The 2007 San Francisco 49ers season was the franchise's 62nd season, and 58th in the National Football League (NFL). They ended their season with a disappointing record of 5–11 in 2007, failing to improve upon their 7–9 record from 2006. They started 2-0, but went 3-11 in their final 14 games of the season.
The 49ers offense struggled all season long—starting quarterback Alex Smith injured his shoulder early in the season, and newly promoted offensive coordinator Jim Hostler was the subject of much scrutiny and criticism regarding his play calling. Hostler was fired following the season.
2007 is also noted for being defensive lineman Bryant Young's final season; the future Hall of Fame enshrinee was the last remaining member of San Francisco's Super Bowl XXIX championship team.
Staff
Offseason
Free agency The 49ers addressed their problems in the secondary with the signing of veteran cornerback Nate Clements from the Buffalo Bills. The contract was worth $80 million for 8 years, the largest contract given to a defensive player in NFL history. They also signed strong safety Michael Lewis from Philadelphia on the same day. Other key defensive pickups included linebackers Colby Bockwoldt and Tully Banta-Cain and nosetackle Aubrayo Franklin. The team also addressed its wide-receiver needs by signing former Denver Bronco and Atlanta Falcon, Ashley Lelie and Seattle Seahawk, Darrell Jackson. San Francisco also used the free agency period to extend Gore's contract to 4 years worth $28 million, $14 million of which is guaranteed.
Draft In the 2007 NFL draft, they addressed their need for an inside linebacker by picking Patrick Willis in the first round and also gave up their 2008 first round pick to the New England Patriots and selected 28 overall Offensive Tackle Joe Staley. In the 2nd round the 49ers traded their pick for the Colts' number one pick in the 2008 NFL draft. On the second day of the NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers traded a 4th round pick for Seattle Seahawks leading receiver, Darrell Jackson.
Roster
Preseason Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 Denver Broncos L 13–17 0–1Monster ParkRecap 2 Oakland Raiders W 26–21 1–1 Monster ParkRecap 3 at Chicago Bears L 28–31 1–2Soldier FieldRecap 4 at San Diego Chargers L 13–16 1–3 Qualcomm StadiumRecap
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 Arizona Cardinals W 20–17 1–0 Monster Park Recap 2 September 16 at St. Louis Rams W 17–16 2–0 Edward Jones Dome Recap 3 September 23 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 16–37 2–1 Heinz Field Recap 4 September 30 Seattle Seahawks L 3–23 2–2 Monster Park Recap 5 October 7 Baltimore Ravens L 7–9 2–3 Monster Park Recap 6Bye 7 October 21 at New York Giants L 15–33 2–4 Giants Stadium Recap 8 October 28 New Orleans Saints L 10–31 2–5 Monster Park Recap 9 November 4 at Atlanta Falcons L 16–20 2–6 Georgia Dome Recap 10 at Seattle Seahawks L 0–24 2–7 Qwest Field Recap 11 November 18 St. Louis Rams L 9–13 2–8 Monster Park Recap 12 November 25 at Arizona Cardinals W 37–31 (OT) 3–8 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 13 December 2 at Carolina Panthers L 14–31 3–9 Bank of America Stadium Recap 14 December 9 Minnesota Vikings L 7–27 3–10 Monster Park Recap 15 Cincinnati Bengals W 20–13 4–10 Monster Park Recap 16 December 23 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 21–19 5–10 Monster Park Recap 17 December 30 at Cleveland Browns L 7–20 5–11 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Arizona Cardinals
Dressed up in their throwback uniforms, the 49ers began their 2007 campaign against their NFC West rival, the Arizona Cardinals in the second game of the Monday Night Football doubleheader. In the first quarter, the Niners drew first blood as RB Frank Gore got a 6-yard TD run for the score of the period. However, in the second quarter, the Cardinals took the lead with kicker with Neil Rackers getting a 35-yard field goal and RB Edgerrin James getting a 7-yard TD run. San Francisco ended the half with kicker Joe Nedney getting a 33-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, the 49ers retook the lead with Nedney kicking a 30-yard field goal for the only score of the period. In the fourth quarter, Arizona jumped ahead with QB Matt Leinart completing a 5-yard TD pass to WR Anquan Boldin. With time running out late in the game, QB Alex Smith led the Niners on a last-minute drive that included a 20-yard run by Alex Smith and ended with WR Arnaz Battle getting a 1-yard TD run. The Cardinals had just enough time to try a late-game comeback, but San Francisco clinched the game with CB Shawntae Spencer getting an interception for the win. Matt Leinart's first and last passes in the game were both interceptions.
With the win, not only did the 49ers begin their year at 1–0, but Mike Nolan finally got his first win against Arizona as a head coach.
Scoring summary
Q1 – SF – 11:24 – Frank Gore 6-yard TD run (Joe Nedney kick) (SF 7–0)
Q2 – ARI – 12:55 – Neil Rackers 35-yard FG (SF 7–3)
Q2 – ARI – 9:15 – Edgerrin James 7-yard TD run (Rackers kick) (ARI 10–7)
Q2 – SF – 3:40 – Joe Nedney 33-yard FG (10–10)
Q3 – SF – 11:20 – Joe Nedney 30-yard FG (SF 13–10)
Q4 – ARI – 6:46 – 5-yard TD pass from Matt Leinart to Anquan Boldin (Rackers kick) (ARI 17–13)
Q4 – SF – 0:26 – Arnaz Battle 1-yard TD run (Nedney kick) (SF 20–17)
Week 2: at St. Louis Rams
Coming off their divisional home win over the Cardinals, the 49ers flew to the Edward Jones Dome for a Week 2 divisional duel against their NFC West rival, the St. Louis Rams.
In the first quarter, the Niners trailed early as Rams QB Marc Bulger completed a 12-yard TD pass to WR Torry Holt for the only score of the period. In the second quarter, San Francisco tied the game with RB Frank Gore getting a 1-yard TD run. St. Louis took the halftime lead on a Jeff Wilkins 29-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, the 49ers took the lead with Gore breaking through a gang of tacklers for a 43-yard TD run, along with the only score of the period. In the fourth quarter, the Rams retook the lead with Wiklins getting a 53-yard field goal. Because a St. Louis goof-up on special teams, the Niners took the lead with kicker Joe Nedney getting a 40-yard field goal. Near the end the game, the Rams had one last chance to win the game, but Wilkins' 56-yard field goal attempt fell about a yard short of the crossbar.
With the win, the 49ers improved to 2–0 for the first time since 1998.
Scoring summary
Q1 – STL – 6:04 – 12-yard TD pass from Marc Bulger to Torry Holt (Wilkins kick) (STL 7–0)
Q2 – SF – 14:57 – Frank Gore 1-yard TD run (Nedney kick) (7–7)
Q2 – STL – 9:04 – Jeff Wilkins 27-yard FG (STL 10–7)
Q2 – STL – 1:51 – Jeff Wilkins 29-yard FG (STL 13–7)
Q3 – SF – 2:43 – Frank Gore 43-yard TD run (Nedney kick) (SF 14–13)
Q4 – STL – 10:04 – Jeff Wilkins 53-yard FG (STL 16–14)
Q4 – SF – 3:23 – Joe Nedney 40-yard FG (SF 17–16)
Week 3: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Game summary
Coming off a fierce divisional road win over the Rams, the 49ers flew to Heinz Field for an interconference duel with the Pittsburgh Steelers. In the first quarter, the Niners struck first with kicker Joe Nedney getting a 32-yard field goal. The Steelers immediately responded with CB–RS Allen Rossum returning a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown. San Francisco wrapped up the period with Nedney kicking a 22-yard field goal. In the second quarter, Pittsburgh increased its lead with QB Ben Roethlisberger completing a 9-yard TD pass to TE Jerame Tuman for the only score of the period.
In the third quarter, the Steelers increased its lead with kicker Jeff Reed nailing a 36-yard field goal. The Niners replied with Nedney kicking a 49-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, Pittsburgh took control with Reed getting a 49-yard and a 35-yard field goal, while CB Bryant McFadden returned an interception 50 yards for a touchdown. San Francisco got a touchdown as QB Alex Smith completed a 21-yard pass to WR Taylor Jacobs. Afterwards, the Steelers ended the game with RB Najeh Davenport getting a 39-yard TD run.
With the loss, the 49ers fell to 2–1.
Scoring summary
Q1 – SF – 9:24 – Joe Nedney 32-yard FG (SF 3–0)
Q1 – PIT – 9:12 – Allen Rossum 98-yard kickoff return (PIT 7–3)
Q1 – SF – 3:01 – Joe Nedney 22-yard FG (PIT 7–6)
Q2 – PIT – 0:37 – Jerame Tuman 9-yard pass from Ben Roethlisberger (Jeff Reed kick) (PIT 14–6)
Q3 – PIT – 9:41 – Jeff Reed 36-yard FG (PIT 17–6)
Q3 – SF – 4:46 – Joe Nedney 49-yard FG (PIT 17–9)
Q4 – PIT – 14:55 – Jeff Reed 49-yard FG (PIT 20–9)
Q4 – PIT – 4:59 – Jeff Reed 35-yard FG (PIT 23–9)
Q4 – PIT – 4:01 – Bryant McFadden 50-yard interception return (Reed kick) (PIT 30–9)
Q4 – SF – 2:22 – Taylor Jacobs 21-yard pass from Alex Smith (Nedney kick) (PIT 30–16)
Q4 – PIT – 1:51 – Najeh Davenport 39-yard run (Nedney kick) (PIT 37–16)
Week 4: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Hoping to rebound from their road loss to the Steelers, the 49ers went home and played an NFC West battle with the Seattle Seahawks. In the first quarter, the Niners lost QB Alex Smith with a separated shoulder during a sack. Back-up QB Trent Dilfer took over for the rest of the game. In the second quarter, San Francisco's recent woes continued with Seahawks kicker Josh Brown getting a 23-yard field goal. Afterwards, Seattle began to pound away with QB Matt Hasselbeck completing a 17-yard TD pass to WR Bobby Engram, along with Brown kicking a 31-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, the Seahawks continued their domination as Hasselbeck completed a 14-yard TD pass to TE Marcus Pollard. The Niners got their only score of the game as kicker Joe Nedney got a 43-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, Seattle sealed San Francisco's doom with Brown nailing a 25-yard field goal.
With their second-straight loss, the 49ers fell to 2–2.
Week 5: vs. Baltimore Ravens
Trying to break a two-game skid, the 49ers stayed at home for a Week 5 interconference matchup with the Baltimore Ravens. With QB Alex Smith out with a shoulder injury, back-up Trent Dilfer was given the start against the team to which he helped deliver a Super Bowl title.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Ravens got the lead with kicker Matt Stover getting a 26-yard and a 32-yard field goal. In the third quarter, Baltimore increased its lead with Stover nailing a 49-yard field goal. The Niners came close to taking the lead with Dilfer completing a 49-yard TD pass to WR Arnaz Battle. With two minutes left in the fourth quarter, the 49ers had a chance to take the lead, but kicker Joe Nedney missed a 52-yard field goal and the Ravens ran out the clock.
With their third straight loss, the 49ers entered their bye week at 2–3.
Week 7: at New York Giants
Trying to snap a three-game losing streak, the 49ers flew to Giants Stadium for a Week 7 brawl with the New York Giants. With QB Alex Smith still recovering from a shoulder injury, back-up Trent Dilfer once again got the start. In the first quarter, the Niners trailed early as Giants QB Eli Manning hooked up with WR Amani Toomer on a 4-yard TD pass (with a missed PAT) for the only score of the period. In the second quarter, San Francisco took the lead with Dilfer completing a 17-yard TD pass to WR Arnaz Battle. However, New York responded with RB Brandon Jacobs getting a 5-yard TD run, while kicker Lawrence Tynes nailed field goals of 29 and 39 yards.
In the third quarter, things got worse for the Niners as Giants DE Osi Umenyiora sacked Dilfer, causing a fumble, picked up the loose ball, and ran 75 yards for a touchdown. San Francisco managed to get a safety as FB Moran Norris blocked a punt, which went out of bounds in the end zone. In the fourth quarter, New York sealed its win with Manning completing a 2-yard TD pass to TE Jeremy Shockey. The Niners ended its day with Dilfer completing a 1-yard TD pass to WR Darrell Jackson (with a failed 2-point conversion).
With its fourth-straight loss, the 49ers fell to 2–4.