| Team: | San Francisco 49ers |
| Year: | 2017 |
| Record: | 6–10 |
| Division Place: | 4th NFC West |
| Coach: | Kyle Shanahan |
| Owner: | Jed York |
| General Manager: | John Lynch |
| Stadium: | Levi's Stadium |
| Playoffs: | Did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers: | FB Kyle Juszczyk OT Joe Staley |
| Uniform: | File:49ers uniforms 15.png |
| Shortnavlink: | 49ers seasons |
The 2017 season was the San Francisco 49ers' 68th in the National Football League (NFL), their 72nd overall, their fourth playing their home games at Levi's Stadium and their first under the head coach/general manager tandem of Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch.
After an 0–9 start, they won 6 of their last 7 games and finished the season 6–10, improving from their last two season records. Despite this, the 49ers were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 12.
The 49ers season largely turned around after they acquired quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo from the New England Patriots on October 30, 2017. At this point, the 49ers had a record of 0–8, dead last in the NFC. Garoppolo made his first start during Week 13 against the Chicago Bears and led them to a 15–14 win. Garoppolo won the final five games of the season for the 49ers, bringing the regular-season record to 6–10, the most wins by the team since the 2014 season. During the 5-game win streak, the 49ers won 3 straight games over teams that eventually made the playoffs (Weeks 15–17 against the Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Los Angeles Rams). From Weeks 1–12, the 49ers scored just 187 points (17 points per game), which was in the bottom half of the league. During the 5-game win streak, the 49ers offense scored 144 points (28.8 points per game). The highlight of the year was during Week 16, the 49ers scored 44 points against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who had the NFL's top scoring defense at the time, allowing just 14.9 points per game. The 49ers finished the season by being the only team in the NFL to go undefeated in the month of December. The 49ers also became the first team in NFL history to start a season 0–9 and finish with more than three wins.[1]
Owner Jed York announced that he would hire a new general manager and the new head coach due to a bad season. On January 29, 2017, the 49ers hired John Lynch as their general manager.[2] On February 6, 2017, the 49ers hired Atlanta Falcons' offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan as the new coach of the San Francisco 49ers.[3]
The 49ers entered free agency with the following:[4]
| Position | Player | Free agency tag | Date signed | 2017 Team | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UFA | ||||||
| UFA | March 10, 2017 | Agreed 2-year contract[5] | ||||
| UFA | May 10, 2017 | Signed one-year contract[6] [7] | ||||
| UFA | March 24, 2017 | Signed one-year contract[8] | ||||
| UFA | ||||||
| UFA | March 22, 2017 | Signed one-year contract[9] | ||||
| UFA | March 4, 2017 | San Francisco 49ers | Agreed 3-year contract[10] [11] | |||
| UFA | April 3, 2017 | Signed one-year contract[12] | ||||
| UFA | ||||||
| UFA | ||||||
| UFA | ||||||
| UFA | ||||||
| UFA | August 14, 2017 | San Francisco 49ers | Signed one-year contract[13] | |||
| UFA | March 28, 2017 | San Francisco 49ers | Signed one-year contract[14] | |||
| RFA | March 16, 2017 | San Francisco 49ers | Agreed one-year contract[15] | |||
| UFA | May 25, 2017 | Signed one-year contract[16] [17] | ||||
| UFA | March 23, 2017 | Signed one-year contract[18] | ||||
| RFA | February 27, 2017 | Declined one-year contract[19] | ||||
| RFA | April 7, 2017 | [20] | ||||
| RFA | May 10, 2017 | |||||
| RFA | ||||||
| ERFA | May 30, 2017 | |||||
| ERFA | May 25, 2017 | |||||
| ERFA | ||||||
| ERFA | August 17, 2017 | San Francisco 49ers | Signed one-year contract[21] | |||
| ERFA | ||||||
| RFA | February 27, 2017 | Declined one-year contract | ||||
| ERFA | August 5, 2017 | |||||
RFA: Restricted free agent, UFA: Unrestricted free agent, ERFA: Exclusive rights free agent
| ||||||
| Position | Player | 2016 Team | Date signed | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 21, 2017 | Signed 1-year[22] [23] | ||||
| February 24, 2017 | Signed 2-year[24] | ||||
| February 24, 2017 | Signed 4-year[25] | ||||
| March 9, 2017 | Signed 5-year[26] | ||||
| March 9, 2017 | Signed 2-year | ||||
| March 9, 2017 | Signed 2-year | ||||
| March 9, 2017 | Signed 2-year | ||||
| March 9, 2017 | Signed 4-year | ||||
| March 9, 2017 | Signed 1-year | ||||
| March 9, 2017 | Signed 5-year | ||||
| March 10, 2017 | Signed 2-year[27] | ||||
| March 10, 2017 | Signed 1-year | ||||
| March 10, 2017 | Signed 2-year | ||||
| March 10, 2017 | Signed 2-year[28] | ||||
| March 17, 2017 | Signed 3-year[29] | ||||
| April 4, 2017 | Signed 1-year[30] | ||||
| April 18, 2017 | Signed 1-year[31] | ||||
| May 2, 2017 | Signed 1-year[32] | ||||
| May 2, 2017 | Signed 1-year | ||||
| June 1, 2017 | Signed 1-year[33] | ||||
| June 5, 2017 | [34] | ||||
| Andrew Lauderdale | June 9, 2017 | Signed 2-year[35] | |||
| July 31, 2017 | Claimed off waiver[36] | ||||
| July 31, 2017 | Signed 1-year[37] | ||||
| August 8, 2017 | [38] | ||||
| August 9, 2017 | [39] | ||||
| August 14, 2017 | Signed 1-year contract | ||||
| August 23, 2017 | Signed 1-year contract[40] [41] | ||||
| September 25, 2017 | Signed 1-year contract[42] |
| Indicates that the player was a free agent at the end of his respective team's season. |
| Position | Player | Date | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 7, 2017 | Released[43] [44] | |||
| March 7, 2017 | Released[45] [46] | |||
| March 8, 2017 | Waived[47] | |||
| May 2, 2017 | Released | |||
| Released | ||||
| Released | ||||
| Released | ||||
| Released | ||||
| Released | ||||
| Released | ||||
| Brock Miller | Released | |||
| Released | ||||
| Released | ||||
| Released | ||||
| Released | ||||
| Released | ||||
| May 5, 2017 | Waived[48] | |||
| May 8, 2017 | Released[49] | |||
| June 1, 2017 | Waived | |||
| August 3, 2017 | Waived | |||
| August 9, 2017 | Released | |||
| August 25, 2017 | Released[50] | |||
| August 29, 2017 | Released[51] | |||
| September 1, 2017 | Released[52] | |||
| Released | ||||
| Released | ||||
| Released | ||||
| Released | ||||
| Released | ||||
| Released | ||||
| Waived | ||||
| Andrew Lauderdale | Waived | |||
| Waived | ||||
| Waived | ||||
| Waived | ||||
| Waived | ||||
| Waived | ||||
| September 16, 2017 | Waived[53] | |||
| October 13, 2017 | Released[54] [55] |
See main article: 2017 NFL draft.
| Round | Selection | Player | Position | College | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Traded to the Bears | ||||
| 3 | From Bears | ||||
| 31 | From Seahawks | ||||
| 2 | 34 | Traded to the Seahawks | |||
| 3 | 66 | ||||
| 67 | Traded to the Saints | From Bears | |||
| 104 | From Vikings Compensatory pick | ||||
| 4 | 109 | Traded to the Vikings | |||
| 111 | Traded to the Seahawks | From Bears | |||
| 121 | From Colts | ||||
| 143 | Traded to the Colts | Compensatory pick | |||
| 5 | 146 | ||||
| 161 | Traded to the Colts | From Redskins | |||
| 177 | From Broncos Compensatory pick | ||||
| 6 | 186 | Traded to the Ravens | |||
| 198 | From Ravens | ||||
| 202 | From Broncos | ||||
| 7 | 219 | Traded to the Vikings | From Browns | ||
| 220 | Traded to the Redskins | ||||
| 229 | From Saints | ||||
The 49ers acquired an additional sixth-round selection as part of a trade that sent their 2016 seventh-round selection and Vernon Davis to the Denver Broncos.
The 49ers acquired an additional seventh-round selection as part of a trade that sent Andy Lee to the Cleveland Browns.
The 49ers traded their sixth-round selection (Nos. 186 overall) to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for their sixth-round selection (Nos. 198 overall) and C Jeremy Zuttah.[56]
The 49ers acquired an additional fifth-round selection as part of a trade that sent their Derek Carrier to the Washington Redskins in 2015, but sent a seventh-round selection back due to Carrier's performance.
The 49ers traded their first-round selection (Nos. 2 overall) to the Chicago Bears in exchange for their third- and fourth-round selection (Nos. 67 and 111 overall) and 2018 third-round selections.[57]
The 49ers traded their second- and fourth-round selection (Nos. 34 and 111 overall) to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for their first-round selection (Nos. 31 overall).[58]
The 49ers traded their third-round selection (Nos. 67 overall) to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for their seventh-round selection (Nos. 229 overall) and 2018 second-round selections.
The 49ers traded their fourth- and seventh-round selection (Nos. 109 and 219 overall) to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for their third-round selection (Nos. 104 overall).[59]
The 49ers traded their 2018 fourth-round selections to the Denver Broncos in exchange for their fifth-round selections (Nos. 177 overall) and RB Kapri Bibbs.[60]
The 49ers traded their fourth- and fifth-round selection (Nos. 143 and 161 overall) to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for their fourth-round selection (Nos. 121 overall).
| Position | Player | College | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WR | ||||
| WR | ||||
| RB | ||||
| WR | Released May 8 | |||
| OL | ||||
| CB | Waived August 8 | |||
| DL | Waived with injury, July 31. Now on Injured Reserve | |||
| S | Waived June 9 | |||
| OL | ||||
| TE | ||||
| DB | ||||
| OL | ||||
| FB | Waived September 1 | |||
| QB | ||||
| LB | Waived with injury, Aug 16. Now on Injured Reserve | |||
| DL | ||||
| OL | Released May 8 | |||
| OL | ||||
| S | Waived August 14 | |||
| WR | Waived with injury, July 31. Now on Injured Reserve | |||
| OL | Richard Levy | Waived August 13[61] |
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | at Kansas City Chiefs | W 27–17 | 1–0 | Arrowhead Stadium | Recap | ||
| 2 | Denver Broncos | L 14–33 | 1–1 | Levi's Stadium | Recap | ||
| 3 | August 27 | at Minnesota Vikings | L 31–32 | 1–2 | U.S. Bank Stadium | Recap | |
| 4 | Los Angeles Chargers | W 23–13 | 2–2 | Levi's Stadium | Recap |
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 10 | Carolina Panthers | L 3–23 | 0–1 | Levi's Stadium | Recap | ||
| 2 | September 17 | at Seattle Seahawks | L 9–12 | 0–2 | CenturyLink Field | Recap | ||
| 3 | Los Angeles Rams | L 39–41 | 0–3 | Levi's Stadium | Recap | |||
| 4 | October 1 | at Arizona Cardinals | L 15–18 | 0–4 | University of Phoenix Stadium | Recap | ||
| 5 | October 8 | at Indianapolis Colts | L 23–26 | 0–5 | Lucas Oil Stadium | Recap | ||
| 6 | October 15 | at Washington Redskins | L 24–26 | 0–6 | FedExField | Recap | ||
| 7 | October 22 | Dallas Cowboys | L 10–40 | 0–7 | Levi's Stadium | Recap | ||
| 8 | October 29 | at Philadelphia Eagles | L 10–33 | 0–8 | Lincoln Financial Field | Recap | ||
| 9 | November 5 | Arizona Cardinals | L 10–20 | 0–9 | Levi's Stadium | Recap | ||
| 10 | November 12 | New York Giants | W 31–21 | 1–9 | Levi's Stadium | Recap | ||
| 11 | Bye | |||||||
| 12 | November 26 | Seattle Seahawks | L 13–24 | 1–10 | Levi's Stadium | Recap | ||
| 13 | December 3 | at Chicago Bears | W 15–14 | 2–10 | Soldier Field | Recap | ||
| 14 | December 10 | at Houston Texans | W 26–16 | 3–10 | NRG Stadium | Recap | ||
| 15 | December 17 | Tennessee Titans | W 25–23 | 4–10 | Levi's Stadium | Recap | ||
| 16 | December 24 | Jacksonville Jaguars | W 44–33 | 5–10 | Levi's Stadium | Recap | ||
| 17 | December 31 | at Los Angeles Rams | W 34–13 | 6–10 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | Recap | ||
| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. | ||||||||
With this loss, The 49ers started off the Shanahan era 0–1
With this loss, the 49ers fell to 0–2
After losing to the Seahawks on the road, the 49ers went home to take on the Rams on Thursday Night Football. In the first quarter, the Rams scored first when Todd Gurley ran for a 3-yard touchdown to make it 7–0. The Niners managed to tie it up when Brian Hoyer ran for a 9-yard touchdown to make it 7–7. The Rams moved back into the lead when Jared Goff found Gurley on a 7-yard pass to make it 14–7. In the second quarter, the Rams increased their lead when Greg Zuerlein kicked a 48-yard field goal to make it 17–7. The Niners came within 4 with two field goals of their own kicked by Robbie Gould from 36 and 48 yards out to make the score 17-10 and then 17–13. Gurley then put the Rams up by double digits at halftime when he ran for a 2-yard touchdown to make it 24–13. In the third quarter Zuerlein kicked a 19-yard field goal to make it 27–13 Rams. The Niners then came within a touchdown when Carlos Hyde ran for one from a yard out. The Rams moved up by 2 touchdowns again when Goff found Sammy Watkins on a 1-yard pass to make it 34–20. In the fourth quarter, the Niners came within 8 when Garrett Celek caught a 1-yard pass from Hoyer (with a failed PAT) to make it 34–26. The Rams again moved up by double digits when Goff and Watkins connected again on a 13-yard pass to make it 41–26. Finally, the Niners were able to come within two points with two more touchdowns: Trent Taylor caught a pass from Hoyer 3 yards out to make it 41–33 and Hyde ran for another 1-yard touchdown (with a failed 2-point conversion) to make the final score 41–39.
With the loss, the Niners fell to 0–3.
With this loss, the 49ers fell to 0–4, as well as being 0–3 in the NFC West Division
With this loss, the 49ers fell to 0–5
With the loss, the 49ers fell to 0–6. With the Giants defeating the Broncos on Sunday Night Football, they became the last winless team in the NFC.
With this loss, the 49ers fell to 0–7
With this loss, the 49ers secured their fourth consecutive non-winning season.
With this loss, the 49ers fell to 0–9, securing their 3 consecutive losing season
After starting the season 0–9, which was never recorded in team history, the Niners left the Cleveland Browns the only winless team in the NFL for 2017. This game also ended the possibility of the Niners becoming the second NFL team to go 0–16. This also Kyle Shanahan first win as a Head Coach
This game saw Jimmy Garoppolo's first play that resulted in a Touchdown pass to Louis Murphy Jr. The game also fall to 1–10 and 0–5 in the NFC West
This was Jimmy Garoppolo's first start as a 49ers quarterback. Garoppolo lead them to their 2nd win of the season as they were now 2–10
For the first time in 8 years, head coach Kyle Shanahan made his first return to Houston since leaving the Texans in 2010 to become the offensive coordinator for the Washington Redskins under his father, head coach Mike Shanahan. Kyle previously served as Houston's wide receivers coach in 2006, quarterbacks coach in 2007, and the offensive coordinator from 2008 to 2009 under then-head coach Gary Kubiak. The 49ers were now 3–10
Gould's kick sent the 49ers to 4–10
Jimmy G kept the momentum in Levi's Season finale and put the 49ers at 5–10
With the win, the Niners finished their season 6–10. Jimmy Garoppolo became the first NFL quarterback to go 7–0 in his first seven starts since Ben Roethlisberger in 2004.