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factoids

The 1972 San Francisco 49ers season was the franchise's 23rd season in the National Football League and their 27th overall. The 49ers appeared in the playoffs for the third consecutive year.After an ankle injury to quarterback John Brodie in a loss to the Giants to fall to 2–3,NEWS,weblink Lodi News-Sentinel, UPI, 'no comment' on possible Brodie trade, October 18, 1972, 16, Steve Spurrier stepped in and turned things around with brilliant performances to get the 49ers back in the playoff picture by going 5–2–1 in the next eight games. In the regular season finale, Brodie returned late in the third quarter and threw two touchdown passes in the fourth to rally the 49ers to a 20–17 victory over the Minnesota Vikings for an 8–5–1 record and third straight division title.NEWS,weblink Pittsburgh Press, UPI, Brodie guides 49ers to title, December 17, 1972, D1, NEWS,weblink Spartanburg Herald-Journal, (South Carolina), Associated Press, 49ers edge Minnesota, 20-17, to take title, December 17, 1972, B1, In the divisional playoffs at Candlestick Park, the 49ers looked poised for a return to the NFC Championship game, leading the Dallas Cowboys 28–13 at the start of the fourth quarter, but the Cowboys scored seventeen unanswered points to win by two.NEWS,weblink Eugene Register-Guard, (Oregon), Associated Press, Staubach ends bid by 49ers with late TDs, December 24, 1972, 1B, NEWS,weblinklocation=(Texas) title=Incredible Cowboys do it again page=1B, This was the third consecutive season that San Francisco lost to Dallas in the playoffs, and the 49ers' last postseason appearance for nine years.

Offseason

NFL draft

{{NFL team draft start|year=1972|teamname=San Francisco 49ers}}{{NFL team draft entry|round=1|pick=19|player=Terry Beasley|position=Wide receiver|college=Auburn|maderoster=yes|notes=}}{{NFL team draft entry|round=2|pick=28|player=Ralph McGill|position=Defensive back|college=Tulsa|maderoster=yes|notes=}}{{NFL team draft entry|round=2|pick=44|player=Jean Barrett|position=Tackle|college=Tulsa|notes=started playing for the 49ers in 1973}}{{NFL team draft entry|round=3|pick=71|player=Jubilee Dunbar|position=Wide receiver|college=Southern|notes=}}{{NFL team draft entry|round=4|pick=96|player=Windlan Hall|position=Defensive back|college=Arizona State|maderoster=yes|notes=}}{{NFL team draft entry|round=5|pick=123|player=Mike Greene|position=Linebacker|college=Georgia|notes=}}{{NFL team draft entry|round=6|pick=148|player=Jackie Walker|position=Defensive back|college=Tennessee|notes=}}{{NFL team draft entry|round=7|pick=175|player=Ed Hardy|position=Guard|college=Jackson State|notes=started playing for the 49ers in 1973}}{{NFL team draft entry|round=8|pick=200|player=Tom Wittum|position=Punter|college=Northern Illinois|probowl=yes|notes=started playing for the 49ers in 1973}}{{NFL team draft entry|round=9|pick=227|player=Jerry Brown|position=Defensive back|college=Northwestern|notes=}}{{NFL team draft entry|round=10|pick=252|player=Steve Williams|position=Defensive end|college=Western Carolina|notes=}}{{NFL team draft entry|round=11|pick=279|player=Tom Laputka|position=Defensive end|college=Southern Illinois|notes=}}{{NFL team draft entry|round=12|pick=304|player=Steve Setzler|position=Defensive end|college=Saint John's (MN)|notes=}}{{NFL team draft entry|round=13|pick=331|player=Leon Pettigrew|position=Tackle|college=Cal State Northridge|notes=}}{{NFL team draft entry|round=14|pick=356|player=Eric Guthrie|position=Quarterback|college=Boise State|notes=}}{{NFL team draft entry|round=15|pick=383|player=Bob Maddox|position=Defensive end|college=Frostburg State|notes=was ineligible to be drafted.}}{{NFL team draft entry|round=16|pick=408|player=Ron Davis|position=Guard|college=Virginia State|notes=}}{{NFL team draft entry|round=17|pick=435|player=Ted Alexander|position=Running back|college=Langston|notes=}}{{NFL team draft end|hof=no}}

Roster

{{NFL season roster| year = 1972| team = San Francisco 49ers| quarterbacks ={{NFLplayer|12|John Brodie}}{{NFLplayer|19|Joe Reed|d=quarterback}}{{NFLplayer|11|Steve Spurrier}}| running_backs ={{NFLplayer|42|Doug Cunningham|d=American football}}{{NFLplayer|35|Larry Schreiber}}{{NFLplayer|24|Jimmy Thomas|d=American football}}{{NFLplayer|22|Vic Washington}}{{NFLplayer|40|Ken Willard|FB}}| wide_receivers ={{NFLplayer|83|Terry Beasley|rookie=y}}{{NFLplayer|17|John Isenbarger|RB}}{{NFLplayer|85|Preston Riley}}{{NFLplayer|18|Gene Washington|d=American football, born 1947}}{{NFLplayer|88|Dick Witcher}}| tight_ends ={{NFLplayer|82|Ted Kwalick}}| offensive_linemen ={{NFLplayer|79|Cas Banaszek|T}}{{NFLplayer|77|Jean Barrett|d=American football|rookie=y|T}}{{NFLplayer|65|Randy Beisler|G}}{{NFLplayer|75|Forrest Blue|C}}{{NFLplayer|66|Elmer Collett|G}}{{NFLplayer|69|Woody Peoples|G}}{{NFLplayer|76|Len Rohde|T}}| defensive_linemen ={{NFLplayer|72|Bill Belk|DE}}{{NFLplayer|74|Earl Edwards|d=American football|DT}}{{NFLplayer|86|Cedrick Hardman|DE}}{{NFLplayer|53|Tommy Hart|DE}}{{NFLplayer|56|Bob Hoskins|d=American football|DT}}{{NFLplayer|70|Charlie Krueger|DT}}{{NFLplayer|78|Rolf Krueger|DT}}| linebackers = {{NFLplayer|50|Ed Beard|d=American football}}{{NFLplayer|54|Marty Huff}}{{NFLplayer|57|Frank Nunley}}{{NFLplayer|58|Jim Sniadecki}}{{NFLplayer|52|Skip Vanderbundt}}{{NFLplayer|64|Dave Wilcox}}| defensive_backs ={{NFLplayer|23|Johnny Fuller|SS}}{{NFLplayer|37|Jimmy Johnson|d=cornerback|CB}}{{NFLplayer|49|Ralph McGill|d=American football|rookie=y|FS}}{{NFLplayer|32|Mel Phillips|SS}}{{NFLplayer|38|Mike Simpson|d=American football}}{{NFLplayer|44|Bruce Taylor|d=American football|CB}}| special_teams ={{NFLplayer|30|Bruce Gossett|K}}{{NFLplayer|15|Jim McCann|d=American football|P}}| reserve_lists =| practice_squad =}}

Preseason{| class"wikitable" style"text-align:center"

! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|San Francisco 49ers|year=1972|border=2}}"| Week! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|San Francisco 49ers|year=1972|border=2}}"| Date! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|San Francisco 49ers|year=1972|border=2}}"| Opponent! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|San Francisco 49ers|year=1972|border=2}}"| Result! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|San Francisco 49ers|year=1972|border=2}}"| Record! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|San Francisco 49ers|year=1972|border=2}}"| Venue! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|San Francisco 49ers|year=1972|border=2}}"| Attendancestyle="background:#fcc"! 1August 5, 1972}}1972 New York Jets season>New York Jets| L 10–17| 0–1Gator Bowl (stadium)>Gator Bowl| 41,920style="background:#cfc"! 2| August 131972 Cleveland Browns season>Cleveland Browns| W 20–13| 1–1| Candlestick Park| 58,364style="background:#fcc"! 3August 19, 1972}}1972 San Diego Chargers season>San Diego Chargers| L 16–17| 1–2| San Diego Stadium| 47,308style="background:#fcc"! 4| August 271972 Denver Broncos season>Denver Broncos| L 24–27| 1–3| Candlestick Park| 58,115style="background:#cfc"! 5| September 31972 Oakland Raiders season>Oakland Raiders| W 34–21| 2–3| Candlestick Park| 61,237style="background:#cfc"! 6September 8, 1972}}1972 Los Angeles Rams season>Los Angeles Rams| W 17–14| 3–3| Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum| 60,807WEB,weblink 1972 San Francisco 49ers (NFL), Pro Football Archives, October 31, 2023,

Regular season

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Schedule{| class"wikitable" style"text-align:center"

! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|San Francisco 49ers|year=1972|border=2}}"| Week! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|San Francisco 49ers|year=1972|border=2}}"| Date! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|San Francisco 49ers|year=1972|border=2}}"| Opponent! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|San Francisco 49ers|year=1972|border=2}}"| Result! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|San Francisco 49ers|year=1972|border=2}}"| Record! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|San Francisco 49ers|year=1972|border=2}}"| Venue! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|San Francisco 49ers|year=1972|border=2}}"| Attendancestyle="background:#cfc"! 1| September 171972 San Diego Chargers season>San Diego Chargers| W 34–3| 1–0| Candlestick Park| 59,438style="background:#fcc"! 2| September 241972 Buffalo Bills season>Buffalo Bills| L 20–27| 1–1War Memorial Stadium (Buffalo, New York)>War Memorial Stadium| 45,845style="background:#cfc"! 3| October 11972 New Orleans Saints season>New Orleans Saints| W 37–2| 2–1| Tulane Stadium| 69,840style="background:#fcc"! 4| October 81972 Los Angeles Rams season>Los Angeles Rams| L 7–31| 2–2| Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum| 77,382style="background:#fcc"! 5| October 151972 New York Giants season>New York Giants| L 17–23| 2–3| Candlestick Park| 58,606style="background:#ffc"! 6| October 22| New Orleans Saints| T 20–20| 2–3–1| Candlestick Park| 59,167style="background:#cfc"! 7| October 291972 Atlanta Falcons season>Atlanta Falcons| W 49–14| 3–3–1Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium>Atlanta Stadium| 58,850style="background:#fcc"! 8| November 51972 Green Bay Packers season>Green Bay Packers| L 24–34| 3–4–1| Milwaukee County Stadium| 47,897style="background:#cfc"! 9| November 121972 Baltimore Colts season>Baltimore Colts| W 24–21| 4–4–1| Candlestick Park| 61,214style="background:#cfc"! 10| November 191972 Chicago Bears season>Chicago Bears| W 34–21| 5–4–1| Soldier Field| 55,701style="background:#cfc"! 11NFL on Thanksgiving Day>November 231972 Dallas Cowboys season>Dallas Cowboys| W 31–10| 6–4–1| Texas Stadium| 65,124style="background:#fcc"! 12December 4, 1972}}| Los Angeles Rams| L 16–26| 6–5–1| Candlestick Park| 61,214style="background:#cfc"! 13| December 10| Atlanta Falcons| W 20–0| 7–5–1| Candlestick Park| 61,214style="background:#cfc"! 14December 16, 1972}}1972 Minnesota Vikings season>Minnesota Vikings| W 20–17| 8–5–1| Candlestick Park| 61,214style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|San Francisco 49ers|year=1972|border=2}}" Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

{{1972 NFC West standings}}

Postseason

{{see also|1972–73 NFL playoffs}}">

Schedule {| class"wikitable" style"text-align:center"

! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|San Francisco 49ers|year=1972|border=2}}"| Round! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|San Francisco 49ers|year=1972|border=2}}"| Date! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|San Francisco 49ers|year=1972|border=2}}"| Opponent! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|San Francisco 49ers|year=1972|border=2}}"| Result! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|San Francisco 49ers|year=1972|border=2}}"| Record! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|San Francisco 49ers|year=1972|border=2}}"| Venue! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|San Francisco 49ers|year=1972|border=2}}"| Attendancestyle="background:#fcc"! DivisionalDecember 23, 1972}}1972 Dallas Cowboys season>Dallas Cowboys| L 28–30| 0–1| Candlestick Park| 61,214

Awards and records

Milestones

References

{{reflist|2}}

External links

• 1972 49ers on Pro Football Reference
• 49ers Schedule on jt-sw.com

{{San Francisco 49ers}}{{San Francisco 49ers seasons}}{{1972 NFL season by team}}{{Americanfootball-season-stub}}