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San Francisco 49ers |
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The San Francisco 49ers have the distinction of being the first major league professional sports franchise on the West Coast. The 49ers entered professional football in 1946 and matured, nationally and locally, when the club was granted a National League franchise in 1950. The team earned its name from the surge of goldminers to the San Francisco area during 1849, thus the nickname the San Francisco 49ers. The San Francisco 49ers were charter members of the All-America Football Conference, which was founded in 1946. Had it not been for the Cleveland Browns, a team that won four championships and lost only four games in the league's four years of operation, the 49ers would have been the AAFC's dominant team. Their four-year record was a 39-15-2. Although San Francisco handed Cleveland two of its four defeats, they still finished second each year. The 49ers moved to the NFL in 1950 following the collapse of the AAFC. In the 1950's, they boasted some of the game's greats: Quarterbacks Frankie Albert and Y. A. Tittle, running backs Hugh McElhenny and Joe Perry, tackle Bob St. Clair and defensive tackle Leo Nomellini, among others. Talent notwithstanding, they came close to a championship only once during their first two decades in the NFL. In 1957, they tied Detroit for the NFL Western division crown but lost in a playoff. But on March 31, 1977, a new era dawned for the 49ers when Edward J. DeBartolo Jr. became the new owner. DeBartolo dedicated himself to transforming the team into a power. Upon his purchase of the club in 1977, Eddie DeBartolo began a process of upgrading the organization's front office administration and on-field talent.His vision was to create a winning franchise that operated with class and dignity. Of equal importance, however, was creating an atmosphere conducive to developing a strong sense of kinship within the operation. San Francisco won the West again in 1983, but saved their best for 1984. That year, they won 18 of 19 games, including Super Bowl XIX, in which they beat the Miami Dolphins. Walsh ended his professional coaching career after San Francisco's 20-16 victory over Cincinnati in Super Bowl XXIII. In 10 years as the Niners' coach, Walsh had a 102-62-1 record, won six NFC West titles and three Super Bowls. Even more than the 49ers of the 1950's, the 49ers of the 1980's were loaded with superstars: Quarterback Joe Montana, receivers Dwight Clark and Jerry Rice, running back Roger Craig and defensive back Ronnie Lott. George Seifert, who replaced Walsh, continued took advantage of the existing talent. Careful personnel moves ensured that capable new players were on hand when veterans retired. Seifert's record as the 49ers head man was awesome: Between 1989 and 1996, he led San Francisco to a regular-season record of 108-35, and wins in Super Bowls XXIV and XXIX. In January 1997, he was replaced by Steve Mariucci. As Chief Executive Officer of the 49ers from its acquisition until 1997, Edward J. DeBartolo, Jr. the 49ers earned the moniker "Team of the 80s" after claiming four Super Bowl titles during that decade. They extended their dominance into the 90s, becoming only NFL team to produce 10-or-more wins for 16 consecutive seasons (1983-98).
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