The 1986 San Francisco 49ers season was the franchise's 37th season in the National Football League and their 41st overall. The team returned to the top of the NFC West after a one-year absence and lost in the divisional playoffs to the Giants by a score of 49–3, the biggest playoff loss suffered by the 49ers in the history of their franchise. This was the first of five consecutive NFC West titles for the 49ers.
Joe Montana suffered a back injury in Week 1 and was lost for two months after surgery. Because the injury was so severe, Montana's doctors suggested that Montana retire. However, Montana returned for Week 10 against the St. Louis Cardinals, where he passed for 270 yards and three touchdown passes in a 43–17 49er victory. Montana appeared in just eight games this season, and threw more interceptions than touchdown passes for the only time in his career. Montana shared Comeback Player of the Year honors with Minnesota's Tommy Kramer at the end of the season.
Offseason NFL draft
Personnel
Staff
Roster
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue 1 August 10 Los Angeles Raiders W 32–0 1–0 Candlestick Park 2 August 18 at Los Angeles Rams L 17–31 1–1 Anaheim Stadium 3 August 23 at Denver Broncos L 9–14 1–2 Mile High Stadium 4 August 29 Seattle Seahawks W 21–10 2–2 Candlestick Park
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 7 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 31–7 1–0 Tampa Stadium 50,780 2 September 14 at Los Angeles Rams L 13–16 1–1 Anaheim Stadium 65,195 3 September 21 New Orleans Saints W 26–17 2–1 Candlestick Park 58,297 4 September 28 at Miami Dolphins W 31–16 3–1 Miami Orange Bowl 70,264 5 October 5 Indianapolis Colts W 35–15 4–1 Candlestick Park 57,252 6 October 12 Minnesota Vikings L 24–27 4–2 Candlestick Park 58,637 7 October 19 at Atlanta Falcons T 10–10 4–2–1 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 55,306 8 October 26 at Green Bay Packers W 31–17 5–2–1 Milwaukee County Stadium 50,557 9 November 2 at New Orleans Saints L 10–23 5–3–1 Louisiana Superdome 53,234 10 November 9 St. Louis Cardinals W 43–17 6–3–1 Candlestick Park 59,172 11 at Washington Redskins L 6–14 6–4–1 RFK Stadium 54,774 12 November 23 Atlanta Falcons W 20–0 7–4–1 Candlestick Park 58,747 13 New York Giants L 17–21 7–5–1 Candlestick Park 59,777 14 December 7 New York Jets W 24–10 8–5–1 Candlestick Park 58,091 15 December 14 at New England Patriots W 29–24 9–5–1 Sullivan Stadium 60,787 16 Los Angeles Rams W 24–14 10–5–1 Candlestick Park 60,366 Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Standings
Postseason
Schedule Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Divisional January 4 New York Giants (1) L 3–49 0–1 Giants Stadium
Game summaries 1986 NFC Divisional Playoff: San Francisco 49ers vs. New York Giants San Francisco 49ers 3, New York Giants 49
January 4, 1987, at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New JerseyAttendance: 76,034
Awards and records Ronnie Lott, Franchise Record, Most Interceptions in One Season, 10 interceptionsNFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, , p. 142 Joe Montana, NFL Co-Comeback Player of the Year Jerry Rice, Led NFC, Receptions, 86 receptionsNFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, , p. 451 Jerry Rice, led NFL with 1,570 receiving yards Jerry Rice, led NFL with 15 touchdowns.
References
External links 1986 49ers on Pro Football Reference 49ers Schedule on jt-sw.com