The team earned
its name from the surge of goldminers to the San Francisco area
during 1849, thus the nickname the San Francisco 49ers. It is the
only name the team has been affiliated with and San Francisco is
the only city in which it has resided.
Fifty-two years
ago, professional football in San Francisco- and the entire west,
for that matter- was just a dream for Anthony J. (Tony) Morabito,
a University of Santa Clara alumnus who had been moderately successful
in the lumber hauling business. Tony was one of the few men who
realized that air travel would make feasible a coast-to-coast rivalry
in football, as well as baseball. He explained his views to Bill
Leiser, sports editor of the San Francisco Chronicle. Leiser, in
turn, put Tony in touch with Arch Ward, sports editor of the Chicago
Tribune.
Ward was the
organizing genius behind the All-America Conference, which held
its first meeting in October of 1944 and began operations in the
fall of 1946. Tony was granted a franchise for San Francisco, along
with his partners in the lumber business-Allen E. Sorrell and E.J.
Turre- and his younger brother, Victor.
For their inaugural
year, the 49ers were fortunate in signing players who were well
known to the San Francisco Bay area fans-Frankie Albert and Norm
Standlee of Stanford; Alyn Beals, Eddie Forrest, Ken Casanega and
Visco Grgich of Santa Clara. There was also a wealth of talent from
the 4th Air Force team, which had performed many times in San Francisco
during the war. Outstanding among this group were Jimmy Strzykalski
and Joe Vetrano.
With Lawrence
T. (Buck) Shaw as head coach, the 49ers slowly but surely won a
following for pro football. In the four years of the AAC, the 49ers
finished second to the talent-packed Cleveland Browns, but the great
sport became a byword throughout the metropolitan San Francisco
area.
In 1950, San
Francisco fans celebrated the entry of the 49ers into the NFL, along
with Cleveland and Baltimore. But the road was rough and hazardous
during the first year-the team won only three games against nine
defeats.
Joined by Y.A.
Tittle, who shared quarterback duties with Frankie Albert, the 49ers
roared back in 1951 and missed tying for the Western Conference
title by only a half-game. That was the beginning of the club's
stirring role as a prime participant in every NFL race except 1955-56-58.
The smashing
success of San Francisco in pro football had a tragic overtone on
October 27, 1957 when Tony Morabito died of a heart attack while
watching the 49ers play the Chicago Bears at Kezar Stadium. Tony
had been living on the proverbial "borrowed time" since
1952 when he suffered a coronary occlusion. Doctors urged him to
get out of football, asserting that the high emotional factors of
the sport were dangerous. He refused to retire for the 49ers weren't
just a hobby for him- they were his life's blood.
No team ever
gave an owner a better tribute. The 49ers were losing, 17-7 when
they were informed of Tony's death. They stormed back for a 21-17
upset victory, turning away numerous Chicago touchdown onslaughts
in the fourth period.
After Tony died,
control of the club passed on to his widow Josephine, and to Victor
Morabito. Other owners included Albert J. Ruffo, Dr. William E.
O'Grady, Franklin Mieuli, Lawrence Purcell, James Ginella, Louis
Spadia and Frankie Albert.
Through the
years, Bay Area football fans have been thrilled by the performances
of such legendary stars as the "Million Dollar Backfield"
of Y.A. Tittle, Joe Perry, John Henry Johnson and Hugh McElhenny
in the 1950s; the quarterbacking wizardry of John Brodie in the
'60s; and the rugged defensive play of Jimmy Johnson in the '70s.
In 1971, the
49ers moved from Kezar Stadium to Candlestick Park. The stadium
was named in 1970 by a balloting among fans, in reference to Candlestick
Point, where the stadium is located. The first 49ers' regular season
came took place October 10, 1971 vs. Los Angeles Rams. The playing
surface is natural grass and the stadium currently seats 70,207.
The late '70s
ushered in a new era for the 49ers, sparked by the purchase of the
team by Ohio businessman Eddie DeBartolo Jr. and the hiring of Stanford
head coach Bill Walsh. The new owner and coach were the chief architects
in building what would become professional sport's winningest franchise
over the next 15 years.
Upon his purchase
of the club in 1977, DeBartolo began a process of upgrading the
organization's front office administration and on-field talent.
His vision was to create a winning franchise that operated with
class and dignity. Of equal importance, however, was creating an
atmosphere conducive to developing a strong sense of kinship within
the operation.
As Chief Executive
Officer of the 49ers from its acquisition until 1997, Edward J.
DeBartolo, Jr. saw his primary role as one of
provid-ing emotional and financial support for the players and coaches.
Under his leadership the 49ers earned the moniker "Team of
the 80s" after claiming four Super Bowl titles during that
decade. They extended their dominance into the 90s, becoming only
NFL team to produce 10-or-more wins for 16 consecutive seasons (1983-98).
Since 1981, the 49ers have won 13 division titles, five conference
championships and five Super Bowl championships (the first franchise
in NFL history to win five), claiming the world title in 1981 (Super
Bowl XVI), '84 (Super Bowl XIX), '88 (Super Bowl XXIII), '89 (Super
Bowl XXIV) and '94 (Super Bowl XXIX).
San Francisco
has posted at least 10 wins seventeen times in each of the last
20 seasons.
San Francisco
opened its sixth decade in the NFL under new leadership. The transfer
of ownership from Edward DeBartolo, Jr. to his sister Denise DeBartolo
York was approved by the NFL May 23, 2000. DeBartolo, Jr. ended
his tenure after guiding the 49ers to five Super Bowl Championships
and 16 postseason appearances.
In 2002, the
San Francisco 49ers entered 2002 with hopes of advancing past the
first round of the NFC playoffs. The team accomplished the mission
finishing the season with 10 wins and advancing to the NFC Divisional
Playoff in grand fashion with the second largest playoff comeback
in NFL history. The 49ers finished the season with a 5-1 division
record and won their first division title since 1997.
Head Coach Steve
Mariucci is released from the final year of his contract on January
15, 2003. The 49ers conducted a nation-wide search for Mariucci’s
successor and in the end hired Dennis Erickson. Erickson was introduced
as the 49ers 14th head coach in team history on February 12, 2003.
The 49ers usher
in a new era with a return to the past as Mike Nolan is named the
15th head coach in team history on January 19, 2005. Nolan is the
son of former 49ers coach Dick Nolan (1968-75) and replaces the
departed Dennis Erickson.
