2015 San Francisco 49ers season explained

Team:San Francisco 49ers
Year:2015
Record:5–11
Division Place:4th NFC West
Coach:Jim Tomsula
General Manager:Trent Baalke
Owner:Jed York
Stadium:Levi's Stadium
Playoffs:Did not qualify
Pro Bowlers:ILB NaVorro Bowman
T Joe Staley
Ap All-Pros:NaVorro Bowman (1st team)
Uniform:File:49ers uniforms 15.png
Shortnavlink:49ers seasons

The 2015 season was the San Francisco 49ers' 66th in the National Football League (NFL), the 70th overall, second playing their home games at Levi's Stadium, and the only season under head coach Jim Tomsula. They were attempting to make history as the first Super Bowl host team to play the Super Bowl on their own home field, but they failed to improve on their 8–8 record from 2014, and ended with a 5–11 record to miss the playoffs for the second season in a row and suffered their first losing season and last place finish since 2010 and 2005 respectively, and marked the 31st consecutive year in which the Super Bowl did not include the team in whose region the game was being played, a feat that was not achieved since themselves in 1984 until the 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers broke the streak five years later.

Offseason

Coaching changes

With their loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 15 of the 2014–15 season, the 49ers were mathematically eliminated from the postseason, exacerbating tensions between head coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager Trent Baalke. After the season ended, the 49ers and Harbaugh mutually agreed to end his contract.[1] On January 14, 2015, Jim Tomsula was promoted to head coach after serving as defensive line coach with the team since 2007; it was his second time at the helm, as he previously served as the 49ers' interim head coach for one game, after Mike Singletary's firing in 2010.[2]

Roster changes

Free Agency

Position Player Free agency
tag 		Date signed/released 2015 team Notes
UFA March 12, 2015 San Francisco 49ers Signed 2-year/$2 million[3]
UFA April 2, 2015 [4]
UFA March 10, 2015 Signed 3-year/$12 million[5]
UFA - - -
UFA - - -
UFA April 13, 2015 Signed 1 year/$3.2 million[6]
UFA - - -
UFA - - -
UFA March 10, 2015 Signed 5-year/$40 million[7]
UFA March 11, 2015 Signed 5-year/$20.5 million[8]
UFA March 31, 2015 San Francisco 49ers Signed 1 year[9]
UFA March 13, 2015 Signed 4-year/$32 million[10]
UFA March 14, 2015 Signed 3-year/$15 million[11]
UFA March 14, 2015 San Francisco 49ers Signed 1 year[12]
RFA March 6, 2015 San Francisco 49ers Signed 4-year[13]
RFA March 12, 2015 San Francisco 49ers Signed 1 year
RFA: Restricted free agent, UFA: Unrestricted free agent, ERFA: Exclusive rights free agent
LEGEND
  • Light green background indicates a player has been re-signed by the 49ers.
  • Light red background indicates a player has departed the 49ers.

    • Signings

    Position Player 2014 Team Date signed Notes
    March 5, 2015 Signed 2-year/$7.5 million[14]
    March 5, 2015 Signed 2-year deal[15]
    March 11, 2015 Signed 5-year/$40 million[16]
    March 14, 2015 Signed 1 year/2.5 million[17]
    March 14, 2015 Signed 1 year/$3 million[18]
    March 14, 2015 Signed 2-year/$4.7 million[19]
    April 3, 2015 Signed 2-year deal[20]
    April 30, 2015 [21]
    August 8, 2015 [22]
    August 7, 2015 [23]
    Indicates that the player was a free agent at the end of his respective team's season.

    Departures

    Position Player Date Notes
    March 3, 2015 Retired[24]
    March 10, 2015 Retired[25]
    March 12, 2015 Released[26]
    March 16, 2015 Retired[27]
    March 26, 2015 Released[28]
    April 30, 2015 Released[29]
    April 30, 2015 Waived
    April 30, 2015 Waived
    May 18, 2015 Retired[30]
    June 5, 2015 Retired[31]
    June 6, 2015 Traded[32]
    August 7, 2015 Released[33]
    August 5, 2015 Released[34]
    November 2, 2015 Traded[35]

    2015 NFL Draft

    See main article: 2015 NFL draft.

    San Francisco 49ers 2015 NFL Draft selections
    Draft orderPlayer namePositionHeightWeightCollegeNotes
    RoundChoiceOverall
    15 15Traded to the San Diego Chargers
    17 176'7" 292 From Chargers
    2 14 466'1" 221
    3 15 796'3" 247
    4 14 113Traded to the Buffalo Bills
    18 1176'6" 252 From Chargers
    27 1265'9" 217 From Broncos
    33 1326'2" 226 Compensatory pick
    5 15 151Traded to the Indianapolis Colts
    29 1656'5" 229 From Colts
    6 14 1906'5" 306
    7 15 232Traded to the Miami Dolphins
    27 2446'8" 355 From Colts
    29 246Traded to the Dallas Cowboys From Colts
    37 254South Carolina Compensatory pick
    Notes

    The 49ers traded their first-round selection (No. 15 overall) to the San Diego Chargers in exchange for San Diego's first- and fourth-round selection (Nos. 17 and 117 overall, respectively) as well a fifth-round selection in 2016.[36]

    The 49ers traded a conditional fourth-round selection to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for wide receiver Stevie Johnson; the selection could be upgraded to a third-rounder pending Johnson's statistics in .[37]

    The 49ers acquired an additional fourth-round selection as part of a trade that sent their 2014 second- and seventh-round selections to the Denver Broncos.[38]

    The 49ers traded a seventh-round selection to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for offensive tackle Jonathan Martin.[39]

    The 49ers acquired an additional seventh-round selection in a trade that sent linebacker Cam Johnson to the Indianapolis Colts.[40]

    The 49ers traded their fifth-round selection (No. 151 overall) to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for Indianapolis's fifth- and seventh-round selection (Nos. 165 and 244 overall, respectively).

    The 49ers acquired a sixth-round selection in 2016 as part of a trade that sent their seventh-round selections (No. 246) to Dallas Cowboys.

    Undrafted free agents

    Position Player College Notes
    RB None Played professional Rugby league from 2006 to 2014 in Australia
    QB
    WR
    OLB Marcus Rush
    WR
    OT Patrick Miller
    WR Darius Davis
    WR

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Rosenthal . Gregg . Jim Harbaugh, San Francisco 49ers mutually part ways . NFL.com . December 28, 2014 . March 12, 2022.
    2. Web site: Patra . Kevin . Niners choose to promote Jim Tomsula to head coach . January 14, 2015 . NFL.com . January 14, 2015.
    3. Web site: 49ers Re-sign QB Blaine Gabbert, TE Garrett Celek. 49ers.com. 12 March 2015.
    4. Web site: Harvey. Coley. Bengals add another former player, sign QB Josh Johnson. 2 April 2015. ESPN. 1 May 2015.
    5. Web site: Wesseling. Chris. Frank Gore agrees to terms with Indianapolis Colts. NFL.com. 11 March 2015.
    6. Web site: Hanzus. Dan. Michael Crabtree signs one-year deal with Raiders. NFL.com. 15 April 2015.
    7. Web site: Odegard. Kyle. Iupati, Shipley Will Aid Cardinals' Run Game. AZCardinals.com. 11 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150313022253/http://www.azcardinals.com/news-and-events/article-2/Iupati-Shipley-Will-Aid-Cardinals-Run-Game/684afee9-ba32-4dae-acfb-cbd06ec36426. 13 March 2015. dead.
    8. Web site: Wesseling. Chris. Jacksonville Jaguars give Dan Skuta $20.5M contract. NFL.com. 11 March 2015.
    9. Web site: 49ers Re-sign LB Desmond Bishop to One-year Deal. 49ers.com. 2 April 2015.
    10. Web site: Orr. Conor. Redskins agree to four-year deal with Chris Culliver. NFL.com. 13 March 2015.
    11. Web site: Wesseling. Chris. Perrish Cox leaves 49ers for Tennessee Titans. NFL.com. 14 March 2015.
    12. Web site: 49ers Re-sign CB Chris Cook to One-year Deal. 49ers.com. 14 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150315134735/http://www.49ers.com/news/article-2/49ers-Re-sign-CB-Chris-Cook-to-One-year-Deal/8b3bc488-fbaa-491e-8bc7-522a4334ca8c. 15 March 2015. dead.
    13. Web site: 49ers Re-sign Kyle Nelson to Four-year Contract. 49ers.com. 10 March 2015.
    14. Web site: Patra . Kevin. Darnell Dockett signs with the San Francisco 49ers. NFL.com. 17 March 2015.
    15. Web site: 49ers Sign WR Jerome Simpson to Two-year Deal. 49ers.com. 22 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150308211709/http://www.49ers.com/news/article-2/49ers-Sign-WR-Jerome-Simpson-to-Two-year-Deal/9ee27d92-c528-4249-b30b-3790471dc567. 2015-03-08. dead.
    16. Web site: Sessler. Marc. 49ers, Torrey Smith strike five-year, $40M deal. NFL.com. 10 March 2015.
    17. Web site: Patra. Kevin. Reggie Bush agrees to join San Francisco 49ers. NFL.com. 15 March 2015.
    18. Web site: Wesseling. Chris. Shareece Wright leaves Chargers for 49ers. NFL.com. 14 March 2015.
    19. Web site: Gutierrez. Paul. 49ers sign vet OL Erik Pears. ESPN.com. 17 March 2015. 18 March 2015.
    20. Web site: Alper. Josh. 49ers sign Nick Bellore. 3 April 2015. Pro Football Talk. 3 April 2015.
    21. Web site: Gutierrez. Paul. 49ers sign OLB Philip Wheeler. ESPN.com. 30 April 2015. 30 April 2015.
    22. Web site: Clarida. Matt. Niners sign CFL LB Shawn Lemon to fill Smith vacancy. https://web.archive.org/web/20150811214923/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000507882/article/niners-sign-cfl-lb-shawn-lemon-to-fill-smith-vacancy. dead. August 11, 2015. NFL.com. 10 August 2015.
    23. Web site: Taylor. Price. Notes from Jim Tomsula: 49ers Sign LB Steve Beauharnais, Jaquiski Tartt to Return to Practice. 49ers.com. 10 August 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150808094443/http://www.49ers.com/news/article-2/Notes-from-Jim-Tomsula-49ers-Sign-LB-Steve-Beauharnais-Jaquiski-Tartt-to-Return-to-Practice/06373beb-ee50-4fd0-9f62-b210d8eb4467. 8 August 2015. dead. dmy-all.
    24. Web site: Reiss. Mark. Ray Ventrone added as Patriots assistant. ESPN.com. 3 March 2015. 22 March 2015.
    25. Web site: Orr. Conor. Patrick Willis retiring after eight seasons with 49ers. NFL.com. 17 March 2015.
    26. Web site: Price. Taylor. Stevie Johnson Released by 49ers. 49ers.com. 12 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150314171742/http://www.49ers.com/news/article-2/49ers-Release-WR-Stevie-Johnson/e19765bb-d9f4-4583-87c5-37a8920a03e9?campaign=social_20150312_41991496&adbid=576106106163855360&adbpl=tw&adbpr=43403778. 2015-03-14. dead.
    27. Web site: San Francisco 49ers' Chris Borland retiring from NFL. NFL.com. 17 March 2015.
    28. Web site: 49ers waive OL Jonathan Martin. ESPN.com. 26 March 2015. 26 March 2015.
    29. Web site: Krest . Shawn . 49ers release Trindon Holliday, Lance Lewis, Fouimalo Fonoti . CBSSports.com . 1 May 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150503031903/http://fantasynews.cbssports.com/fantasyfootball/update/25169059/ers-release-trindon-holliday-lance-lewis-fouimalo-fonoti . 3 May 2015 .
    30. Web site: Rosenthal. Gregg. Niners defensive tackle Justin Smith to retire. NFL.com. 18 May 2015.
    31. Web site: Wesseling. Chris. Anthony Davis of San Francisco 49ers retires. NFL.com. 5 June 2015.
    32. Web site: Sessler. Marc. Browns acquire 49ers punter Andy Lee for draft pick. NFL.com. 9 June 2015.
    33. Web site: Gutierrez. Paul. 49ers release Aldon Smith after arrest on DUI, hit-and-run charges. ESPN.com. 7 August 2015. 7 August 2015.
    34. Web site: Sessler. Marc. 49ers release veteran cornerback Chris Cook. NFL.com. 10 August 2015.
    35. Web site: Hanzus. Dan. Broncos acquire 49ers tight end Vernon Davis. NFL.com. 2 November 2015.
    36. Web site: Sessler. Marc. San Diego Chargers trade up for RB Melvin Gordon. NFL.com. 1 May 2015.
    37. Web site: Patra. Kevin. Stevie Johnson traded to San Francisco 49ers. NFL.com. Around the League (blog). May 9, 2014. May 9, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140513085745/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000348691/article/stevie-johnson-traded-to-san-francisco-49ers. May 13, 2014. live.
    38. News: Renck. Troy E.. Broncos take WR Cody Latimer, RT Michael Schofield on day 2 of draft. May 20, 2014. The Denver Post. May 9, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140520144946/http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_25731892/broncos-nfl-draft-second-third-round. May 20, 2014. live.
    39. Web site: Jonathan Martin headed to 49ers . ESPN. March 11, 2014. March 11, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140512124031/http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10592439/miami-dolphins-trade-jonathan-martin-san-francisco-49ers. May 12, 2014. live.
    40. Web site: Fucillo. David. 49ers draft picks 2014: Cam Johnson acquired pick is 2015, not 2014. Jan 24, 2014. SB Nation. Niners Nation (blog). May 20, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140201230137/http://www.ninersnation.com/2014/1/24/5342196/49ers-draft-picks-2014-cam-johnson-trade-2015. February 1, 2014. live.

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