Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: 10 Worst Seasons in Franchise History

By Bryan Knowles

January 3, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Tomsula walks the sideline against the St. Louis Rams at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
January 3, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Tomsula walks the sideline against the St. Louis Rams at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 31, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Former head coach Steve Mariucci on the red carpet prior to the NFL Honors award ceremony at Symphony Hall. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 31, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Former head coach Steve Mariucci on the red carpet prior to the NFL Honors award ceremony at Symphony Hall. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 5 — 1999

Record: 4-12 (fourth in the NFC West)
Head Coach: Steve Mariucci
Starting Quarterbacks: Jeff Garcia, Steve Young, Steve Stenstrom
Best Players: QB Jeff Garcia, RB Charlie Garner, RT Derrick Deese

The ’99 season started with a sickening thud. On Monday Night Football in Week 3, Steve Young was violently sacked by Aeneas Williams, staying down on the turf. It was reportedly Young’s second concussion of the season, his seventh overall, and the lasting effects from the injury ended his career.

Things sort of went downhill from there.

The ’99 season also had suffered from some key offseason losses, with Harris Barton, Merton Hanks leaving and Garrison Hearst missing the entire season. The team was also old, with the key players from the team’s mid-90s success now having their best days significantly behind them. Even the ageless Jerry Rice was beginning to slow down from his seemingly never-ending peak, and the 49ers were counting on greybeards like Ray Brown, Tim McDonald and Ken Norton to continue to produce like 25-year-olds. The aging defense couldn’t keep up with younger offenses, and the 453 points the team gave up was second-worst in the NFL that year.

The team might have been able to overcome that, at least to the point where they missed this list if nothing else, if Young hadn’t had his career-ending injury. Jeff Garcia turned into a very good player himself, but even at his best, he was no Steve Young—and 1999 wasn’t his best, with him still making the transition from CFL player to NFL starter.

The ’99 Niners lost four games by 20 points or more, regularly getting shellacked. It was clear that the last remnants of the 49ers’ dynastic period had dried up, and the team would have to make some significant changes going forward.

Next: 2007