1976 San Francisco 49ers season

The 1976 San Francisco 49ers season was the franchise's 27th season in the National Football League and their 31st overall. The team had a new head coach in Monte Clark, who previously was an assistant coach of the Miami Dolphins, to replace Dick Nolan. They began the season with the goal of improving on their previous output of 5–9. They were able to do so, starting the season 6–1; however, after a four-game losing streak, they finished 8–6[1] and missed the playoffs. This would be the first, and only, season for Clark as head coach. He was let go during the 1977 off-season.

1976 San Francisco 49ers season
OwnerJosephine Morabito-Fox
Jane Morabito
General managerLouis Spadia
Head coachMonte Clark
Home fieldCandlestick Park
Results
Record8–6
Division place2nd NFC West
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersRB Delvin Williams
DT Cleveland Elam
DE Tommy Hart
LB Dave Washington

On April 5, 1976, the 49ers traded for former Heisman Trophy winner Jim Plunkett. The 49ers gave the New England Patriots their first round pick in the 1976 NFL draft, the Houston Oilers first round pick in the 1976 Draft, the 49ers first and second round picks in the 1977 NFL draft, and quarterback Tom Owen.[2]

Offseason

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1976 Expansion Draft

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San Francisco 49ers selected during the Expansion Draft
Round Overall Name Position Expansion Team
0 0 Wayne Baker Defensive tackle Seattle Seahawks
0 0 Manfred Moore Running back Tampa Bay Buccaneers
0 0 Bob Penchion Guard Seattle Seahawks

NFL draft

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1976 San Francisco 49ers draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
2 42 Randy Cross *  Guard UCLA
2 57 Eddie Lewis  Defensive back Kansas
4 100 Steve Rivera  Wide receiver California
5 140 Tony Leonard  Defensive back Virginia Union
6 168 Robert Pennywell  Linebacker Grambling State
6 177 Scott Bull  Quarterback Arkansas
7 194 Jay Chesley  Defensive back Vanderbilt
8 223 John Ayers  Guard West Texas State began play with 49ers in 1977.
9 250 Kenny Harrison  Wide receiver SMU
10 275 Robin Ross  Tackle Washington State
11 305 Paul Hofer  Running back Ole Miss
12 332 Gerald Loper  Guard Florida
13 359 Larry Brumfield  Defensive back Indiana State
14 389 Johnny Miller  Guard Livingstone played with the 49ers in 1977.
15 416 Howard Stidham  Linebacker Tennessee Tech played with the 49ers in 1977.
16 443 Reggie Lewis  Defensive end San Diego State
17 473 Darryl Jenkins  Running back San Jose State
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Source:[3]

Personnel

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Staff / Coaches

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1976 San Francisco 49ers staff

Front office

  • Co-Owner and President – Josephine Morabito-Fox & Jane Morabito
  • General manager / Team President – Louis Spadia

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

  • Special Teams – Ed Alsman



Roster

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1976 San Francisco 49ers roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)
  • 64 Dale Mitchell OLB

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams

Reserve

  • 66 Johnny Miller G   (IR)


Rookies in italics

Preseason

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Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 August 1 at Seattle Seahawks W 27–20 1–0 Kingdome 60,825
2 August 8 Denver Broncos W 17–7 2–0 Candlestick Park 40,052
3 August 15 Kansas City Chiefs W 21–13 3–0 Candlestick Park 36,101
4 August 21 vs. San Diego Chargers W 17–14 4–0 Aloha Stadium 36,364
5 August 29 Oakland Raiders L 9–14 4–1 Candlestick Park 52,704
6 September 4 at Los Angeles Rams L3–10 4–2 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 55,256

[4]

Schedule

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Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 September 12 at Green Bay Packers W 26–14 1–0 Lambeau Field 54,628
2 September 19 Chicago Bears L 12–19 1–1 Candlestick Park 44,158
3 September 26 at Seattle Seahawks W 37–21 2–1 Kingdome 59,108
4 October 3 New York Jets W 17–6 3–1 Candlestick Park 42,691
5 October 11 at Los Angeles Rams W 16–0 4–1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 80,532
6 October 17 New Orleans Saints W 33–3 5–1 Candlestick Park 43,160
7 October 23 Atlanta Falcons W 15–0 6–1 Candlestick Park 50,240
8 October 31 at St. Louis Cardinals L 20–23 (OT) 6–2 Busch Memorial Stadium 50,365
9 November 7 Washington Redskins L 21–24 6–3 Candlestick Park 56,134
10 November 14 at Atlanta Falcons L 16–21 6–4 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 20,058
11 November 21 Los Angeles Rams L 3–23 6–5 Candlestick Park 58,573
12 November 29 Minnesota Vikings W 20–16 7–5 Candlestick Park 56,775
13 December 5 at San Diego Chargers L 7–13 (OT) 7–6 San Diego Stadium 33,539
14 December 12 at New Orleans Saints W 27–7 8–6 Louisiana Superdome 42,536
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

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NFC West
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Los Angeles Rams(3) 10 3 1 .750 7–0 9–2–1 351 190 W4
San Francisco 49ers 8 6 0 .571 5–2 7–5 270 190 W1
New Orleans Saints 4 10 0 .286 2–5 3–8 253 346 L3
Atlanta Falcons 4 10 0 .286 2–5 4–8 172 312 L3
Seattle Seahawks 2 12 0 .143 1–3 1–12 229 429 L5

References

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  1. ^ 1976 San Francisco 49ers
  2. ^ NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 257
  3. ^ "1976 San Francisco 49ers Draftees". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  4. ^ "1976 San Francisco 49ers season". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved November 1, 2023.