen 33-yard field goal, 2:13. ''Tied 3–3. '''Drive: 10 plays, 48 yards, 4:53.''''' Second quarter
• SF – Garrison Hearst 5-yard run (José Cortez kick), 11:13. ''49ers 10–3. '''Drive: 11 plays, 71 yards, 6:00.'''''
• KC – Priest Holmes 12-yard run (Morten Andersen kick), 9:06. ''Tied 10–10. '''Drive: 4 plays, 50 yards, 2:07.'''''
• SF – Kevan Barlow 6-yard run (José Cortez kick), 2:40. ''49ers 17–10. '''Drive: 11 plays, 58 yards, 6:26.''''' Third quarter
• No scoring plays. Fourth quarter
• KC – Morten Andersen 43-yard field goal, 14:21. ''49ers 17–13. '''Drive: 10 plays, 38 yards, 5:09.''''' ;Top passers
• KC – Trent Green – 15/27, 193 yards
• SF – Jeff Garcia – 25/35, 175 yards, INT ;Top rushers
• KC – Priest Holmes – 11 rushes, 51 yards, TD
• SF – Garrison Hearst – 15 rushes, 69 yards, TD ;Top receivers
• KC – Eddie Kennison – 8 receptions, 134 yards
• SF – Terrell Owens – 7 receptions, 51 yards The Niners faced former Rams coach Dick Vermeil, whose Chiefs had scored at least 34 points five times to that point of the season; they were held to 13 points and 256 yards of offense as the Niners ground out the 17–13 win.

Week 11: at San Diego Chargers

First quarter

• SDG – Reche Caldwell 4-yard pass from Drew Brees (Steve Christie kick), 0:40. ''Chargers 7–0. '''Drive: 10 plays, 80 yards, 4:40.''''' Second quarter
• SF – Terrell Owens 32-yard pass from Jeff Garcia (Jose Cortez kick), 1:04. ''Tied 7–7. '''Drive: 5 plays, 69 yards, 1:32.''''' Third quarter
• SF – Terrell Owens 76-yard pass from Jeff Garcia (Jose Cortez kick), 14:06. ''49ers 14–7. '''Drive: 3 plays, 80 yards, 0:54.'''''
• SF – Jose Cortez 24-yard field goal, 6:38. ''49ers 17–7. '''Drive: 11 plays, 41 yards, 5:20.''''' Fourth quarter
• SDG – Steve Christie 36-yard field goal, 5:05. ''49ers 17–10. '''Drive: 7 plays, 62 yards, 2:33.'''''
• SDG – Fred McCrary 1-yard pass from Drew Brees (Steve Christie kick), 0:31. ''Tied 17–17. '''Drive: 11 plays, 58 yards, 2:51.''''' Overtime
• SDG – Steve Christie 40-yard field goal, 4:11. ''Chargers 20–17. '''Drive: 9 plays, 47 yards, 4:35.''''' Top passers
• SF – Jeff Garcia – 25/43, 337 yards, 2 TD, INT
• SDG – Drew Brees – 29/50, 336 yards, 2 TD, INT Top rushers
• SF – Garrison Hearst – 12 rushes, 66 yards
• SDG – LaDainian Tomlinson – 24 rushes, 88 yards Top receivers
• SF – Terrell Owens – 7 receptions, 171 yards, 2 TD
• SDG – Curtis Conway – 7 receptions, 152 yards At San Diego Terrell Owens caught two touchdowns, one a 76-yard bomb, but the Niners blew a 17–7 lead to the Chargers as Drew Brees' touchdown to Fred McCrary with 31 seconds to go tied the game, and former Buffalo Bill Steve Christie won it with 4:11 to go in overtime on a 40-yard field goal. The two teams combined for 908 yards of offense. Kicker Jose Cortez, who missed another game-winning field goal attempt in overtime, was cut by the 49ers.

Week 12: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Despite putting up 409 yards of offense the Niners were pounded by the Eagles 38–17 as Koy Detmer and A. J. Feeley combined for three touchdown throws; Detmer added a rushing score and Brian Mitchell ran back a 76-yard punt for a touchdown. Future Eagle Terrell Owens caught two touchdown passes from Jeff Garcia.

Week 13: vs. Seattle Seahawks

The Niners raced to a 31–10 lead behind three Garrison Hearst touchdown runs and a punt return score. In the fourth quarter Matt Hasselbeck (who had 427 passing yards in all) scored twice on passes to Koren Robinson and Darrell Jackson but was intercepted with 1:31 to go, ensuring the 31–24 Niners win.

Week 14: at Dallas Cowboys

Though the championship rivalry of a decade past had cooled off with the fall of the Cowboys to sub-mediocrity, the game at Texas Stadium nonetheless resembled Cowboy-49er clashes of yore. Despite intercepting Chad Hutchinson twice, the 49ers saw the lead change four times before the Cowboys surged to a 27–17 lead in the fourth quarter. Jeff Garcia then stormed the 49ers to the win on touchdowns to Tai Streets and a bobbling eight-yard catch by Terrell Owens with fifteen seconds remaining. In the 31–27 49ers win the two teams combined for 35 fourth-quarter points.

Week 15: vs. Green Bay Packers

First quarter

• GB – Ryan Longwell 48-yard field goao, 2:12. ''Packers 3–0. '''Drive: 10 plays, 16 yards, 4:37.''''' Second quarter
• SF – Jeff Chandler 47-yard field goal, 9:34. ''Tied 3–3. '''Drive: 5 plays, 23 yards, 1:46.'''''
• SF – Jeff Chandler 42-yard field goal, 0:07. ''49ers 6–3. '''Drive: 13 plays, 44 yards, 3:52.''''' Third quarter
• GB – Ahman Green 9-yard run (Ryan Longwell kick), 11:02. ''Packers 10–6. '''Drive: 9 plays, 79 yards, 3:58.'''''
• GB – Donald Driver 5-yard pass from Brett Favre (Ryan Longwell kick), 5:35. ''Packers 17–6. '''Drive: 6 plays, 29 yards, 3:19.'''''
• SF – Terrell Owens 45-yard pass from Jeff Garcia (Jeff Garcia run), 1:04. ''Packers 17–14. '''Drive: 8 plays, 73 yards, 4:31.''''' Fourth quarter
• GB – Ryan Longwell 28-yard field goal, 4:41. ''Packers 20–14. '''Drive: 11 plays, 53 yards, 4:59.''''' Top passers
• GB – Brett Favre – 25/33, 201 yards, TD
• SF – Jeff Garcia – 19/34, 156 yards, TD, INT Top rushers
• GB – Ahman Green – 24 rushes, 90 yards, TD
• SF – Garrison Hearst – 12 rushes, 51 yards Top receivers
• GB – Terry Glenn – 3 receptions, 46 yards
• SF – Terrell Owens – 8 receptions, 75 yards, TD

The Niners’ perennial struggles against the Packers since Green Bay's 1995 playoff win continued with San Francisco's tenth loss in eleven meetings. Terrell Owens caught a pass and bulled off a defender into the end zone; after scoring he took the pom poms of a Niners cheerleader and celebrated. On the Niners final drive Garcia drove to the Packers 14 (gaining a first down on a run and despite running into a Packers assistant coach on the sideline) but was stopped on fourth down.

Week 16: at Arizona Cardinals

The Niners held the Cardinals to just 184 yards of offense in a 17–14 Niners win. Terrell Owens did not play. Regardless, the 49ers clinched the NFC West with the win. This would be their last NFC West title until 2011.

Week 17: at St. Louis Rams

Having clinched the NFC West, the Niners rested many starters against the Rams as Jeff Garcia threw only three passes and Tim Rattay threw a pair of touchdowns to Tai Streets. The Rams played to salvage a win in their disappointing season and exploded for 28 fourth-quarter points to win 31–20; the Rams thus finished 7–9 while the Niners were 10–6.

Standings

Division

Conference

Playoffs

Schedule

Game summaries

NFC Wild Card Playoffs: vs. New York Giants

;First Quarter

• SF – Terrell Owens 76 yard pass from Jeff Garcia (Jeff Chandler kick), 10:10. ''49ers 7–0. '''Drive: 1 play, 76 yards, 0:11.'''''
• NYG – Amani Toomer 12 yard pass from Kerry Collins (Matt Bryant kick), 0:22. ''Tied 7–7. '''Drive: 11 plays, 55 yards, 4:15.''''' ;Second Quarter
• NYG – Jeremy Shockey 2 yard pass from Kerry Collins (Matt Bryant kick), 12:24. ''Giants 14–7. '''Drive: 5 plays, 61 yards, 2:24.'''''
• SF – Kevan Barlow 1 yard run (Jeff Chandler kick), 6:58. ''Tied 14–14. '''Drive: 10 plays, 69 yards, 6:14.'''''
• NYG – Amani Toomer 8 yard pass from Kerry Collins (Matt Bryant kick), 2:54. ''Giants 21–14. '''Drive: 1 play, 8 yards, 0:05.'''''
• NYG – Amani Toomer 24 yard pass from Kerry Collins (Matt Bryant kick), 0:16. ''Giants 28–14. '''Drive: 5 plays, 66 yards, 1:43.''''' ;Third Quarter
• NYG – Tiki Barber 6 yard run (Matt Bryant kick), 9:57. ''Giants 35–14. '''Drive: 6 plays, 54 yards, 2:16.'''''
• NYG – Matt Bryant 21 yard field goal, 4:30. ''Giants 38–14. '''Drive: 9 plays, 63 yards, 4:20.'''''
• SF – Terrell Owens 26 yard pass from Jeff Garcia (Jeff Garcia–Terrell Owens pass), 2:10. ''Giants 38–22. '''Drive: 7 plays, 70 yards, 2:24.''''' ;Fourth Quarter
• SF – Jeff Garcia 14 yard run (Jeff Garcia–Terrell Owens pass), 15:00. ''Giants 38–30. '''Drive: 3 plays, 27 yards, 0:41.'''''
• SF – Jeff Chandler 25 yard field goal, 7:52. ''Giants 38–33. '''Drive: 15 plays, 74 yards, 5:26.'''''
• SF – Tai Streets 13 yard pass from Jeff Garcia (pass failed), 1:05. ''49ers 39–38. '''Drive: 9 plays, 68 yards, 2:01.'''''

The Steelers' comeback earlier in the day (36–33 over the Cleveland Browns) was matched by San Francisco's similar late drive, overcoming a 38–14 deficit by scoring 25 unanswered points in the second half. A last-minute Giants drive collapsed when Trey Junkin botched a field goal snap, leading to a desperation heave to the endzone that fell short. There were two notable events in this game. The first one was when after the 49ers scored a touchdown, Terrell Owens caught a pass from Jeff Garcia for the two-point conversion. After the catch, Owens did a little showboating. Michael Strahan of the Giants went up to Owens and pointed to the scoreboard and mocked Owens. (At the time, the Giants led 38–22.) This is significant because the 49ers came back to win. After the 49ers scored another touchdown and made the score 38–30, Joe Buck remarked "The scoreboard doesn't look so great to Strahan anymore." The second event in the game was that in the 3rd quarter, Jeremy Shockey dropped a touchdown pass that would have put the Giants up 41–14. Instead, the Giants had to kick a field goal, making the score 38–14. Nobody at the time knew how big of a mistake this dropped pass would be for the Giants, and how big of a blessing for the 49ers. The win was the 26th in a playoff game for the club and the last until the 2011 divisional playoffs. The 49ers 25-point comeback led them to the Divisional Round but lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion Buccanners 31-6.

NFC Divisional Playoffs: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – January 12, 2003

;First Quarter

• TB – Mike Alstott 2 yard run (Martín Gramática kick), 6:41. ''Buccaneers 7–0. '''Drive: 12 plays, 64 yards, 5:16.'''''
• SF – Jeff Chandler 24 yard field goal, 0:22. ''Buccaneers 7–3. '''Drive: 12 plays, 63 yards, 6:17.''''' ;Second Quarter
• TB – Joe Jurevicius 20 yard pass from Brad Johnson (Martín Gramática kick), 9:35. ''Buccaneers 14–3. '''Drive: 11 plays, 87 yards, 5:50.'''''
• SF – Jeff Chandler 40 yard field goal, 8:36. ''Buccaneers 14–6. '''Drive: 5 plays, 9 yards, 0:46.'''''
• TB – Rickey Dudley 12 yard pass from Brad Johnson (Martín Gramática kick), 7:31. ''Buccaneers 21–6. '''Drive: 2 plays, 16 yards, 1:07.'''''
• TB – Mike Alstott 2 yard run (Martín Gramática kick), 0:55. ''Buccaneers 28–6. '''Drive: 4 plays, 26 yards, 1:10.''''' ;Third Quarter
• TB – Martín Gramática 19 yard field goal, 8:33. ''Buccaneers 31–6. '''Drive: 10 plays, 36 yards, 6:16.''''' ;Fourth Quarter
• No scoring plays.

The Buccaneers, with the league's top-ranked defense during the 2002 regular season, forced five turnovers, sacked quarterback Jeff Garcia four times, and limited the 49ers to only two field goals. Tampa Bay quarterback Brad Johnson, who had been sidelined for a month, returned to throw for 196 yards and two touchdowns. Fullback Mike Alstott scored two touchdowns, while the Buccaneers held onto the ball for 36:46 and held the 49ers to a season low 228 yards. This was San Francisco's first playoff game without a touchdown since 1986. Despite San Francisco's 10–6 record and their Wild Card playoff win against New York, coach Steve Mariucci was fired three days after this game. This would be the 49ers last playoff appearance until 2011 and their last loss in the Divisional Round loss until 2025.

References

• 49ers on Pro Football Reference
• 49ers Schedule on jt-sw.com