1996 San Francisco 49ers season
| 1996 San Francisco 49ers season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | George Seifert |
| Home field | 3Com Park |
| Results | |
| Record | 12–4 |
| Division place | 2nd NFC West |
| Playoff finish |
Won Wild Card Playoffs (Eagles) 14–0 Lost Divisional Playoffs (Packers) 35–14 |
| Uniform | |
 |
|
The 1996 San Francisco 49ers season was the team's 51st since its inception. In commemoration, the 49ers wore a special 50th anniversary patch. They also wore a new uniform reminiscent of the 1994 throwback uniforms with white pants and shadowed numbers, but with a darker shade of red and an updated logo. The franchise tied for first place in the NFC West with a 12–4 record, but lost the division title to the Carolina Panthers on the division-record tiebreaker (the Panthers had swept the Niners in the season). The Niners were 3rd in the league in points scored and 4th in fewest points allowed.
Although the team was competitive the entire season, nagging and recurring injuries to offensive players and an inconsistent running game contributed to a what was considered a disappointing season. After a 14–0 Wild Card victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, the 49ers were defeated by the Green Bay Packers in the divisional playoffs 35–14. It would be George Seifert's final season as the 49ers' head coach and also the final San Francisco season for defensive coordinator Pete Carroll.
The 49ers tried to go after Giants running back Rodney Hampton in the offseason (signing him to an offer sheet) but to no avail.
After concerns and criticisms of Marc Trestman's offensive play calling, in his first year, the 49ers brought back former coach Bill Walsh to act as an administrative assistant, largely to help coach Trestman orchestrate the technical side of the West Coast Offense.
After the 1995 season, concerns about the 49ers' running game loomed largely for San Francisco. The 49ers were able to sign running back Terry Kirby by the fifth week of the season, but star fullback William Floyd was still recovering from a devastating knee injury suffered the previous season. Also, the loss of cornerback Eric Davis to divisional rival Carolina was a concern. However, with 1995's number one defense and highest scoring offense, San Francisco was picked by many to win their sixth Super Bowl.
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