The 2008 season was the San Francisco 49ers' 59th in the National Football League (NFL), their 63rd overall, and their fourth and final under the head coach Mike Nolan. The team improved on their 5–11 record from the 2007 season, and ended the season with a 7–9 record. They failed to reach the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season. It was the final season that the 49ers wore their 1996 cardinal red uniforms as they reverted back to using a scarlet shade of red before the 2009 season, which is very similar to the color they used from 1964-1995. With the 49ers offense struggling the previous season, offensive coordinator Jim Hostler was fired and replaced by Mike Martz. In addition, Scot McCloughan was promoted from vice president of player personnel to general manager. Nolan was fired after a 29–17 loss to the New York Giants in Week 8 and was replaced by assistant head coach and linebackers coach Mike Singletary.
Offseason Signings Pos. Player Free Agent Type 2007 Team Contract WR Isaac Bruce Released St. Louis Rams 2 years, $6 million RB DeShaun Foster Released Carolina Panthers 2 years, $1.8 million LB Roderick Green UFA San Francisco 49ers 1 year QB Shaun Hill UFA San Francisco 49ers 3 years, $6 million WR Bryant Johnson UFA Arizona Cardinals 1 year QB J. T. O'Sullivan UFA Detroit Lions 1 year, $645,000 CB Allen Rossum Released Pittsburgh Steelers 1 year, $870,000 DE Justin Smith UFA Cincinnati Bengals 6 years, $45 million DT Isaac Sopoaga UFA San Francisco 49ers 5 years, $20 million CB Donald Strickland UFA San Francisco 49ers 1 year, $800,000 LB Dontarrious Thomas UFA Minnesota Vikings 2 years
Departures Pos. Player Free Agent Type 2008 Team Contract QB Trent Dilfer Retired DE Marques Douglas UFA Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4 years T Kwame Harris UFA Oakland Raiders 3 years, $16 million RB Maurice Hicks UFA Minnesota Vikings 3 years WR Darrell Jackson Released Denver Broncos 1 year, $1.5 million G Justin Smiley UFA Miami Dolphins 5 years, $25 million LB Derek Smith Released San Diego Chargers Undisclosed DT Bryant Young Retired
UFA: Unrestricted free agent; RFA: Restricted free agent; ERFA: Exclusive rights free agent
NFL draft
Staff
Roster
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1 at Oakland Raiders L 6–18 0–1 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap 2 Green Bay Packers W 34–6 1–1 Candlestick Park Recap 3 at Chicago Bears W 37–30 2–1 Soldier Field Recap 4 San Diego Chargers L 17–20 2–2 Candlestick Park Recap
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1 September 7 Arizona Cardinals L 13–23 0–1 Candlestick Park Recap 2 September 14 at Seattle Seahawks W 33–30 1–1 Qwest Field Recap 3 September 21 Detroit Lions W 31–13 2–1 Candlestick Park Recap 4 September 28 at New Orleans Saints L 17–31 2–2 Louisiana Superdome Recap 5 October 5 New England Patriots L 21–30 2–3 Candlestick Park Recap 6 October 12 Philadelphia Eagles L 26–40 2–4 Candlestick Park Recap 7 October 19 at New York Giants L 17–29 2–5 Giants Stadium Recap 8 October 26 Seattle Seahawks L 13–34 2–6 Candlestick Park Recap 9Bye 10 at Arizona Cardinals L 24–29 2–7 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 11 November 16 St. Louis Rams W 35–16 3–7 Candlestick Park Recap 12 November 23 at Dallas Cowboys L 22–35 3–8 Texas Stadium Recap 13 November 30 at Buffalo Bills W 10–3 4–8 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap 14 December 7 New York Jets W 24–14 5–8 Candlestick Park Recap 15 December 14 at Miami Dolphins L 9–14 5–9 Dolphin Stadium Recap 16 December 21 at St. Louis Rams W 17–16 6–9 Edward Jones Dome Recap 17 December 28 Washington Redskins W 27–24 7–9 Candlestick Park Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Arizona Cardinals
The 49ers began their 2008 campaign at home against their NFC West foe, the Arizona Cardinals. In the first quarter, the Niners trailed early as Cardinals kicker Neil Rackers got a 25-yard field goal. San Francisco responded with RB Frank Gore getting a 41-yard TD run. In the second quarter, Arizona regained the lead with QB Kurt Warner completing a 1-yard TD pass to WR Larry Fitzgerald. San Francisco tied the game with kicker Joe Nedney getting a 39-yard field goal. In the third quarter, the Cardinals began to fly away as Rackers nailed a 31-yard field goal, along with RB Tim Hightower getting a 2-yard TD run. In the fourth quarter, the Niners tried to respond as Nedney got a 30-yard field goal. However, Arizona pulled away with Rackers' 30-yard field goal.
With the loss, the 49ers began their season at 0–1.
Week 2: at Seattle Seahawks
Hoping to bounce back from their divisional home loss to the Cardinals, the 49ers flew to Qwest Field for an NFC West duel with the Seattle Seahawks. In the first quarter, the Niners trailed early as Seahawks RB Julius Jones got a 27-yard TD run, along with DT Craig Terrill returning a fumble 10 yards for a touchdown. San Francisco responded with kicker Joe Nedney getting a 26-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the 49ers continued to close in on Seattle as Nedney kicked a 28-yard field goal. The Seahawks responded with kicker Olindo Mare getting a 51-yard field goal. Afterwards, the Niners chopped at Seattle's lead with QB J.T. O'Sullivan completing a 3-yard TD pass to WR Bryant Johnson. The Seahawks closed out the half with Mare's 38-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, San Francisco took the lead with LB Patrick Willis returning an interception 86 yards for a touchdown and RB Frank Gore getting a 2-yard TD run. However, in the fourth quarter, Seattle regained its lead with RB T.J. Duckett getting a 1-yard TD run and Mare getting a 32-yard field goal. The Niners tied the game with Nedney's 28-yard field goal. Afterwards, in overtime, San Francisco completed its upset as Nedney nailed the game-winning 40-yard field goal.
With the win, the 49ers improved to 1–1.
WR Isaac Bruce (4 receptions for 153 yards) became the first 49ers wideout to have a 100-yard receiving game since Antonio Bryant during Week 2 in 2006.
Week 3: vs. Detroit Lions
Coming off their thrilling overtime divisional road win over the Seahawks, the 49ers went home for a Week 3 duel with the Detroit Lions. In the first quarter, the Niners struck first as QB J.T. O'Sullivan completed a 6-yard TD pass to WR Isaac Bruce. In the second quarter, San Francisco increased its lead with RB Frank Gore getting a 4-yard TD run. Striking again, Delanie Walker caught a touchdown pass shortly before half-time. The Lions responded with a 44-yard field goal by kicker Jason Hanson, yet the 49ers replied in the fourth quarter with CB Allen Rossum getting a 1-yard TD run. Detroit tried to rally as QB Jon Kitna completed a 34-yard TD pass to RB Rudi Johnson, but San Francisco sealed their victory with kicker Joe Nedney nailing a 25-yard field goal.
With the win, the 49ers improved to 2–1.
Week 4: at New Orleans Saints
Coming off their home win over the Lions, the 49ers flew to the Louisiana Superdome for a Week 4 duel with the New Orleans Saints. In the first quarter, the Niners struck first as kicker Joe Nedney got a 47-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Saints took the lead with QB Drew Brees completing a 5-yard and a 33-yard TD pass to WR Lance Moore. San Francisco answered with Nedney's 49-yard field goal, yet New Orleans replied with Brees' 47-yard TD pass to WR Robert Meachem.
In the third quarter, the 49ers tried to rally as Nedney kicked a 38-yard field goal. However, in the fourth quarter, the Saints continued to pull away as RB Deuce McAllister got a 1-yard TD run. The Niners tried to rally as QB J.T. O'Sullivan completed a 5-yard TD pass to WR Isaac Bruce, yet New Orleans sealed the win with kicker Martín Gramática nailing a 31-yard field goal.
With the loss, the 49ers fell to 2–2.
Week 5: vs. New England Patriots
Hoping to rebound from their road loss to the Saints, the 49ers went home for a Week 5 interconference duel with the New England Patriots. In the first quarter, the Niners struck first as QB J.T. O'Sullivan completed a 16-yard TD pass to RB Frank Gore. The Patriots responded with QB Matt Cassel completing a 66-yard TD pass to WR Randy Moss, yet San Francisco answered with O'Sullivan completing a 35-yard TD pass to WR Isaac Bruce. In the second quarter, New England took the lead as kicker Stephen Gostkowski got a 35-yard field goal, along with RB Kevin Faulk getting a 2-yard TD run.
In the third quarter, the Patriots increased their lead with Faulk getting another 2-yard TD run. In the fourth quarter, New England added on to its lead with Gostkowski kicking a 40-yard field goal. The Niners tried to come back as O'Sullivan completed a 5-yard TD pass to Bruce, but the Patriots pulled away with Gostkowski nailing a 49-yard field goal.
With the loss, San Francisco fell to 2–3.
During the halftime ceremony, the 49ers retired former QB Steve Young's #8 uniform.
Week 6: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Hoping to snap a two-game losing skid, the 49ers stayed at home for a Week 6 duel with the Philadelphia Eagles. In the first quarter, the Niners struck first as kicker Joe Nedney got a 32-yard field goal. The Eagles took the lead as RB Correll Buckhalter got a 1-yard TD run. San Francisco responded with a 37-yard field goal by Nedney. In the second quarter, Philadelphia increased their lead as QB Donovan McNabb completed a 2-yard TD pass to WR Hank Baskett, along with kicker David Akers getting a 19-yard field goal. The 49ers closed out the half with Nedney making a 53-yard field goal, along with DB Donald Strickland returning a blocked field goal attempt 41 yards for a touchdown.
In the third quarter, the Niners took the lead as RB Frank Gore got a 6-yard TD run, along with Nedney getting a 29-yard field goal. However, in the fourth quarter, the Eagles rallied as McNabb completed a 2-yard TD pass to TE L.J. Smith, Akers nailing a 38-yard, a 25-yard, & a 28-yard field goal, and DE Juqua Parker returning an interception 55 yards for a touchdown.
With their third-straight loss, the 49ers fell to 2–4.
Week 7: at New York Giants
Trying to snap a three-game losing skid, the 49ers flew to Giants Stadium for a Week 7 duel with the New York Giants. In the first quarter, the Niners trailed early as Giants RB Brandon Jacobs got a 26-yard TD run. San Francisco responded with a 40-yard field goal by kicker Joe Nedney. In the second quarter, New York answered with Jacobs getting a 2-yard TD run. The 49ers responded with QB J.T. O'Sullivan completing a 30-yard TD pass to rookie WR Josh Morgan. The Giants ended the half with kicker John Carney nailing a 21-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, New York increased its lead with QB Eli Manning completing a 6-yard TD pass to WR Plaxico Burress. The Niners struck back as CB Nate Clements returned a block field goal 74 yards for a touchdown. However, in the fourth quarter, the Giants pulled away as Carney got a 48-yard field goal, while DE Justin Tuck forced O'Sullivan into a fumble, causing the ball to roll into San Francisco's endzone, and Morgan kicking it out of the back of the endzone, giving New York a safety.
With the fourth-straight loss, the 49ers fell to 2–5.
On Monday, October 20, the day after the game, the 49ers fired coach Mike Nolan and replaced him with Mike Singletary.
Week 8: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Hoping to rebound from their road loss to the Giants, the 49ers went home for a Week 8 NFC West rematch with the Seattle Seahawks. In the first quarter, the Niners trailed early as Seahawks kicker Olindo Mare got a 43-yard and a 42-yard field goal. In the second quarter, Seattle increased its lead with RB T.J. Duckett getting a 1-yard TD run. San Francisco got on the board with kicker Joe Nedney getting a 42-yard field goal, but the Seahawks continued its beatdown as CB Josh Wilson returned an interception 75 yards for a touchdown.