TOP 8 Worst encore seasons

There have been plenty of tough acts to follow in the history of the 49ers franchise with a team that has five Super Bowl championships, seven Super Bowl visits, 16 trips to the NFC Championship game, and 27 playoff appearances. That kind of success has seen the 49ers enter many seasons over the years looking to take the next step to greatness or simply maintain it. That makes them fall and crash even worse when San Francisco failed to achieve those goals coming off triumphant seasons. The 2020 49ers know all about it, which lands them a place on this list of the worst encore seasons in franchise history.

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STEVE YOUNG

1.1982: The mother of all letdown seasons in49ers history came the year after the most spontaneously spectacular season in team lore produced a 16-3 record and 1981 Super Bowl championship. But the dynasty that would follow that title run almost never happened because Bill Walsh considered quitting after the pressure and frustration caused by his team’s 1982 Super Bowl hangover and collapse. In a strike-shortened season, amid rumors some players weren’t remaining professional off the field and taking their jobs seriously, the 49ers started 2-5 but still had a shot at reaching the postseason in an expanded NFC playoff field by winning their season finale at home. Instead, San Francisco blew a 13-point halftime lead during a 21-20 loss to the last-place Los Angeles Rams, becoming the only team in NFL history to win more than half its road games while losing all its home games.