# 1977 San Francisco 49ers season

The 1977 San Francisco 49ers season was the franchise's 28th season in the National Football League, their 32nd overall, and their first season with general manager Joe Thomas and head coach Ken Meyer. Hoping to build on their 8–6 season from the previous year, the team struggled and was again unable to qualify for the playoffs, this time posting a record of 5–9, including starting the season 0–5.

## Offseason

Before the season began, the team was purchased by Edward DeBartolo, Sr., who in turn gave management of the team to his son, Edward DeBartolo, Jr. The team also hired a new general manager, Joe Thomas, and a new head coach, Ken Meyer.

### NFL draft

1977 San Francisco 49ers draft :
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College |
| 3 | 65 | Elmo Boyd | Wide receiver | Eastern Kentucky |
| 4 | 100 | Stan Black | Defensive back | Mississippi State |
| 6 | 141 | Mike Burns | Defensive back | USC |
| 6 | 155 | Jim Harlan | Tackle | Howard Payne |
| 7 | 183 | Jim Van Wagner | Running back | Michigan Tech |
| 9 | 239 | David Posey | Kicker | Florida |
| 11 | 295 | Brian Billick | Tight end | BYU |
| 12 | 323 | Scott Martin | Guard | North Dakota |
| Made roster ||||||
Source:

## Preseason

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance |
| 1 | August 7 | Seattle Seahawks | L 24–34 | 0–1 | Candlestick Park | 38,024 |
| 2 | August 13 | at San Diego Chargers | L 13–32 | 0–2 | San Diego Stadium | 26,620 |
| 3 | August 21 | Los Angeles Rams | W 23–14 | 1–2 | Candlestick Park | 44,898 |
| 4 | August 29 | at Houston Oilers | L 3–17 | 1–3 | Astrodome | 36,538 |
| 5 | September 3 | at Oakland Raiders | L 0–33 | 1–4 | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | 53,442 |
| 6 | September 10 | Denver Broncos | L 0–20 | 1–5 | Candlestick Park | 36,441 |

## Schedule

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance |
| 1 | September 19 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | L 0–27 | 0–1 | Three Rivers Stadium | 48,046 |
| 2 | September 25 | Miami Dolphins | L 15–19 | 0–2 | Candlestick Park | 40,503 |
| 3 | October 2 | at Los Angeles Rams | L 14–34 | 0–3 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 55,466 |
| 4 | October 9 | Atlanta Falcons | L 0–7 | 0–4 | Candlestick Park | 38,009 |
| 5 | October 16 | at New York Giants | L 17–20 | 0–5 | Giants Stadium | 70,366 |
| 6 | October 23 | Detroit Lions | W 28–7 | 1–5 | Candlestick Park | 39,392 |
| 7 | October 30 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 20–10 | 2–5 | Candlestick Park | 34,700 |
| 8 | November 6 | at Atlanta Falcons | W 10–3 | 3–5 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | 46,577 |
| 9 | November 13 | at New Orleans Saints | W 10–7 | 4–5 | Louisiana Superdome | 41,564 |
| 10 | November 20 | Los Angeles Rams | L 10–23 | 4–6 | Candlestick Park | 56,779 |
| 11 | November 27 | New Orleans Saints | W 20–17 | 5–6 | Candlestick Park | 33,702 |
| 12 | December 4 | at Minnesota Vikings | L 27–28 | 5–7 | Metropolitan Stadium | 40,745 |
| 13 | December 12 | Dallas Cowboys | L 35–42 | 5–8 | Candlestick Park | 55,851 |
| 14 | December 18 | at Green Bay Packers | L 14–16 | 5–9 | Milwaukee County Stadium | 44,902 |
| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. |||||||

### Game summaries
#### Week 8: at Atlanta Falcons

* Television: CBS
* Announcers: Gary Bender, Tom Matte
* Stadium: Atlanta Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia
* Attendance: 46,577
San Francisco knocked Atlanta out of a tie for first in the NFC West, sacking Falcons quarterback Steve Bartkowski seven times for a loss of 76 yards. The only touchdown of a game came on a 2-yard run by Wilbur Jackson.

#### Week 9: at New Orleans Saints

* Television: CBS
* Announcers: Frank Glieber and Nick Buoniconti
Ray Wersching booted a 33-yard field goal in overtime to cap a second half San Francisco rally and give his team a comeback win over New Orleans. Wersching had a chance to end the game in regulation time when his 50-yard field goal was miss midway through the fourth quarter. The drive to a winning score covered 59 yards. Delvin Williams, who put the 49ers on the scoreboard with a 5-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, got 16 yards on the drive and finished the game with 110 yards on 25 carries. The Saints also missed a chance to win it in regulation when Rich Szaro's 30-yard field goal attempt hit the left goal post and bounced away.

#### Week 11: vs. New Orleans Saints

* Television: CBS
* Announcers: Tim Ryan, Tom Matte
This great game started when the Saints Rich Szaro kicked a 30-yard field goal. then the 49ers rallied back to even the game with a Ray Wersching field goal of 40 yards but back came those Saints as Clarence Chapman returned a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown. In a game that has no playoff berths at stake but pride, the Saints added to their lead as Archie Manning scored from 1 yard out. But the 49ers came back on the legs of Wilbur Jackson who ran for 190 yards on 16 carries before he left the game in the fourth quarter with a pulled hamstring. Jackson scored on touchdowns from 34 and 1. Then late in the game the 49ers drove on the legs of Delvin Williams. the 49ers chances to win was helped by a roughing the passing penalty against Mike Fultz of the Saints cancelling a Potential Saints interception. Giving new life Ray Wersching kicked a 42-yard field goal with no time left to give the 49ers a win.

### Standings

NFC West :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| Los Angeles Rams$^{(2)}$ | 10 | 4 | 0 | .714 | 4–2 | 8–4 | 302 | 146 | L1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | 3–3 | 7–5 | 179 | 129 | W1 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 5 | 9 | 0 | .357 | 3–3 | 5–7 | 220 | 260 | L3 |
| New Orleans Saints | 3 | 11 | 0 | .214 | 2–4 | 3–9 | 232 | 336 | L4 |