1978_San_Francisco_49ers_season Knowpia

1978 San Francisco 49ers season
1978 San Francisco 49ers season
Owner	Edward J. DeBartolo, Jr.
General manager	Joe Thomas
Head coach	Pete McCulley; Fred O'Connor (interim)
Offensive coordinator	Fred O'Connor
Defensive coordinator	Dan Radakovich
Home field	Candlestick Park
Results
Record	2–14
Division place	4th NFC West
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Pro Bowlers	none
	← 1977; 49ers seasons; 1979 →;

The 1978 San Francisco 49ers season was the franchise's 29th season in the National Football League, their 33rd overall, and their second and final season under general manager Joe Thomas, who was fired following the end of the season.^[1] The team began the season hoping to improve upon their previous output of 5–9. Instead, the team started the season 0–4 for the second straight year. The team also suffered a nine-game losing streak.^[2]

During the off-season, the 49ers acquired running back O. J. Simpson, who originally hailed from San Francisco, from the Buffalo Bills. Although Simpson had been one of the best backs in the league over the previous decade, he was in poor physical condition and had recently undergone knee surgery. As a result, his playing ability was limited.

Interim head coach Fred O'Connor was hired in the middle of the team's season after first-season head coach Pete McCulley posted an unremarkable 1–8 record. However, after the season ended, O'Connor was let go along with the coaching staff, who had been hired by McCulley. ^[1]

The 49ers finished with the worst record in the league and scored only 219 points,^[3] the fewest in the league in 1978. Making matters worse is that the first pick in the 1979 NFL Draft was traded to the Bills as part of the Simpson deal. The team set an NFL record with 63 turnovers.

Offseason edit

NFL draft edit

Round	Pick	Player	Position	College
1978 San Francisco 49ers draft
1	7	Ken MacAfee	Tight end	Notre Dame
1	24	Dan Bunz	Linebacker	Long Beach State
2	47	Walt Downing	Guard	Michigan
3	79	Ernie Hughes	Center	Notre Dame
4	91	Terry LeCount	Wide receiver	Florida
5	127	Archie Reese	Defensive end	Clemson
5	133	Bruce Threadgill	Defensive back	Mississippi State
6	148	Elliott Walker	Running back	Pittsburgh
7	175	Fred Quillan	Center	Oregon
9	229	Herman Redden	Defensive back	Howard
9	233	Dean Moore	Linebacker	Iowa
9	249	Steve McDaniels	Tackle	Notre Dame
10	260	Mike Connell	Punter	Cincinnati
11	287	Willie McCray	Defensive end	Troy State
12	314	Dan Irons	Tackle	Texas Tech
Made roster * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Source:^[4]

Personnel edit

Staff edit

**1978 San Francisco 49ers staff**
	Front office Owner and President – Edward J. DeBartolo, Jr. General manager – Joe Thomas Head coaches Head coach – Pete McCulley Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Fred O'Connor Receivers – Les Steckel Offensive line – Mike White			Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator/linebackers – Dan Radakovich Defensive line – Earl Leggett Defensive backfield – Jimmy Carr Special teams coaches Special teams – Frank Gansz Strength and conditioning Strength and Conditioning – Floyd Reese

Roster edit

**1978 San Francisco 49ers roster**

	Quarterbacks 19 Scott Bull 17 Steve DeBerg Running backs 33 Greg Boykin FB 31 Earl Carr 38 Bob Ferrell FB 36 Paul Hofer 35 Elliott Walker 30 Dave Williams KR Wide receivers 84 Elmo Boyd 83 Kenny Harrison 21 Larry Jones 80 Terry LeCount 84 Mike Shumann 88 Freddie Solomon 87 Jack Steptoe PR Tight ends 82 Lon Boyett 85 Paul Seal		Offensive linemen 68 John Ayers G/T 51 Randy Cross C 64 Kyle Davis C 62 Walt Downing G 71 Keith Fahnhorst T 65 Ernie Hughes G 60 Steve Knutson G/T 56 Fred Quillan C 67 Ron Singleton T Defensive linemen 72 Cleveland Elam DE/DT 75 Ed Galigher DT 86 Cedrick Hardman DE 76 Willie McCray DT 78 Archie Reese DE 74 Jimmy Webb DT		Linebackers 52 Mike Baldassin OLB 54 Ed Bradley OLB 57 Dan Bunz MLB 55 Bruce Elia OLB 50 Joe Harris OLB 53 Dean Moore OLB 58 Mark Nichols MLB Defensive backs 24 Chuck Crist SS/FS 26 Bob Jury SS 42 Tony Leonard CB 22 Eddie Lewis CB 25 Wonder Monds CB 42 Ricky Odom CB 49 Vern Roberson FS/CB 23 Bruce Threadgill FS Special teams 10 Mike Connell P 14 Ray Wersching K		Reserve lists 77 Jean Barrett T (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 59 Willie Harper OLB (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 81 Ken MacAfee TE (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 32 O. J. Simpson RB (IRTooltip Injured reserve) Practice squad Rookies in italics

^[5]

Preseason edit

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance
1	August 5	at Dallas Cowboys	L 24–41	0–2	Texas Stadium	63,736
2	August 12	Seattle Seahawks	L 6–20	0–2	Candlestick Park	36,069
3	August 20	Oakland Raiders	L 14–31	0–3	Candlestick Park	58,658
4	August 25	at Denver Broncos	W 24–13	1–3	Mile High Stadium	73,559

^[6]

Schedule edit

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance
1	September 3	at Cleveland Browns	L 7–24	0–1	Cleveland Municipal Stadium	68,973
2	September 10	Chicago Bears	L 13–16	0–2	Candlestick Park	49,502
3	September 17	at Houston Oilers	L 19–20	0–3	Houston Astrodome	46,161
4	September 24	at New York Giants	L 10–27	0–4	Giants Stadium	71,536
5	October 1	Cincinnati Bengals	W 28–12	1–4	Candlestick Park	41,107
6	October 8	at Los Angeles Rams	L 10–27	1–5	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum	59,337
7	October 15	New Orleans Saints	L 7–14	1–6	Candlestick Park	37,671
8	October 22	Atlanta Falcons	L 17–20	1–7	Candlestick Park	44,235
9	October 29	at Washington Redskins	L 20–38	1–8	RFK Stadium	53,706
10	November 5	at Atlanta Falcons	L 10–21	1–9	Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium	55,468
11	November 12	St. Louis Cardinals	L 10–16	1–10	Candlestick Park	33,155
12	November 19	Los Angeles Rams	L 28–31	1–11	Candlestick Park	45,022
13	November 27	Pittsburgh Steelers	L 7–24	1–12	Candlestick Park	51,657
14	December 3	at New Orleans Saints	L 13–24	1–13	Louisiana Superdome	50,068
15	December 10	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	W 6–3	2–13	Candlestick Park	30,931
16	December 17	at Detroit Lions	L 14–33	2–14	Pontiac Silverdome	56,674
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings edit

NFC West
view talk edit	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Los Angeles Rams⁽¹⁾	12	4	0	.750	4–2	10–2	316	245	W1
Atlanta Falcons⁽⁴⁾	9	7	0	.563	5–1	8–4	240	290	L1
New Orleans Saints	7	9	0	.438	3–3	6–6	281	298	W1
San Francisco 49ers 2 14 0 .125 0–6 1–11 219 350 L1 References edit ^ ^a ^b "Thomas Is Fired". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved November 16, 2023. ^ 1978 San Francisco 49ers ^ 1978 NFL Standings ^ "1978 San Francisco 49ers Draftees". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved February 17, 2024. ^ "1978 San Francisco 49ers starters and roster". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 1, 2014. ^ "1978 San Francisco 49ers (NFL)". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved November 2, 2023. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip exeateure conquat. Duis aute irure dolor in esse. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip exeateure conquat. Duis aute EDITOR’S PICK TripAdvisor Users Reviews Apr 23 2020 By Super User Carbonated Ice Cream Rise Apr 23 2020 By Super User Costco Is The Least Busy Apr 23 2020 By Super User Volkswagen Cars Products Apr 23 2020 By Super User RANDOM NEWS TripAdvisor Users Reviews Apr 23 2020 By Super User Homeless Shelters For Cold Apr 23 2020 By Super User Lawsuit says Sherwood Apr 23 2020 By Super User Jian Ghomeshi Speaks Apr 23 2020 By Super User POST GALLERY By using this platform, you agree to the Terms of Use ©2020 Knowpia About How it Works Privacy Disclaimer Contact FAQ

[:0-1] "Thomas Is Fired". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved November 16, 2023.

[2] 1978 San Francisco 49ers

[3] 1978 NFL Standings

[4] "1978 San Francisco 49ers Draftees". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved February 17, 2024.

[5] "1978 San Francisco 49ers starters and roster". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 1, 2014.

[6] "1978 San Francisco 49ers (NFL)". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved November 2, 2023.

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Summary