SF 49ers: Ranking the 5 biggest disappointing seasons in team history

No. 3: 2010 SF 49ers (6-10)

One of the seemingly positive ramifications from the Niners moving on from Mike Nolan is it allowed assistant coach and Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary to assume the reins in 2008 and into 2009.

2009 seemed to be good enough, as Singletary’s squad managed to finish with a .500 record — the first non-losing season for San Francisco since 2002 — which suggested 2010 would be the year in which the SF 49ers finally got back into the playoffs.

Patrick Willis and Joe Staley had both solidified themselves as stars. Running back Frank Gore was a star, too, and the Niners were favored by many to win the NFC West that season.

Well, no. Not exactly.

While San Francisco’s defense showed some signs of improvement, there was a clear disconnect on offense. Offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye earned no praise from the fanbase before he was fired in the middle of the season, and Singletary’s lack of game-planning and development ultimately forced the SF 49ers to boast an offense that finished 24th in scoring that year.

And the ominous disappointment began when the Niners started the season with a 0-5 record, essentially putting them out of playoff contention before the halfway point of the year was reached.

Singletary was fired just before Week 17, yet the pieces were in place to build a championship contender.

So, that was a plus.