49ers decade in review: Ranking the 15 most infamous moments

SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 19: Cornerback Richard Sherman #25 of the Seattle Seahawks tips the ball up in the air as outside linebacker Malcolm Smith #53 catches it to clinch the victory for the Seahawks against the San Francisco 49ers during the 2014 NFC Championship at CenturyLink Field on January 19, 2014 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) /

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Frank Gore #23 of the Indianapolis Colts (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

No. 5: The Mass Exodus of 49ers Players in 2015

2015 was a watershed year for the 49ers in a number of ways.

And not for the best of reasons, either.

Front-office turmoil and an 8-8 finish the year before painted a lot of the proverbial “writing on the wall,” so to speak. The Niners were a Titanic of a franchise, the ship had hit an iceberg and it was time to get off.

Many players did. A lot of the best ones, too.

Some were by the way of retirement. Veteran defensive end Justin Smith, who was so instrumental in Aldon Smith’s success, called it a career. So did linebacker Chris Borland after one of the best rookie careers the season before. Fellow linebacker Patrick Willis retired, hurting 49ers fans everywhere, too.

Then there were the free agency departures, which included Frank Gore and wide receiver Michael Crabtree. San Francisco let offensive guard Mike Iupati walk, too, while right tackle Anthony Davis went back and forth between retirement and reinstatement for the next few years.

A mass exodus, and just among the players, too. Forget the coaching staff, which was completely gutted after 2014.

Outside of Jim Tomsula’s promotion, of course.