Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: Ranking the 10 Worst Teams in Franchise History

By Peter Panacy

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Quarterback Alex Smith didn't exactly have the best indoctrination to the NFL after being selected first overall in 2005. Mandatory Credit: PRESSWIRE
Quarterback Alex Smith didn’t exactly have the best indoctrination to the NFL after being selected first overall in 2005. Mandatory Credit: PRESSWIRE /

No. 3: The 2005 49ers

Regular-Season Record: 4-12, fourth in the NFC West

Former head coach Mike Nolan finds his way again onto our list of worst 49ers teams of all time. And the No. 3 selection marks his first year as the Niners head coach.

Granted, Nolan inherited a team completely bereft of talent (don’t worry, we’ll get to 2004 shortly). But the big-talking head coach didn’t exactly get his team off to the best of starts.

A lot of question marks came to the forefront when Nolan selected quarterback Alex Smith with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 NFL draft. Nolan passed up on Cal quarterback Aaron Rodgers for what many believe to be a distaste in Rodgers’ personality.

Smith’s first season at the pro level was a disaster. His offensive line was a mess, the 49ers lacked any weapons for him outside of third-round pick Frank Gore and the embattled quarterback threw just one touchdown against 11 interceptions over nine games played.

And the 49ers’ quarterbacking carousel continued with Tim Rattay, Ken Dorsey and Cody Pickett all seeing starts over the season.

Not surprisingly, the Niners finished with a 4-12 record, the league’s third-worst offense and a defense that allowed more points and yards than any other team that season.

So much for Nolan’s lofty expectations.

Next: No. 2