This is a visual explainer based on the Wikipedia article on the 1971 San Francisco 49ers season. Read the full source article here. (opens in new tab)

Gridiron Gold: The 1971 San Francisco 49ers' Quest for Glory

An in-depth academic review of the San Francisco 49ers' pivotal 1971 NFL season, analyzing their strategic moves, on-field performance, and playoff aspirations.

Season Overview ๐Ÿ‘‡ Playoff Journey ๐Ÿ†

Dive in with Flashcard Learning!


When you are ready...
๐ŸŽฎ Play the Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge Game๐ŸŽฎ

Season Overview

A Season of Significance

The 1971 season marked the San Francisco 49ers' 22nd year in the National Football League (NFL) and their 26th overall as a franchise. This period was notable for the team's continued competitive presence, culminating in their second consecutive appearance in the NFC Championship Game. The season also heralded a significant change in their home venue, as the team relocated to the then eleven-year-old Candlestick Park, sharing it with the San Francisco Giants baseball team.

Regular Season Performance

The 49ers commenced their campaign with a strong showing on the road, securing victories in two of their initial three away games. However, their inaugural contest at Candlestick Park resulted in a 20โ€“13 defeat against the Los Angeles Rams. Despite this setback, the team demonstrated resilience, ultimately achieving a 9โ€“5 record. This performance was sufficient to successfully defend their NFC West title, underscoring their divisional dominance.

Playoff Aspirations and Outcome

For the second consecutive year, the 49ers' postseason journey concluded with a sense of disappointment. After navigating the Divisional Playoffs, they faced the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Championship Game. The contest, played on the road, resulted in a 14โ€“3 loss, preventing the 49ers from advancing to the Super Bowl. This outcome highlighted the formidable challenge posed by their conference rivals.

Team Personnel

Front Office Leadership

The San Francisco 49ers' organizational structure in 1971 was guided by a dedicated front office. The ownership of the franchise was held by Josephine Morabito and Jane Morabito, providing the foundational leadership. Louis Spadia served in the dual capacity of General Manager and Team President, overseeing both administrative and strategic football operations. Dick Gallagher contributed as a Personnel Scout, instrumental in identifying talent for the team.

Coaching Staff

The on-field direction of the 1971 49ers was entrusted to a comprehensive coaching staff:

  • Head Coach: Dick Nolan, who guided the team through its regular season and playoff endeavors.
  • Offensive Coordinator: Jim Shofner, who also coached Quarterbacks and Wide Receivers.
  • Offensive Backs: Doug Scovil.
  • Offensive Line / Blocking: Dick Stanfel.
  • Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Line: Paul Wiggin.
  • Linebackers: Mike Giddings.
  • Defensive Backfield / Secondary: Don Heinrich.
  • Special Teams: Chet Franklin.

1972 Pro Bowlers

The individual excellence within the 1971 squad was recognized with several players earning selections to the 1972 Pro Bowl, a testament to their outstanding performance during the season:

  • Center: Forrest Blue
  • Tight End: Ted Kwalick
  • Wide Receiver: Gene Washington
  • Running Back: Vic Washington
  • Outside Linebacker: Dave Wilcox
  • Cornerback: Jimmy Johnson
  • Cornerback: Bruce Taylor

1971 NFL Draft

Building for the Future

The 1971 NFL Draft was a critical opportunity for the San Francisco 49ers to bolster their roster with emerging talent. The team made several selections across various rounds, aiming to strengthen key positions and ensure future competitiveness. While some draftees immediately contributed, others pursued opportunities in different leagues or developed within the team's system over time.

The table below details the San Francisco 49ers' selections in the 1971 NFL Draft:

Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 23 Tim Anderson DB Ohio State Signed with Toronto Argonauts (CFL)
2 37 Ernie Janet G Washington
2 49 Joe Orduna RB Nebraska
3 55 Sam Dickerson WR USC
3 75 Willie Parker C North Texas State
4 101 Tony Harris DB Toledo
5 114 Dean Shaternick T Kansas State
5 122 George Wells LB New Mexico State Signed with Toronto Argonauts (CFL)
5 127 Marty Huff LB Michigan Made roster in 1972
6 153 Al Bresler WR Auburn
7 179 John Watson G Oklahoma
8 205 Jim McCann P Arizona State
9 231 Therman Couch LB Iowa State
10 236 Ron Cardo RB Wisconsinโ€“Oshkosh
10 257 Ernie Jennings WR Air Force
11 283 Joe Reed QB Mississippi State Made roster in 1972
12 309 Jim Bunch DT Wisconsinโ€“Platteville
13 335 John Bullock RB Purdue
14 361 Bill Dunstan DT Utah State
15 387 John Lennon T Colgate
16 414 Dave Pursell DT Kentucky
17 438 Leroy Charlton DB Florida A&M

Note: Players who made the roster are indicated by a light blue background in the original source. For this presentation, the "Notes" column provides specific details.

1971 Team Roster

Quarterbacks & Running Backs

The offensive backfield was critical to the 49ers' strategy, featuring key playmakers:

  • Quarterbacks (QB): John Brodie (#12), Steve Spurrier (#11)
  • Running Backs (RB): Doug Cunningham (#42), John Isenbarger (#17), Larry Schreiber (#35), Vic Washington (#22), Ken Willard (#40)

Receivers & Tight Ends

The aerial attack and blocking schemes relied on these skilled players:

  • Wide Receivers (WR): Preston Riley (#85), Jimmy Thomas (#24), Gene Washington (#18), Dick Witcher (#88)
  • Tight Ends (TE): Ted Kwalick (#82), Bob Windsor (#89)

Offensive & Defensive Linemen

The trenches were held by a robust group of linemen on both sides of the ball:

  • Offensive Linemen (OL): Cas Banaszek (T #79), Randy Beisler (G #65), Forrest Blue (C #75), Elmer Collett (G #66), Woody Peoples (G #69), Len Rohde (T #76), John Watson (T #67)
  • Defensive Linemen (DL): Bill Belk (DE #72), Earl Edwards (DT #74), Cedrick Hardman (DE #86), Tommy Hart (DE #53), Stan Hindman (DT #80), Bob Hoskins (DT #56), Charlie Krueger (DT #70)

Linebackers & Defensive Backs

The defensive core was comprised of these agile and impactful players:

  • Linebackers (LB): Ed Beard (MLB #50), Frank Nunley (MLB #57), Jim Sniadecki (OLB #58), Skip Vanderbundt (OLB #52), Dave Wilcox (OLB #64)
  • Defensive Backs (DB): Johnny Fuller (SS/FS #23), Jimmy Johnson (CB #37), Mel Phillips (SS #32), Mike Simpson (CB/S #38), Roosevelt Taylor (FS #25), Bruce Taylor (CB #44)

Special Teams & Practice Squad

Specialized roles and developmental players were also integral to the team:

  • Special Teams (ST): Bruce Gossett (K #30), Jim McCann (P #15)
  • Practice Squad: Bill Dunstan (DT), Tony Harris (CB), Marty Huff (LB), Ernie Janet (G), Joe Orduna (RB), Willie Parker (C), Joe Reed (QB)

Note: Rookies on the practice squad are indicated in italics in the original source.

Preseason Performance

Exhibition Encounters

The 1971 preseason provided the San Francisco 49ers with crucial opportunities to evaluate talent, refine strategies, and build team cohesion before the demanding regular season. The team engaged in a series of exhibition games, testing their mettle against various opponents and adjusting to the new home stadium at Candlestick Park.

The following table outlines the 49ers' preseason schedule and outcomes:

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 August 8 Cleveland Browns W 38โ€“24 1โ€“0 Candlestick Park 40,000
2 August 13 at Miami Dolphins T 17โ€“17 1โ€“0โ€“1 Miami Orange Bowl 57,008
3 August 22 San Diego Chargers W 28โ€“17 2โ€“0โ€“1 Candlestick Park 40,000
4 August 28 vs. Denver Broncos W 33โ€“17 3โ€“0โ€“1 Joe Albi Stadium 33,184
5 September 4 at Oakland Raiders L 28โ€“34 3โ€“1โ€“1 Oaklandโ€“Alameda County Coliseum 53,696
6 September 9 at Los Angeles Rams L 20โ€“23 3โ€“2โ€“1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 55,607

Note: Wins are highlighted in green, losses in red, and ties in yellow.

Regular Season

Divisional Triumph

The 1971 regular season saw the San Francisco 49ers navigate a challenging schedule, ultimately securing their position atop the NFC West. Despite an initial loss to the Atlanta Falcons, the team quickly found its rhythm, demonstrating strong performances both at home and on the road. Key victories against divisional rivals and other conference opponents were instrumental in their successful title defense.

The 49ers' regular season schedule and results are detailed below:

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 September 19 at Atlanta Falcons L 17โ€“20 0โ€“1 Atlanta Stadium 56,990
2 September 26 at New Orleans Saints W 38โ€“20 1โ€“1 Tulane Stadium 81,595
3 October 3 at Philadelphia Eagles W 31โ€“3 2โ€“1 Veterans Stadium 65,358
4 October 10 Los Angeles Rams L 13โ€“20 2โ€“2 Candlestick Park 44,000
5 October 17 Chicago Bears W 13โ€“0 3โ€“2 Candlestick Park 44,000
6 October 24 at St. Louis Cardinals W 26โ€“14 4โ€“2 Busch Memorial Stadium 50,419
7 October 31 New England Patriots W 27โ€“10 5โ€“2 Candlestick Park 45,092
8 November 7 at Minnesota Vikings W 13โ€“9 6โ€“2 Metropolitan Stadium 49,784
9 November 14 New Orleans Saints L 20โ€“26 6โ€“3 Candlestick Park 45,138
10 November 21 at Los Angeles Rams L 6โ€“17 6โ€“4 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 80,050
11 November 28 at New York Jets W 24โ€“21 7โ€“4 Shea Stadium 63,936
12 December 6 Kansas City Chiefs L 17โ€“26 7โ€“5 Candlestick Park 45,306
13 December 12 Atlanta Falcons W 24โ€“3 8โ€“5 Candlestick Park 44,582
14 December 19 Detroit Lions W 31โ€“27 9โ€“5 Candlestick Park 45,580

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. Wins are highlighted in green, losses in red.

NFC West Standings

The 1971 season concluded with the San Francisco 49ers at the top of the NFC West, demonstrating their consistent performance within the division. The standings reflect the competitive landscape of the conference, with the 49ers securing a playoff berth.

The final standings for the NFC West in 1971 were as follows:

Team W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
San Francisco 49ers 9 5 0 .643 2โ€“4 7โ€“4 300 216 W2
Los Angeles Rams 8 5 1 .615 4โ€“1โ€“1 7โ€“3โ€“1 313 260 W1
Atlanta Falcons 7 6 1 .538 3โ€“2โ€“1 4โ€“6โ€“1 274 277 W1
New Orleans Saints 4 8 2 .333 2โ€“4 4โ€“7 266 347 L3

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972. The 49ers' row is highlighted in green to denote their division win.

Postseason Run

The Playoff Path

Having secured the NFC West title, the San Francisco 49ers embarked on their postseason journey with high expectations. Their path led them through the Divisional Playoffs, where they faced a formidable opponent, before advancing to the NFC Championship Game for the second consecutive year. This period represented the pinnacle of their season's efforts.

The 49ers' postseason schedule and outcomes are presented below:

Round Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
Divisional December 26 Washington Redskins W 24โ€“20 1โ€“0 Candlestick Park 45,327
NFC Championship January 2, 1972 at Dallas Cowboys L 3โ€“14 1โ€“1 Texas Stadium 63,409

Note: Wins are highlighted in green, losses in red.

NFC Championship Game Summary

The NFC Championship Game against the Dallas Cowboys on January 2, 1972, was a decisive encounter that determined the conference champion. Played at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas, the game was a hard-fought battle, ultimately ending in a 14โ€“3 victory for the Cowboys. This marked the end of the 49ers' impressive 1971 campaign.

A detailed summary of the NFC Championship Game:

NFC Championship: Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers โ€“ Game summary
Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
49ers 0 0 3 0 3
Cowboys 0 7 0 7 14

at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

  • Date: January 2, 1972
  • Game time: 1:30 p.m. EST/12:30 p.m. CST
  • Game attendance: 63,409
  • Referee: Tommy Bell
  • TV announcers (CBS): Jack Buck and Pat Summerall

Scoring Summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score
Plays Yards TOP SF DAL
2 Cowboys Calvin Hill 1-yard touchdown run, Mike Clark kick good 0 7
3 49ers 28-yard field goal by Bruce Gossett 3 7
4 Cowboys Duane Thomas 2-yard touchdown run, Mike Clark kick good 3 14
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 3 14

Teacher's Corner

Edit and Print this course in the Wiki2Web Teacher Studio

Edit and Print Materials from this study in the wiki2web studio
Click here to open the "1971 San Francisco 49ers Season" Wiki2Web Studio curriculum kit

Use the free Wiki2web Studio to generate printable flashcards, worksheets, exams, and export your materials as a web page or an interactive game.

True or False?

Test Your Knowledge!

Gamer's Corner

Are you ready for the Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge?

Learn about 1971_san_francisco_49ers_season while playing the wiki2web Clarity Challenge game.
Unlock the mystery image and prove your knowledge by earning trophies. This simple game is addictively fun and is a great way to learn!

Play now

Explore More Topics

Discover other topics to study!

                                        

References

References

A full list of references for this article are available at the 1971 San Francisco 49ers season Wikipedia page

Feedback & Support

To report an issue with this page, or to find out ways to support the mission, please click here.

Disclaimer

Important Notice

This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.

This is not professional sports analysis or financial advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional sports journalism, historical research, or any form of financial or investment consultation. Always refer to official NFL records, reputable sports archives, and consult with qualified professionals for specific research or analytical needs. Never disregard professional advice because of something you have read on this website.

The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein.