1978 San Francisco 49ers season

American football team season August 2023 March 2026 San Francisco 49ers 1978 2–14 4th NFC West Pete McCulleyFred O'Connor (interim) Fred O'Connor Dan Radakovich Joe Thomas Edward J. DeBartolo, Jr. Candlestick Park Did not qualify none 49ers seasons 49ers76 83.png 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.Thomas Is Fired en-US Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1979/01/09/thomas-is-fired/052858ab-7581-401d-ad52-880edc52d352/ 2023-11-16 0190-8286 The Niners' 2–14 record was the worst in the NFL in 1978 and tied for the worst in franchise history with the 1979, 2004, and 2016 seasons, dating back to the team's origins in the All America Football Conference (AAFC) in 1946."San Francisco 49ers," in Chuck Benedict and Al Hall (eds.), Petersen's Pro Football: 1979 Annual. Los Angeles: Petersen Publishing Co., 1979; p. 100. 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.1978 San Francisco 49ers 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,1978 NFL Standings 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 1978 NFL draft 1978 San Francisco 49ers 1 7 Ken MacAfee Tight end Notre Dame yes 1 24 Dan Bunz Linebacker Long Beach State yes 2 47 Walt Downing Guard Michigan yes 3 79 Ernie Hughes Center Notre Dame yes 4 91 Terry LeCount Wide receiver Florida yes 5 127 Archie Reese Defensive end Clemson yes 5 133 Bruce Threadgill Defensive back Mississippi State yes 6 148 Elliott Walker Running back Pittsburgh yes 7 175 Fred Quillan Center Oregon yes 9 229 Herman Redden Defensive back Howard 9 233 Dean Moore Linebacker Iowa yes 9 249 Steve McDaniels Tackle Notre Dame 10 260 Mike Connell Punter Cincinnati yes 11 287 Willie McCray Defensive end Troy State yes 12 314 Dan Irons Tackle Texas Tech no Source:https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sfo/1978_draft.htm 1978 San Francisco 49ers Draftees Pro Football Reference February 17, 2024 Personnel Staff / Coaches 1978 San Francisco 49ers 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 1978 San Francisco 49ers 19 Scott Bull 17 Steve DeBerg 33 Greg Boykin 31 Earl Carr y 38 Bob Ferrell 36 Paul Hofer 32 O. J. Simpson 35 Elliott Walker y 30 Dave Williams running back 83 Kenny Harrison American football 84 Mike Shumann y 88 Freddie Solomon 87 Jack Steptoe y 82 Lon Boyett 85 Paul Seal 63 Tony Ardizzone American football C 68 John Ayers G/T 64 Kyle Davis American football C 62 Walt Downing y G 71 Keith Fahnhorst T 65 Ernie Hughes y G 60 Steve Knutson T/G 56 Fred Quillan y C 67 Ron Singleton T 72 Cleveland Elam DE/DT 75 Ed Galigher DT 86 Cedrick Hardman DE 76 Willie McCray y DE 78 Archie Reese y DE 74 Jimmy Webb American football DT 52 Mike Baldassin OLB 54 Ed Bradley linebacker OLB 57 Dan Bunz y MLB 55 Bruce Elia MLB 50 Joe Harris American football OLB 53 Dean Moore y OLB 58 Mark Nichols linebacker y OLB 24 Chuck Crist FS 26 Bob Jury y SS 22 Eddie Lewis American football CB 25 Wonder Monds SS 42 Ricky Odom y CB 49 Vern Roberson FS/CB 23 Bruce Threadgill y FS 10 Mike Connell American football y P 14 Ray Wersching K 77 Jean Barrett American football T IR 51 Randy Cross C IR 59 Willie Harper LB IR -- Dan Irons y T IR 40 Wilbur Jackson RB IR 80 Terry LeCount y WR IR 81 Ken MacAfee y TE IR 66 Johnny Miller no G IR -- Herman Redden y no CB IR 32 O. J. Simpson RB IR 18 Gene Washington American football, born 1947 WR IR https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sfo/1978_roster.htm 1978 San Francisco 49ers starters and roster Pro-Football-Reference.com December 1, 2014 Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 August 5, 1978 at Dallas Cowboys L 24–41 0–2 Texas Stadium 63,736 2 August 12, 1978 Seattle Seahawks L 6–20 0–2 Candlestick Park 36,069 3 August 20 Oakland Raiders L 14–31 0–3 Candlestick Park 58,658 4 August 25, 1978 at Denver Broncos W 24–13 1–3 Mile High Stadium 73,559https://www.profootballarchives.com/1978nflsf.html 1978 San Francisco 49ers (NFL) Pro Football Archives November 2, 2023 Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 3 at Cleveland Browns L 7–24 0–1 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 68,973 2 September 10 Chicago Bears L 13–16 0–2 Candlestick Park 49,502 3 September 17 at Houston Oilers L 19–20 0–3 Houston Astrodome 46,161 4 September 24 at New York Giants L 10–27 0–4 Giants Stadium 71,536 5 October 1 Cincinnati Bengals W 28–12 1–4Candlestick Park 41,107 6 October 8 at Los Angeles Rams L 10–27 1–5Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 59,337 7 October 15 New Orleans Saints L 7–14 1–6Candlestick Park 37,671 8 October 22 Atlanta Falcons L 17–20 1–7 Candlestick Park 44,235 9 October 29 at Washington Redskins L 20–38 1–8 RFK Stadium 53,706 10 November 5 at Atlanta Falcons L 10–21 1–9 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 55,468 11 November 12 St. Louis Cardinals L 10–16 1–10 Candlestick Park 33,155 12 November 19 Los Angeles Rams L 28–31 1–11 Candlestick Park 45,022 13 November 27, 1978 Pittsburgh Steelers L 7–24 1–12 Candlestick Park 51,657 14 December 3 at New Orleans Saints L 13–24 1–13 Louisiana Superdome 50,068 15 December 10 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 6–3 2–13 Candlestick Park 30,931 16 December 17 at Detroit Lions L 14–33 2–14 Pontiac Silverdome 56,674 Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. Standings References Category:San Francisco 49ers seasons San Francisco 49ers Category:1978 in San Francisco San