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San Francisco 49ers: Breaking down the 20 biggest moments of the decade

By Jeremy Wohlfart

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - DECEMBER 23: Fireworks go off after the last regular season game at Candlestick Park where the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Atlanta Falcons 34-24 on December 23, 2013 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - DECEMBER 23: Fireworks go off after the last regular season game at Candlestick Park where the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Atlanta Falcons 34-24 on December 23, 2013 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /
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San Francisco 49ers
Justin Smith, San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

No. 6: The 2015 exodus

On the surface, players retiring or leaving might seem a bit extreme to put on No. 6 of the top moments of the decade. Players do that all the time.

However, this was the moment the 49ers truly had to rebuild. The Super Bowl-caliber team was gone, and it had to be rebuilt.

Defensive end Justin Smith called it a career, while linebackers Chris Borland and Patrick Willis would announce shock retirements, while seemingly poised to be big parts of the defense. Offensive tackle Anthony Davis would retire (for the first time) also.

Offensive mainstays, Frank Gore, Michael Crabtree and Mike Iupati, would all depart via free agency.

It’s only been this season, the 49ers have managed to recover from these departures.