2016 San Francisco 49ers season

2016 San Francisco 49ers season
OwnerJed York
General managerTrent Baalke
Head coachChip Kelly
Home fieldLevi's Stadium
Results
Record2–14
Division place4th NFC West
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersNone
Uniform

The 2016 San Francisco 49ers season was the franchise's 67th season in the National Football League (NFL), the 71st overall, the third playing its home games at Levi's Stadium, and the only season under head coach Chip Kelly. The season saw the 49ers attempting to rebound from their 5–11 record the previous year, but finished 2–14, with their only wins coming against their division rival Los Angeles Rams. The 49ers also nearly became the first team (and only the second since the AFL–NFL Merger in 1970) since the 2001 Carolina Panthers to win their opener and lose the remainder of their games, prior to the 49ers' Week 16 win over the Rams. The 49ers' record was their worst since 2004, when they also finished 2–14 (both wins that season were against the Arizona Cardinals). The 49ers' 1–7 home record tied the worst home record in franchise history (not including the strike-shortened 1982 season). As a result, the 49ers fired Kelly and general manager Trent Baalke.

The 49ers defense also set an NFL record by allowing a 100-yard rusher in seven straight games and easily finished last in the league in rush defense.

Offseason

Coaching changes

After the 2015 season ended, the 49ers fired Jim Tomsula as head coach. On January 14, 2016, the 49ers hired Chip Kelly as their head coach. Kelly had spent the previous three seasons as head coach for the Philadelphia Eagles and had been fired after a disappointing 7–9 Eagles season.

Roster changes

Free agency

The 49ers entered free agency with the following:

Position Player Free agency
tag
Date signed 2016 Team Notes
G Alex Boone UFA March 10, 2016 Minnesota Vikings Signed 4-year contract
WR Anquan Boldin UFA July 26, 2016 Detroit Lions -
TE Garrett Celek UFA February 23, 2016 San Francisco 49ers Signed 4-year extension
DT Ian Williams UFA March 23, 2016 San Francisco 49ers Signed 1-year contract
G Jordan Devey ERFA April 4, 2016 San Francisco 49ers Tendered one-year contract
HB Kendall Gaskins ERFA June 20, 2016 San Francisco 49ers Signed two-year contract
ILB Michael Wilhoite RFA March 8, 2016 San Francisco 49ers Tendered one-year contract
K Phil Dawson UFA March 14, 2016 San Francisco 49ers Signed 1-year contract
OLB Ray-Ray Armstrong RFA March 8, 2016 San Francisco 49ers Signed 1-year extension
RB Reggie Bush UFA August 1, 2016 Buffalo Bills Signed 1-year contract
RB Shaun Draughn UFA March 2, 2016 San Francisco 49ers Signed 1-year contract
DE Tony Jerod-Eddie RFA April 4, 2016 San Francisco 49ers Signed 1-year contract
RFA: Restricted free agent, UFA: Unrestricted free agent, ERFA: Exclusive rights free agent
LEGEND
 –  Light green background indicates a player has been re-signed by the 49ers.
 –  Light red background indicates a player has departed the 49ers.

Signings

Position Player 2015 Team Date signed Notes
WR Eric Rogers Calgary Stampeders (CFL) January 20, 2016 Signed 2-year
QB Thad Lewis Philadelphia Eagles March 10, 2016 Signed 1-year
G Zane Beadles Jacksonville Jaguars March 22, 2016 Signed 3-year
WR Ryan Whalen Minnesota Vikings August 23, 2016 Signed 1-year
Indicates that the player was a free agent at the end of his respective team's 2015 season.

Departures

Position Player Date Notes
RB Jarryd Hayne May 15, 2016 Retired

Draft

2016 San Francisco 49ers Draft
Round Selection Player Position College Notes
1 7 DeForest Buckner Defensive end Oregon
28 Joshua Garnett Guard Stanford From Chiefs[a]
2 37 Traded to the Kansas City Chiefs[a]
3 68 Will Redmond Cornerback Mississippi State
4 105 Traded to the Kansas City Chiefs[a]
133 Rashard Robinson Cornerback LSU Compensatory pick
5 142 Ronald Blair Defensive end Appalachian State From Chargers[b]
145 John Theus Tackle Georgia
174 Fahn Cooper Tackle Ole Miss Compensatory pick
6 178 Traded to the Kansas City Chiefs[a] From Cowboys[c]
207 Jeff Driskel Quarterback Louisiana Tech From Broncos[d]
211 Kelvin Taylor Running back Florida Compensatory pick
213 Aaron Burbridge Wide receiver Michigan State Compensatory pick
7 249 Prince Charles Iworah Cornerback Western Kentucky From Chiefs[a]

Notes

^[a] The 49ers traded their second-, fourth- and sixth-round selection (Nos. 37, 105 and 178 overall) to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for their first- and seventh-round selection (Nos. 28 and 249 overall).
^[b] The 49ers acquired an additional fifth-round selection as part of a trade that sent their 2015 first-round selection to the San Diego Chargers.
^[c] The 49ers acquired a sixth-round selection in a trade that sent their 2015 seventh-round selection to the Dallas Cowboys.
^[d] The 49ers traded tight end Vernon Davis and their 2016 seventh-round selection to the Denver Broncos in exchange for the Broncos' 2016 sixth-round and 2017 sixth-round selections.

Undrafted free agents

Position Player College Notes
DT Darren Lake Alabama released August 27
DT Demetrius Cherry Arizona State released September 3
S Jered Bell Colorado waived August 23
WR Bryce Treggs California released September 3
WR Devon Cajuste Stanford released September 3
LB Kevin Anderson Stanford waived May 12
LB Wynton McManis Memphis released August 27
DE Lenny Jones Nevada
DE Jay Fanaika Utah
K John Lunsford Liberty released August 27
OL Blake Muir Baylor released August 27
OL Alex Balducci Oregon released September 3
OL Norman Price Southern Miss released September 3

Staff

2016 San Francisco 49ers staff
Front office
  • Co–Chairman – Denise DeBartolo York
  • Co–Chairman – John York
  • Chief Executive Officer – Jed York
  • Co–Owner – Gideon Yu
  • President – Al Guido
  • Chief strategy officer/Executive Vice President of Football Operations – Paraag Marathe
  • Chief Operating Officer – Ethan Casson
  • General manager – Trent Baalke
  • Assistant general manager – Tom Gamble
  • Director of pro personnel – Mike Williams
  • Assistant director of pro personnel – Quentus Cumby
  • Director of college scouting – Matt Malaspina
  • Director of football administration & analytics – Brian Hampton

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Support staff

  • Special assistant to the head coach – Bill Nayes
  • Special projects – Kevin O'Connell
  • Coaching assistant – Crowley Hanlon
  • Senior analyst – Dana Bible
  • Offensive analyst – Keanon Lowe
  • Defensive analyst – Brian Duker
  • Bill Walsh coaching fellowship – Andre Carter


Final roster

2016 San Francisco 49ers final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad


Rookies in italics
, 8 practice squad

Preseason

The 49ers' preseason opponents and schedule were announced April 7, 2016.

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 August 14 Houston Texans L 13–24 0–1 Levi's Stadium Recap
2 August 20 at Denver Broncos W 31–24 1–1 Sports Authority Field at Mile High Recap
3 August 26 Green Bay Packers L 10–21 1–2 Levi's Stadium Recap
4 September 1 at San Diego Chargers W 31–21 2–2 Qualcomm Stadium Recap

Regular season

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 September 12 Los Angeles Rams W 28–0 1–0 Levi's Stadium Recap
2 September 18 at Carolina Panthers L 27–46 1–1 Bank of America Stadium Recap
3 September 25 at Seattle Seahawks L 18–37 1–2 CenturyLink Field Recap
4 October 2 Dallas Cowboys L 17–24 1–3 Levi's Stadium Recap
5 October 6 Arizona Cardinals L 21–33 1–4 Levi's Stadium Recap
6 October 16 at Buffalo Bills L 16–45 1–5 New Era Field Recap
7 October 23 Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 17–34 1–6 Levi's Stadium Recap
8 Bye
9 November 6 New Orleans Saints L 23–41 1–7 Levi's Stadium Recap
10 November 13 at Arizona Cardinals L 20–23 1–8 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap
11 November 20 New England Patriots L 17–30 1–9 Levi's Stadium Recap
12 November 27 at Miami Dolphins L 24–31 1–10 Hard Rock Stadium Recap
13 December 4 at Chicago Bears L 6–26 1–11 Soldier Field Recap
14 December 11 New York Jets L 17–23 (OT) 1–12 Levi's Stadium Recap
15 December 18 at Atlanta Falcons L 13–41 1–13 Georgia Dome Recap
16 December 24 at Los Angeles Rams W 22–21 2–13 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Recap
17 January 1, 2017 Seattle Seahawks L 23–25 2–14 Levi's Stadium Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. Los Angeles Rams

Week One: Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Rams 0 0 000
49ers 7 7 01428

at Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California

Game information

Week 2: at Carolina Panthers

Week Two: San Francisco 49ers at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
49ers 3 7 01727
Panthers 7 10 141546

at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

Game information

Week 3: at Seattle Seahawks

Week Three: San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
49ers 0 3 01518
Seahawks 14 10 6737

at CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington

Game information

Week 4: vs. Dallas Cowboys

Week Four: Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cowboys 0 14 7324
49ers 7 7 3017

at Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California

Game information

Week 5: vs. Arizona Cardinals

Week Five: Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 0 7 141233
49ers 0 7 7721

at Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California

Game information

The 49ers wore their black alternate uniforms for this game as part of Color Rush.

Week 6: at Buffalo Bills

Week Six: San Francisco 49ers at Buffalo Bills – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
49ers 3 10 0316
Bills 7 10 72145

at New Era Field, Orchard Park, New York

Game information

Days prior to Week 6, Head Coach Chip Kelly confirmed that quarterback Colin Kaepernick would start in place of Blaine Gabbert. This was Kaepernick's first start of the season.

Week 7: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week Seven: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Buccaneers 0 17 10734
49ers 14 0 0317

at Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California

  • Date: October 23
  • Game time: 1:05 pm. PDT
  • Game weather: 68 °F (20 °C), clear
  • Game attendance: 70,178
  • Referee: Pete Morelli
  • TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Ronde Barber and Jennifer Hale
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

Week 9: vs. New Orleans Saints

Week Nine: New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Saints 14 17 01041
49ers 3 17 3023

at Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California

  • Date: November 6
  • Game time: 1:05 pm. PST
  • Game weather: 70 °F (21 °C), mostly sunny
  • Game attendance: 70,178
  • Referee: Jerome Boger
  • TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Ronde Barber and Jennifer Hale
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

Week 10: at Arizona Cardinals

Week Ten: San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
49ers 0 10 3720
Cardinals 7 13 0323

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

  • Date: November 13
  • Game time: 2:25 p.m. MST/1:25 pm. PST
  • Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
  • Game attendance: 65,127
  • Referee: Brad Allen
  • TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Ronde Barber and Jennifer Hale
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

Week 11: vs. New England Patriots

Week Eleven: New England Patriots at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Patriots 6 7 01730
49ers 3 7 0717

at Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California

Game information

Week 12: at Miami Dolphins

Week Twelve: San Francisco 49ers at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
49ers 7 0 71024
Dolphins 0 14 10731

at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

Game information

With the loss, the 49ers were mathematically eliminated from postseason contention for the third consecutive season. An attempted rally by the 49ers was stopped short of the end zone in the final seconds.

Week 13: at Chicago Bears

Week Thirteen: San Francisco 49ers at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
49ers 0 6 006
Bears 0 7 14526

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

Game information

Week 14: vs. New York Jets

Week Fourteen: New York Jets at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Jets 0 3 311623
49ers 14 3 00017

at Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California

  • Date: December 11
  • Game time: 1:05 pm. PST
  • Game weather: 54 °F (12 °C), mostly cloudy
  • Game attendance: 70,178
  • Referee: Craig Wrolstad
  • TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel, Trent Green and Jamie Erdahl
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

Week 15: at Atlanta Falcons

Week Fifteen: San Francisco 49ers at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
49ers 0 13 0013
Falcons 21 7 10341

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: December 18
  • Game time: 4:05 pm. EST/1:05 pm. PST
  • Game weather: Played indoors (dome stadium)
  • Game attendance: 70,164
  • Referee: Gene Steratore
  • TV announcers (Fox): Thom Brennaman, Charles Davis, Chris Spielman and Peter Schrager
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

Week 16: at Los Angeles Rams

Week Sixteen: San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
49ers 7 0 01522
Rams 14 0 0721

at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California

  • Date: December 24
  • Game time: 1:25 pm. PST
  • Game weather: 59 °F (15 °C), partly cloudy
  • Game attendance: 83,656
  • Referee: Walt Anderson
  • TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Ronde Barber and Jennifer Hale
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

With the win, the 49ers snapped their 13-game losing streak and swept the Rams on the season, while going 0–13 against the rest of the league. With the Cleveland Browns standing 0–14 before this week, the 49ers win also ended the possibility of two teams finishing 1–15 for the first time, or becoming the first team since the 2001 Carolina Panthers to win their opener and lose the remainder of their games.

Week 17: vs. Seattle Seahawks

Week Seventeen: Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Seahawks 3 16 3325
49ers 7 7 2723

at Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California

Game information

With the loss, the 49ers ended their season 2–14, their worst record since 2004. This was Colin Kaepernick's last game as a 49er.

Standings

Division

NFC West
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
(3) Seattle Seahawks 10 5 1 .656 3–2–1 6–5–1 354 292 W1
Arizona Cardinals 7 8 1 .469 4–1–1 6–5–1 418 362 W2
Los Angeles Rams 4 12 0 .250 2–4 3–9 224 394 L7
San Francisco 49ers 2 14 0 .125 2–4 2–10 309 480 L1

Conference

# Team Division W L T PCT DIV CONF SOS SOV STK
Division leaders
1 Dallas Cowboys East 13 3 0 .813 3–3 9–3 .471 .440 L1
2 Atlanta Falcons South 11 5 0 .688 5–1 9–3 .480 .452 W4
3 Seattle Seahawks West 10 5 1 .656 3–2–1 6–5–1 .441 .425 W1
4 Green Bay Packers North 10 6 0 .625 5–1 8–4 .508 .453 W6
Wild Cards
5 New York Giants East 11 5 0 .688 4–2 8–4 .486 .455 W1
6 Detroit Lions North 9 7 0 .563 3–3 7–5 .475 .392 L3
Did not qualify for the postseason
7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers South 9 7 0 .563 4–2 7–5 .492 .434 W1
8 Washington Redskins East 8 7 1 .531 3–3 6–6 .516 .430 L1
9 Minnesota Vikings North 8 8 0 .500 2–4 5–7 .492 .457 W1
10 Arizona Cardinals West 7 8 1 .469 4–1–1 6–5–1 .463 .366 W2
11 New Orleans Saints South 7 9 0 .438 2–4 6–6 .523 .393 L1
12 Philadelphia Eagles East 7 9 0 .438 2–4 5–7 .559 .518 W2
13 Carolina Panthers South 6 10 0 .375 1–5 5–7 .518 .354 L2
14 Los Angeles Rams West 4 12 0 .250 2–4 3–9 .504 .500 L7
15 Chicago Bears North 3 13 0 .188 2–4 3–9 .521 .396 L4
16 San Francisco 49ers West 2 14 0 .125 2–4 2–10 .504 .250 L1
Tiebreakers
  1. ^ a b Detroit finished ahead of Tampa Bay for the No. 6 seed and qualified for the last playoff spot based on record vs. common opponents — Detroit's cumulative record against
    Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and New Orleans was 3–2, while Tampa Bay's cumulative record against the same four teams was 2–3.
  2. ^ a b New Orleans finished ahead of Philadelphia based on better record vs. conference opponents.
  3. ^ When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest ranked remaining team from each division.

This page was last updated at 2023-10-17 17:40 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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