# 1976 San Francisco 49ers season

The 1976 San Francisco 49ers season was the franchise's 27th season in the National Football League and their 31st overall. The team had a new head coach in Monte Clark, who previously was an assistant coach of the Miami Dolphins, to replace Dick Nolan. They began the season with the goal of improving on their previous output of 5–9. They were able to do so, starting the season 6–1; however, after a four-game losing streak, they finished 8–6 and missed the playoffs. This would be the first, and only, season for Clark as head coach. He was let go during the 1977 off-season.
On April 5, 1976, the 49ers traded for former Heisman Trophy winner Jim Plunkett. The 49ers gave the New England Patriots their first round pick in the 1976 NFL draft, the Houston Oilers first round pick in the 1976 Draft, the 49ers first and second round picks in the 1977 NFL draft, and quarterback Tom Owen.

## Offseason
### 1976 Expansion Draft

San Francisco 49ers selected during the Expansion Draft :
| Round | Overall | Name | Position | Expansion Team |
| 0 | 0 | Wayne Baker | Defensive tackle | Seattle Seahawks |
| 0 | 0 | Manfred Moore | Running back | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 0 | 0 | Bob Penchion | Guard | Seattle Seahawks |

### NFL draft

1976 San Francisco 49ers draft :
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
| 2 | 42 | Randy Cross * | Guard | UCLA | |
| 2 | 57 | Eddie Lewis | Defensive back | Kansas | |
| 4 | 100 | Steve Rivera | Wide receiver | California | |
| 5 | 140 | Tony Leonard | Defensive back | Virginia Union | |
| 6 | 168 | Robert Pennywell | Linebacker | Grambling State | |
| 6 | 177 | Scott Bull | Quarterback | Arkansas | |
| 7 | 194 | Jay Chesley | Defensive back | Vanderbilt | |
| 8 | 223 | John Ayers | Guard | West Texas State | began play with 49ers in 1977. |
| 9 | 250 | Kenny Harrison | Wide receiver | SMU | |
| 10 | 275 | Robin Ross | Tackle | Washington State | |
| 11 | 305 | Paul Hofer | Running back | Ole Miss | |
| 12 | 332 | Gerald Loper | Guard | Florida | |
| 13 | 359 | Larry Brumfield | Defensive back | Indiana State | |
| 14 | 389 | Johnny Miller | Guard | Livingstone | played with the 49ers in 1977. |
| 15 | 416 | Howard Stidham | Linebacker | Tennessee Tech | played with the 49ers in 1977. |
| 16 | 443 | Reggie Lewis | Defensive end | San Diego State | |
| 17 | 473 | Darryl Jenkins | Running back | San Jose State | |
| Made roster * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career ||||||
Source:

## Preseason

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance |
| 1 | August 1 | at Seattle Seahawks | W 27–20 | 1–0 | Kingdome | 60,825 |
| 2 | August 8 | Denver Broncos | W 17–7 | 2–0 | Candlestick Park | 40,052 |
| 3 | August 15 | Kansas City Chiefs | W 21–13 | 3–0 | Candlestick Park | 36,101 |
| 4 | August 21 | vs. San Diego Chargers | W 17–14 | 4–0 | Aloha Stadium | 36,364 |
| 5 | August 29 | Oakland Raiders | L 9–14 | 4–1 | Candlestick Park | 52,704 |
| 6 | September 4 | at Los Angeles Rams | L3–10 | 4–2 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 55,256 |

## Schedule

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance |
| 1 | September 12 | at Green Bay Packers | W 26–14 | 1–0 | Lambeau Field | 54,628 |
| 2 | September 19 | Chicago Bears | L 12–19 | 1–1 | Candlestick Park | 44,158 |
| 3 | September 26 | at Seattle Seahawks | W 37–21 | 2–1 | Kingdome | 59,108 |
| 4 | October 3 | New York Jets | W 17–6 | 3–1 | Candlestick Park | 42,691 |
| 5 | October 11 | at Los Angeles Rams | W 16–0 | 4–1 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 80,532 |
| 6 | October 17 | New Orleans Saints | W 33–3 | 5–1 | Candlestick Park | 43,160 |
| 7 | October 23 | Atlanta Falcons | W 15–0 | 6–1 | Candlestick Park | 50,240 |
| 8 | October 31 | at St. Louis Cardinals | L 20–23 (OT) | 6–2 | Busch Memorial Stadium | 50,365 |
| 9 | November 7 | Washington Redskins | L 21–24 | 6–3 | Candlestick Park | 56,134 |
| 10 | November 14 | at Atlanta Falcons | L 16–21 | 6–4 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | 20,058 |
| 11 | November 21 | Los Angeles Rams | L 3–23 | 6–5 | Candlestick Park | 58,573 |
| 12 | November 29 | Minnesota Vikings | W 20–16 | 7–5 | Candlestick Park | 56,775 |
| 13 | December 5 | at San Diego Chargers | L 7–13 (OT) | 7–6 | San Diego Stadium | 33,539 |
| 14 | December 12 | at New Orleans Saints | W 27–7 | 8–6 | Louisiana Superdome | 42,536 |
| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. |||||||

### Standings

NFC West :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| Los Angeles Rams$^{(3)}$ | 10 | 3 | 1 | .750 | 7–0 | 9–2–1 | 351 | 190 | W4 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 8 | 6 | 0 | .571 | 5–2 | 7–5 | 270 | 190 | W1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 4 | 10 | 0 | .286 | 2–5 | 3–8 | 253 | 346 | L3 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 4 | 10 | 0 | .286 | 2–5 | 4–8 | 172 | 312 | L3 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 2 | 12 | 0 | .143 | 1–3 | 1–12 | 229 | 429 | L5 |