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. There 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
Owner	Josephine Morabito-Fox Jane Morabito
Head coach	Monte Clark
Home field	Candlestick Park
Results
Record	8–6
Division place	2nd NFC West
Playoff finish	Did not qualify

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

NFL Draft

1976 San Francisco 49ers Draft

Round	Selection	Player	Position	College	Note
2	42	Randy Cross	C	UCLA
	35	Eddie Lewis	DB	Kansas

Roster

1976 San Francisco 49ers roster

	Quarterbacks 14 Jim Plunkett Running backs 40 Wilbur Jackson 24 Delvin Williams Wide receivers 87 Jim Lash 81 Willie McGee 80 Steve Rivera 18 Gene Washington Tight ends 84 Tom Mitchell 89 Jim Obradovich		Offensive linemen 79 Cas Banaszek T 77 Jean Barrett T 71 Keith Fahnhorst T 65 Steve Lawson G 61 Andy Maurer G 69 Woody Peoples G Defensive linemen 72 Cleveland Elam DE 86 Cedrick Hardman DE 53 Tommy Hart DE 60 Bill Sandifer DT 74 Jimmy Webb DT		Linebackers 59 Willie Harper 57 Frank Nunley 52 Skip Vanderbundt 50 Dave Washington Defensive backs 37 Jimmy Johnson CB 49 Ralph McGill FS 32 Mel Phillips SS 44 Bruce Taylor CB Special teams 10 Steve Mike-Mayer K 13 Tom Wittum P		Reserve lists {{{reserve_lists}}} Practice squad Rookies in italics

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
1	September 12, 1976	at Green Bay Packers	W 26–14	54,628
2	September 19, 1976	Chicago Bears	L 19–12	44,158
3	September 26, 1976	at Seattle Seahawks	W 37–21	59,108
4	October 3, 1976	New York Jets	W 17–6	42,691
5	October 11, 1976	at Los Angeles Rams	W 16–0	80,532
6	October 17, 1976	New Orleans Saints	W 33–3	43,160
7	October 23, 1976	Atlanta Falcons	W 15–0	50,240
8	October 31, 1976	at St. Louis Cardinals	L 23–20	50,365
9	November 7, 1976	Washington Redskins	L 24–21	56,134
10	November 14, 1976	at Atlanta Falcons	L 21–16	20,058
11	November 21, 1976	Los Angeles Rams	L 23–3	58,573
12	November 29, 1976	Minnesota Vikings	W 20–16	56,775
13	December 5, 1976	at San Diego Chargers	L 13–7	33,539
14	December 12, 1976	at New Orleans Saints	W 27–7	42,536

Standings

NFC West
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Los Angeles Rams^(3)	10	3	1	.750	6–0	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

1. 1976 San Francisco 49ers
2. NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 257