1972 San Francisco 49ers season

The 1972 San Francisco 49ers season was the franchise's 23rd season in the National Football League and their 27th overall.. The 49ers appeared in the playoffs for the third consecutive year. After an early-season injury to Quarterback John Brodie, Steve Spurrier stepped in and turned things around with brilliant performances to get the 49ers back in the playoff picture by going 5-2-1 over eight games. In the last game of the season, Brodie returned in the 4th Quarter and threw two touchdown passes to lead the 49ers to a 20–17 victory over the Minnesota Vikings, as the 49ers won the third straight Division Title with an 8-5-1 record. In the Divisional Playoffs at Candlestick the 49ers looked poised for a return to the NFC Championship leading the Dallas Cowboys 28-13 entering the 4th Quarter. However, the Cowboys would score 17 points to break the hearts of San Francisco again. This would mark the last playoff appearance for the 49ers until 1981.

1972 San Francisco 49ers season
Owner	Josephine Morabito Jane Morabito
Head coach	Dick Nolan
Home field	Candlestick Park
Results
Record	8–5–1
Division place	1st NFC West
Playoff finish	Lost Divisional Playoffs (Cowboys) 28–30

Offseason

NFL Draft

1972 San Francisco 49ers Draft

Round	Selection	Player	Position	College	Note
1	19	Terry Beasley	WR	Auburn

Roster

1972 San Francisco 49ers roster

	Quarterbacks 12 John Brodie 19 Joe Reed 11 Steve Spurrier Running backs 42 Doug Cunningham 35 Larry Schreiber 24 Jimmy Thomas 22 Vic Washington 40 Ken Willard FB Wide receivers 83 Terry Beasley 17 John Isenbarger RB 85 Preston Riley 18 Gene Washington 88 Dick Witcher Tight ends 82 Ted Kwalick		Offensive linemen 79 Cas Banaszek T 77 Jean Barrett T 65 Randy Beisler G 75 Forrest Blue C 66 Elmer Collett G 69 Woody Peoples G 76 Len Rohde T Defensive linemen 72 Bill Belk DE 74 Earl Edwards DT 86 Cedrick Hardman DE 53 Tommy Hart DE 56 Bob Hoskins DT 70 Charlie Krueger DT 78 Rolf Krueger DT		Linebackers 50 Ed Beard 54 Marty Huff 57 Frank Nunley 58 Jim Sniadecki 52 Skip Vanderbundt 64 Dave Wilcox Defensive backs 23 Johnny Fuller SS 37 Jimmy Johnson CB 49 Ralph McGill FS 32 Mel Phillips SS 38 Mike Simpson 44 Bruce Taylor CB Special teams 30 Bruce Gossett K 15 Jim McCann P		Reserve lists Practice squad Rookies in italics

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
1	September 17, 1972	San Diego Chargers	W 34–3	59,438
2	September 24, 1972	at Buffalo Bills	L 27–20	45,845
3	October 1, 1972	at New Orleans Saints	W 37–2	69,840
4	October 8, 1972	at Los Angeles Rams	L 31–7	77,382
5	October 15, 1972	New York Giants	L 23–17	58,606
6	October 22, 1972	New Orleans Saints	T 20–20	59,167
7	October 29, 1972	at Atlanta Falcons	W 49–14	58,850
8	November 5, 1972	at Green Bay Packers	L 34–24	47,897
9	November 12, 1972	Baltimore Colts	W 24–21	61,214
10	November 19, 1972	at Chicago Bears	W 34–21	55,701
11	November 23, 1972	at Dallas Cowboys	W 31–10	65,124
12	December 4, 1972	Los Angeles Rams	L 26–16	61,214
13	December 10, 1972	Atlanta Falcons	W 20–0	61,214
14	December 16, 1972	Minnesota Vikings	W 20–17	61,214

Standings

NFC West
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
San Francisco 49ers	8	5	1	.607	3–2–1	6–4–1	353	249	W2
Atlanta Falcons	7	7	0	.500	3–3	5–5	269	274	L2
Los Angeles Rams	6	7	1	.464	4–2	5–5–1	291	286	L2
New Orleans Saints	2	11	1	.179	1–4–1	2–8–1	215	361	L3

Playoffs

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
Divisional	December 23, 1972	Dallas Cowboys	L 30–28	61,214

Awards and records

References

• 49ers on Pro Football Reference
• 49ers Schedule on jt-sw.com