San Francisco 49ers History
The San Francisco 49ers are a profession football team in the National Football League (NFL). The 49ers are currently part of the Nation Football Conference (NFC) Western Division.The 49ers began play in 1946 as a charter member of the All-American Football Conference (AAFC) and joined the NFL in 1950 after the the 2 leagues merged.
The 49ers have won 5 Super Bowls, the NFL record for the most Super Bowl victories and that they share with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Dallas Cowboys. However, San Francsco is the only team with two or more Super Bowl appearances that is undefeated in the NFL title game, with a record of 5-0. The 49ers teams of the 1980s and early 1990s are considered by many to be among the greatest teams in NFL history, particularly 1984 and 1989 team.
The 49ers are considered The Team of the Eighties, winning four of their 5 Super Bowls in the decade. Prior to the 1980, the 49ers had never won an NFL championship and in fact never even won a division title until 1970. The NFLs only 3-time Super Bowl MVP Joe Montana, perennial Pro Bowler Ronnie Lott, and all-time highest career quarterback rating holder Steve Young, all 3 whom are inductees in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as well as career-touchdown leader and certain future Hall of Fame Inductee Jerry Rice, all played for the 49ers during this period.
The years since the 2002 season has been disastrous for the 49ers. San Francisco has suffered losing seasons the last five years, finishing with an NFL worst 2-14 record and last place in their division in 2004, and no better than a 7-9 3rd place finish in 2006.