1987 San Francisco 49ers season

American football team season August 2023 March 2026 San Francisco 49ers 1987 13–2 1st NFC West Edward J. DeBartolo Jr. John McVay Bill Walsh George Seifert Candlestick Park Lost Divisional Playoffs(vs. Vikings) 24–36 QB Joe MontanaWR Jerry RiceRB Roger CraigNT Michael CarterFS Ronnie Lott 49ers seasons thumb | right The 1987 San Francisco 49ers season was the franchise's 38th season in the National Football League and their 42nd overall. The 49ers won the division for the second consecutive season, ended the season as the top seed in the NFC and were heavily favored to represent the conference in the Super Bowl. The season ended with an upset loss to the Minnesota Vikings in the divisional round of the playoffs. The season The 49ers lost the first game of the season to Pittsburgh. In their second game, against Cincinnati, it appeared that they were going to start the season 0–2, down by 6 points with just 2 seconds to play. However, quarterback Joe Montana threw a 25-yard pass to wide receiver Jerry Rice as time expired. The 49ers used the victory as a springboard to a 13–1 run to end the season with the best record in the NFL. The 49ers scored 459 points, the most in the NFL in 1987; they also scored 206 more points than they allowed, best in the league as well. The 49ers gained the most total yards (5,987), the most rushing yards (2,237) and second most passing yards (3,750) in the NFL in 1987.Pro-Football-Reference.com: 1987 NFL Standings, Team & Offensive Statistics Wide receiver Jerry Rice was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year and the Bert Bell Award (for Player of the Year). Rice caught 22 touchdown passes in a strike-shortened 12 games (1 game was canceled because of the strike, and Rice didn't play in the next 3 games while the strike was on). This record stood for twenty years.This record was broken by Randy Moss in 2007, with his 22nd and 23rd TD receptions occurring in the 16th and final game of the season. Rice led the league in receiving yards per game (89.8), total touchdowns (23: 22 receiving, 1 rushing), and points scored (138). Quarterback Joe Montana (who crossed the picket line during the strike) led the league with 31 touchdown passes. He also led the league in passer rating (102.1) and completion percentage (66.8%). The San Francisco defense was also very strong, surrendering the fewest total yards (4,095), fewest passing yards (2,484) and fifth-fewest rushing yards (1,611) in the NFL in 1987. The 1987 49ers have the best passer rating differential (offensive passer rating minus opponents' combined passer rating) of the Live Ball Era (1978–present), with +52.4.http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.com/content/40-and-fabulous-praise-passer-rating/14959 40 and Fabulous: in praise of passer rating Kerry Byrne Cold Hard Football Facts June 11, 2012 April 2, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20120817080016/http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.com/content/40-and-fabulous-praise-passer-rating/14959/ August 17, 2012 dead Offseason When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected quarterback Vinny Testaverde first overall in the 1987 NFL draft, Tampa Bay quarterback Steve Young was traded to the 49ers on April 24, 1987. The Buccaneers received 2nd and 4th round draft picks in the trade, which they used to draft Miami linebacker Winston Moss, and Arizona State wide receiver Bruce Hill. NFL draft 1987 NFL draft Harris Barton was the first offensive tackle selected in the first round of the NFL Draft by the 49ers since Forrest Blue was selected in 1968.1990 NFL Pro Set Harris Barton trading card, Card No. 284, Pro Set Properties 1987 San Francisco 49ers 1 22 Harris Barton Tackle North Carolina yes yes 1 25 Terrence Flagler Running back Clemson yes 2 37 Jeff Bregel Guard USC yes 5 134 Paul Jokisch Wide receiver Michigan 6 162 Bob White Linebacker Penn State 7 189 Steve DeLine Kicker Colorado State 8 217 David Grayson Linebacker Fresno State 9 245 Jonathan Shelley Defensive back Ole Miss yes 10 275 John Paye Quarterback Stanford 11 301 Calvin Nicholas Wide receiver Grambling State yes Source:https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sfo/1987_draft.htm 1987 San Francisco 49ers Draftees Pro Football Reference February 17, 2024 Personnel Staff 1987 San Francisco 49ers Owner – Edward J. DeBartolo, Jr. President – Bill Walsh Vice president/general counsel – Carmen Policy Vice president/general manager – John McVay Administrator of football operations – Neal Dahlen Director of college scouting – Tony Razzano Director of pro personnel – Allan Webb Executive administrative assistant – Norb Hecker Head coach – Bill Walsh Quarterbacks – Mike Holmgren Running backs – Sherman Lewis Receivers – Dennis Green Offensive line – Bobb McKittrick Defensive coordinator – George Seifert Defensive line – Fred von Appen Linebackers – Bill McPherson Defensive backs – Ray Rhodes Defensive assistant – Tommy Hart Special teams – Lynn Stiles Physical development coordinator – Jerry Attaway NFL replacement players After the league decided to use replacement players during the NFLPA strike, the following team was assembled: 1987 San Francisco 49ers replacement rosterQuarterbacks 7 Mark Stevens 10 Ed Blount 11 Bob Gagliano 15 Paul Berner 16 Joe Montana Running backs 23 Tony Cherry 24 Harry Sydney FB 24 Bernard Moore 25 Doug DuBose 25 Del Rodgers 28 Joe Cribbs 28 Don Roberts 33 Roger Craig 35 James Mackey 47 Andre Hardy 48 Mike Varajon 83 Carl Monroe Wide receivers 17 Tony Gladney 29 Terry Greer 32 Ray Brown 82 Kevin Collins 83 Carl Monroe 84 Dennis Allen 84 Thomas Henley 86 Thai Ivory 86 James Hardy 87 Dwight Clark 88 Jeff Tiefenthaller Tight ends 40 Mike Wells 47 Chris Dressel 81 Russ Francis 89 Ron Heller 90 Darren Long Offensive linemen 51 Michael Durette 60 Chuck Thomas C 62 Kevin Lamar 63 Tracy Franz LT 65 Tom Long 65 Kevin Reach 66 Mark Cochran 66 Limbo Parks 78 Gary Hoffman Defensive linemen 61 Joe Drake 64 Mike Durrette 67 Pete Kugler LDE 75 Greg Lifer 76 Dwaine Board RDE 76 Terry Jackson 79 Glenn Collins 92 Reno Patterson 93 Clyde Glover 94 Bob Standifar 96 Elston Ridgle 97 Doug Mikolas NTLinebackers 51 Carl Keever 52 George Cooper LOLB 54 Ron Hadley LILB 56 Darren Comeaux 56 Steve Meadow 57 Tom Cousineau RILB 59 Keith Browner 58 James Johnson 90 Kevin Thompson 90 Mark Korff 98 Jerry Keeble ROLB 99 Greg Wilks Defensive backs 20 Kevin Pollard 21 Eric Wright 22 Jonathon Shelley 25 Del Rodgers 26 John Butler 31 Derrick Martin 36 Darryl Pollard LCB 43 Dana McLemore RCB 43 John Sullivan 45 Matt Courtney 47 John Faylor FS 49 Jeff Fuller SS Special teams 5 Jeff Brockhaus K 6 Louis Berry P 9 Jim Asmus P Roster 1987 San Francisco 49ers 11 Bob Gagliano 16 Joe Montana  8 Steve Young 33 Roger Craig American football 28 Joe Cribbs 32 Terrence Flagler y 44 Tom Rathman 24 Harry Sydney 87 Dwight Clark 84 Ken Margerum 80 Jerry Rice 82 John Taylor American football 85 Mike Wilson wide receiver 86 John Frank tight end 89 Ron Heller tight end 88 Brent Jones 79 Harris Barton y T 69 Bruce Collie G 51 Randy Cross C/G 77 Bubba Paris T 56 Fred Quillan C 61 Jesse Sapolu G 60 Chuck Thomas American football C 74 Steve Wallace American football T 76 Dwaine Board DE 95 Michael Carter nose tackle NT 75 Kevin Fagan American football DE 93 Clyde Glover DE 94 Charles Haley DE 67 Pete Kugler DE 97 Doug Mikolas NT 92 Larry Roberts American football DE 72 Jeff Stover DE 56 Darren Comeaux ILB 51 George Cooper linebacker OLB 50 Riki Ellison ILB 55 Jim Fahnhorst ILB 53 Milt McColl OLB 90 Todd Shell OLB 99 Michael Walter American football ILB 29 Don Griffin CB 49 Jeff Fuller safety SS 46 Tom Holmoe FS 42 Ronnie Lott FS 22 Tim McKyer CB 43 Dana McLemore CB 20 Tory Nixon CB 27 Carlton Williamson SS  4 Max Runager P 14 Ray Wersching K 65 Jeff Bregel y G IR 57 Tom Cousineau LB IR 83 Derrick Crawford wide receiver WR IR 57 Kevin Dean linebacker LB IR 25 Doug DuBose y RB IR 71 Keith Fahnhorst T IR 54 Ron Hadley LB IR 92 Kevin Lilly DE IR 62 Guy McIntyre G IR -- Calvin Nicholas y WR IR 15 John Paye y QB IR 26 Sean Thomas defensive back CB IR 58 Keena Turner LB IR 21 Eric Wright cornerback, born 1959 CB IR Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue HOF August 8 vs. Kansas City Chiefs W 20–7 1–0 Fawcett Stadium 1 August 15 at Los Angeles Raiders W 42–16 2–0 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 2 August 22 Dallas Cowboys L 3–13 2–1 Candlestick Park 3 August 27 San Diego Chargers W 17–3 3–1 Candlestick Park 4 September 4 at Seattle Seahawks L 10–34 3–2 Kingdomehttps://www.profootballarchives.com/1987nflsf.html#gsc.tab=0 1987 San Francisco 49ers (NFL) Scores, Roster, Stats, Coaches, Draft Pro Football Archives June 6, 2026 Regular season In 1987, Jerry Rice led the NFL with 22 touchdown receptions. The runner-up was Philadelphia Eagles receiver Mike Quick with 11. This marked the first time in NFL history that a category leader doubled the total of his nearest competitor.Numbelievable! 147 Michael X. Ferraro John Veneziano Triumph Books Chicago 2007 978-1-57243-990-0 Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 13 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 17–30 0–1 Three Rivers Stadium 55,735 2 September 20 at Cincinnati Bengals W 27–26 1–1 Riverfront Stadium 53,498 – September 27 Philadelphia Eagles Canceled 3 October 5, 1987 at New York Giants W 41–21 2–1 Giants Stadium 16,471 4 October 11 at Atlanta Falcons W 25–17 3–1 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 8,684 5 October 18 St. Louis Cardinals W 34–28 4–1 Candlestick Park 38,094 6 October 25 at New Orleans Saints W 24–22 5–1 Louisiana Superdome 60,497 7 November 1 at Los Angeles Rams W 31–10 6–1 Anaheim Stadium 55,328 8 November 8 Houston Oilers W 27–20 7–1 Candlestick Park 59,740 9 November 15 New Orleans Saints L 24–26 7–2 Candlestick Park 60,436 10 November 22 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 24–10 8–2 Tampa Stadium 63,211 11 November 29 Cleveland Browns W 38–24 9–2 Candlestick Park 60,248 12 December 6 at Green Bay Packers W 23–12 10–2 Lambeau Field 51,118 13 December 14, 1987 Chicago Bears W 41–0 11–2 Candlestick Park 63,509 14 December 20 Atlanta Falcons W 35–7 12–2 Candlestick Park 54,698 15 December 27 Los Angeles Rams W 48–0 13–2 Candlestick Park 57,950 Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. Game summaries Week 2: at Cincinnati Bengals 49ers 0 7 13 7 Bengals 10 10 0 6 September 20 Riverfront Stadium • Cincinnati, Ohio 1:00 p.m. 53,498 62 °F 1 or, wind 9 mph km/h knots Bob McElwee Tim Ryan and Joe Theismann CBS yes 1 CIN Larry Kinnebrew 2-yard run (Jim Breech kick) Bengals 7–0 1 CIN Jim Breech 23-yard field goal Bengals 10–0 2 SF Mike Wilson 38-yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) Bengals 10–7 2 CIN Rodney Holman 46-yard pass from Boomer Esiason (Jim Breech kick) Bengals 17–7 2 CIN Jim Breech 42-yard field goal Bengals 20–7 3 SF Jerry Rice 34-yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) Bengals 20–14 3 SF Ray Wersching 24-yard field goal Bengals 20–17 3 SF Ray Wersching 31-yard field goal Tie 20–20 4 CIN Jim Breech 41-yard field goal Bengals 23–20 4 CIN Jim Breech 46-yard field goal Bengals 26–20 4 SF Jerry Rice 25-yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) 49ers 27–26 yes https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198709200cin.htm San Francisco 49ers at Cincinnati Bengals - September 20th, 1987 Pro-Football-Reference.com Standings Postseason 1987–88 NFL playoffs Schedule Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Divisional January 9, 1988 Minnesota Vikings (5) L 24–36 0–1 Candlestick Park Game summaries NFC Divisional Playoffs: vs. (5) Minnesota Vikings San Francisco 49ers 1987 2;text-align:center; autocollapse NFC Divisional Round: Minnesota Vikings at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary January 9, 1988 Candlestick Park, San Francisco, CA 1 p.m. PST Gene Barth CBS Tim Ryan and Joe Theismann Vikings 3 17 10 6 49ers 3 0 14 7 The 13–2 49ers suffered one of the biggest upsets in playoff history as the 8–7 Vikings came into Candlestick and beat the 49ers 36–24. Vikings QB Wade Wilson threw for 298 yards, and Anthony Carter caught 10 passes for 227 yards. Joe Montana struggled so much that Steve Young came in to relieve him. Though he played better, it was not enough. The Vikings took a 20–3 halftime lead, and held on for the major upset. Vikings advance to the NFC Championship but they were defeated by the Washington Redskins 17-10 Awards and records Jerry Rice, Franchise Record, Most Touchdowns in One Season, 23 touchdowns (22 receiving, 1 rushing)NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, 0-7611-2480-2, p. 142 Jerry Rice, Franchise Record, Most Points in One Season, 138 points Jerry Rice, NFL Leader, 23 touchdownsNFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, 0-7611-2480-2, p. 447 Jerry Rice, NFL Offensive Player of the Year Jerry Rice, Bert Bell Awardhttp://www.maxwellfootballclub.org/content/awards/bell/past_bell.htm Bert Bell Award – Professional Player of the Year: Past Recipients Maxwell Football Club April 2, 2022 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090619081037/http://www.maxwellfootballclub.org/content/awards/bell/past_bell.htm June 19, 2009 Notes References External links 1987 49ers on Pro Football Reference 49ers Schedule on jt-sw.com San Francisco Category:NFC West championship seasons Category:San Francisco 49ers seasons Category:1987 in San Francisco San