The 2017 San Francisco 49ers season was the
franchise's 68th
season in the
National Football League (NFL) and their 72nd overall. It was also the first season under the
head coach/
general manager tandem of
Kyle Shanahan and
John Lynch. After a 0–9 start, they won 6 of their last 7 games and finished the season 6–10, improving from their last two season records. Despite this, the 49ers were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 12.
The 49ers season largely turned around after they acquired quarterback
Jimmy Garoppolo from the
New England Patriots on October 30, 2017. At this point, the 49ers had a record of 0–8, dead last in the NFC. Garoppolo made his first start during Week 13 against the
Chicago Bears and led them to a 15–14 win. Garoppolo won the final five games of the season for the 49ers, bringing the regular-season record to 6–10, the most wins by the team since the
2014 season. During the 5-game win streak, the 49ers won 3 straight games over teams that eventually made the playoffs (Weeks 15–17 against the
Tennessee Titans,
Jacksonville Jaguars, and
Los Angeles Rams). From Weeks 1–12, the 49ers scored just 187 points (17 points per game), which was in the bottom half of the league. During the 5-game win streak, the 49ers offense scored 144 points (28.8 points per game). The highlight of the year was during Week 16, the 49ers scored 44 points against the
Jacksonville Jaguars, who had the NFL's top scoring defense at the time, allowing just 14.9 points per game. The 49ers finished the season by being the only team in the NFL to go undefeated in the month of December. The 49ers also became the first team in NFL history to start a season 0–9 and finish with more than three wins.[1]
Offseason
Coaching changes
Owner
Jed York announced that he would hire a new general manager and the new head coach due to a bad season. On January 29, 2017, the 49ers hired
John Lynch as their general manager.[2] On February 6, 2017, the 49ers hired
Atlanta Falcons' offensive coordinator
Kyle Shanahan as the new coach of the
San Francisco 49ers.[3]
Roster changes
Free agency
The 49ers entered free agency with the following:[4]
^[a] The 49ers acquired an additional sixth-round selection as part of a trade that sent their
2016 seventh-round selection and
Vernon Davis to the
Denver Broncos.
^[b] The 49ers acquired an additional seventh-round selection as part of a trade that sent
Andy Lee to the
Cleveland Browns.
^[c] The 49ers traded their sixth-round selection (Nos. 186 overall) to the
Baltimore Ravens in exchange for their sixth-round selection (Nos. 198 overall) and C
Jeremy Zuttah.[56]
^[d] The 49ers acquired an additional fifth-round selection as part of a trade that sent their
Derek Carrier to the
Washington Redskins in 2015, but sent a seventh-round selection back due to Carrier's performance.
^[e] The 49ers traded their first-round selection (Nos. 2 overall) to the
Chicago Bears in exchange for their third- and fourth-round selection (Nos. 67 and 111 overall) and
2018 third-round selections.[57]
^[f] The 49ers traded their second- and fourth-round selection (Nos. 34 and 111 overall) to the
Seattle Seahawks in exchange for their first-round selection (Nos. 31 overall).[58]
^[g] The 49ers traded their third-round selection (Nos. 67 overall) to the
New Orleans Saints in exchange for their seventh-round selection (Nos. 229 overall) and
2018 second-round selections.
^[h] The 49ers traded their fourth- and seventh-round selection (Nos. 109 and 219 overall) to the
Minnesota Vikings in exchange for their third-round selection (Nos. 104 overall).[59]
^[i] The 49ers traded their
2018 fourth-round selections to the
Denver Broncos in exchange for their fifth-round selections (Nos. 177 overall) and RB
Kapri Bibbs.[60]
^[j] The 49ers traded their fourth- and fifth-round selection (Nos. 143 and 161 overall) to the
Indianapolis Colts in exchange for their fourth-round selection (Nos. 121 overall).
After losing to the Seahawks on the road, the 49ers went home to take on the Rams on Thursday Night Football. In the first quarter, the Rams scored first when Todd Gurley ran for a 3-yard touchdown to make it 7–0. The Niners managed to tie it up when Brian Hoyer ran for a 9-yard touchdown to make it 7–7. The Rams moved back into the lead when Jared Goff found Gurley on a 7-yard pass to make it 14–7. In the second quarter, the Rams increased their lead when Greg Zuerlein kicked a 48-yard field goal to make it 17–7. The Niners came within 4 with two field goals of their own kicked by Robbie Gould from 36 and 48 yards out to make the score 17-10 and then 17–13. Gurley then put the Rams up by double digits at halftime when he ran for a 2-yard touchdown to make it 24–13. In the third quarter Zuerlein kicked a 19-yard field goal to make it 27–13 Rams. The Niners then came within a touchdown when Carlos Hyde ran for one from a yard out. The Rams moved up by 2 touchdowns again when Goff found Sammy Watkins on a 1-yard pass to make it 34–20. In the fourth quarter, the Niners came within 8 when Garrett Celek caught a 1-yard pass from Hoyer (with a failed PAT) to make it 34–26. The Rams again moved up by double digits when Goff and Watkins connected again on a 13-yard pass to make it 41–26. Finally, the Niners were able to come within two points with two more touchdowns: Trent Taylor caught a pass from Hoyer 3 yards out to make it 41–33 and Hyde ran for another 1-yard touchdown (with a failed 2-point conversion) to make the final score 41–39.
With the loss, the Niners fell to 0–3.
Week 4: at Arizona Cardinals
Week Four: San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
After starting the season 0–9, which was never recorded in team history, the Niners left the Cleveland Browns the only winless team in the NFL for 2017. This game also ended the possibility of the Niners becoming the second NFL team to go 0–16. This also Kyle Shanahan first win as a Head Coach
Week 12: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Week Twelve: Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
For the first time in 8 years, head coach
Kyle Shanahan made his first return to Houston since leaving the Texans in 2010 to become the offensive coordinator for the
Washington Redskins under his father, head coach
Mike Shanahan. Kyle previously served as Houston's wide receivers coach in 2006, quarterbacks coach in 2007, and the offensive coordinator from 2008 to 2009 under then-head coach
Gary Kubiak. The 49ers were now 3–10
Week 15: vs. Tennessee Titans
Week Fifteen: Tennessee Titans at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Period
1
2
3
4
Total
Titans
0
10
3
10
23
49ers
6
10
0
9
25
at Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California
Date: December 17
Game time: 1:25 pm. PST
Game weather: 65 °F (18 °C), sunny
Game attendance: 70,133
Referee: John Parry
TV announcers (CBS): Andrew Catalon and James Lofton
With the win, the Niners finished their season 6–10. Jimmy Garoppolo became the first NFL quarterback to go 7–0 in his first seven starts since
Ben Roethlisberger in 2004.
^
abPhiladelphia claimed the No. 1 seed over Minnesota based on winning percentage vs. common opponents. Philadelphia's cumulative record against Carolina, Chicago, the Los Angeles Rams and Washington was 5–0, compared to Minnesota's 4–1 cumulative record against the same four teams.
^
abLA Rams claimed the No. 3 seed over New Orleans based on head-to-head victory.
^
abNew Orleans clinched the NFC South division over Carolina based on head-to-head sweep.
^
abcDetroit finished ahead of Dallas and Seattle based on conference record, while Seattle finished ahead of Dallas based on head-to-head victory.
^
abGreen Bay finished ahead of Washington based on record vs. common opponents. Green Bay's cumulative record against Dallas, Minnesota, New Orleans and Seattle was 2–3, compared to Washington's 1–4 cumulative record against the same four teams.
^
abTampa Bay finished ahead of Chicago based on head-to-head victory.
^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.
The 2017 San Francisco 49ers season was the
franchise's 68th
season in the
National Football League (NFL) and their 72nd overall. It was also the first season under the
head coach/
general manager tandem of
Kyle Shanahan and
John Lynch. After a 0–9 start, they won 6 of their last 7 games and finished the season 6–10, improving from their last two season records. Despite this, the 49ers were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 12.
The 49ers season largely turned around after they acquired quarterback
Jimmy Garoppolo from the
New England Patriots on October 30, 2017. At this point, the 49ers had a record of 0–8, dead last in the NFC. Garoppolo made his first start during Week 13 against the
Chicago Bears and led them to a 15–14 win. Garoppolo won the final five games of the season for the 49ers, bringing the regular-season record to 6–10, the most wins by the team since the
2014 season. During the 5-game win streak, the 49ers won 3 straight games over teams that eventually made the playoffs (Weeks 15–17 against the
Tennessee Titans,
Jacksonville Jaguars, and
Los Angeles Rams). From Weeks 1–12, the 49ers scored just 187 points (17 points per game), which was in the bottom half of the league. During the 5-game win streak, the 49ers offense scored 144 points (28.8 points per game). The highlight of the year was during Week 16, the 49ers scored 44 points against the
Jacksonville Jaguars, who had the NFL's top scoring defense at the time, allowing just 14.9 points per game. The 49ers finished the season by being the only team in the NFL to go undefeated in the month of December. The 49ers also became the first team in NFL history to start a season 0–9 and finish with more than three wins.[1]
Offseason
Coaching changes
Owner
Jed York announced that he would hire a new general manager and the new head coach due to a bad season. On January 29, 2017, the 49ers hired
John Lynch as their general manager.[2] On February 6, 2017, the 49ers hired
Atlanta Falcons' offensive coordinator
Kyle Shanahan as the new coach of the
San Francisco 49ers.[3]
Roster changes
Free agency
The 49ers entered free agency with the following:[4]
^[a] The 49ers acquired an additional sixth-round selection as part of a trade that sent their
2016 seventh-round selection and
Vernon Davis to the
Denver Broncos.
^[b] The 49ers acquired an additional seventh-round selection as part of a trade that sent
Andy Lee to the
Cleveland Browns.
^[c] The 49ers traded their sixth-round selection (Nos. 186 overall) to the
Baltimore Ravens in exchange for their sixth-round selection (Nos. 198 overall) and C
Jeremy Zuttah.[56]
^[d] The 49ers acquired an additional fifth-round selection as part of a trade that sent their
Derek Carrier to the
Washington Redskins in 2015, but sent a seventh-round selection back due to Carrier's performance.
^[e] The 49ers traded their first-round selection (Nos. 2 overall) to the
Chicago Bears in exchange for their third- and fourth-round selection (Nos. 67 and 111 overall) and
2018 third-round selections.[57]
^[f] The 49ers traded their second- and fourth-round selection (Nos. 34 and 111 overall) to the
Seattle Seahawks in exchange for their first-round selection (Nos. 31 overall).[58]
^[g] The 49ers traded their third-round selection (Nos. 67 overall) to the
New Orleans Saints in exchange for their seventh-round selection (Nos. 229 overall) and
2018 second-round selections.
^[h] The 49ers traded their fourth- and seventh-round selection (Nos. 109 and 219 overall) to the
Minnesota Vikings in exchange for their third-round selection (Nos. 104 overall).[59]
^[i] The 49ers traded their
2018 fourth-round selections to the
Denver Broncos in exchange for their fifth-round selections (Nos. 177 overall) and RB
Kapri Bibbs.[60]
^[j] The 49ers traded their fourth- and fifth-round selection (Nos. 143 and 161 overall) to the
Indianapolis Colts in exchange for their fourth-round selection (Nos. 121 overall).
After losing to the Seahawks on the road, the 49ers went home to take on the Rams on Thursday Night Football. In the first quarter, the Rams scored first when Todd Gurley ran for a 3-yard touchdown to make it 7–0. The Niners managed to tie it up when Brian Hoyer ran for a 9-yard touchdown to make it 7–7. The Rams moved back into the lead when Jared Goff found Gurley on a 7-yard pass to make it 14–7. In the second quarter, the Rams increased their lead when Greg Zuerlein kicked a 48-yard field goal to make it 17–7. The Niners came within 4 with two field goals of their own kicked by Robbie Gould from 36 and 48 yards out to make the score 17-10 and then 17–13. Gurley then put the Rams up by double digits at halftime when he ran for a 2-yard touchdown to make it 24–13. In the third quarter Zuerlein kicked a 19-yard field goal to make it 27–13 Rams. The Niners then came within a touchdown when Carlos Hyde ran for one from a yard out. The Rams moved up by 2 touchdowns again when Goff found Sammy Watkins on a 1-yard pass to make it 34–20. In the fourth quarter, the Niners came within 8 when Garrett Celek caught a 1-yard pass from Hoyer (with a failed PAT) to make it 34–26. The Rams again moved up by double digits when Goff and Watkins connected again on a 13-yard pass to make it 41–26. Finally, the Niners were able to come within two points with two more touchdowns: Trent Taylor caught a pass from Hoyer 3 yards out to make it 41–33 and Hyde ran for another 1-yard touchdown (with a failed 2-point conversion) to make the final score 41–39.
With the loss, the Niners fell to 0–3.
Week 4: at Arizona Cardinals
Week Four: San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
After starting the season 0–9, which was never recorded in team history, the Niners left the Cleveland Browns the only winless team in the NFL for 2017. This game also ended the possibility of the Niners becoming the second NFL team to go 0–16. This also Kyle Shanahan first win as a Head Coach
Week 12: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Week Twelve: Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
For the first time in 8 years, head coach
Kyle Shanahan made his first return to Houston since leaving the Texans in 2010 to become the offensive coordinator for the
Washington Redskins under his father, head coach
Mike Shanahan. Kyle previously served as Houston's wide receivers coach in 2006, quarterbacks coach in 2007, and the offensive coordinator from 2008 to 2009 under then-head coach
Gary Kubiak. The 49ers were now 3–10
Week 15: vs. Tennessee Titans
Week Fifteen: Tennessee Titans at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Period
1
2
3
4
Total
Titans
0
10
3
10
23
49ers
6
10
0
9
25
at Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California
Date: December 17
Game time: 1:25 pm. PST
Game weather: 65 °F (18 °C), sunny
Game attendance: 70,133
Referee: John Parry
TV announcers (CBS): Andrew Catalon and James Lofton
With the win, the Niners finished their season 6–10. Jimmy Garoppolo became the first NFL quarterback to go 7–0 in his first seven starts since
Ben Roethlisberger in 2004.
^
abPhiladelphia claimed the No. 1 seed over Minnesota based on winning percentage vs. common opponents. Philadelphia's cumulative record against Carolina, Chicago, the Los Angeles Rams and Washington was 5–0, compared to Minnesota's 4–1 cumulative record against the same four teams.
^
abLA Rams claimed the No. 3 seed over New Orleans based on head-to-head victory.
^
abNew Orleans clinched the NFC South division over Carolina based on head-to-head sweep.
^
abcDetroit finished ahead of Dallas and Seattle based on conference record, while Seattle finished ahead of Dallas based on head-to-head victory.
^
abGreen Bay finished ahead of Washington based on record vs. common opponents. Green Bay's cumulative record against Dallas, Minnesota, New Orleans and Seattle was 2–3, compared to Washington's 1–4 cumulative record against the same four teams.
^
abTampa Bay finished ahead of Chicago based on head-to-head victory.
^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.