The 1966 San Francisco 49ers season was the franchise's 17th season in the National Football League, their 21st overall, and their fourth under head coach Jack Christiansen.
The 49ers attempted to improve on their 7–6–1 record from the previous year and make the playoffs for the first time in 8 years. However, the 49ers faltered, starting their season 0–2–1. Despite winning their next 3 games, they split their next 8 games and tied 1 game to finish the season 6–6–2, and they missed the playoffs for the ninth straight year.
Offseason
NFL draft 1966 San Francisco 49ers draft Round Selection Player Position College Note 1 11Stan HindmanDEOle Miss226Bob WindsorTEKentucky337Al RandolphDBIowa341Dan BlandDBMississippi State456Don ParkerGVirginia569Mel PhillipsDBNorth Carolina A&T571Steve SmithTMichigan691Charlie JohnsonDTLouisville 8 119 Dick WitcherWRUCLA9133Kent KramerTEMinnesota10147Ronald SbrantiLBUtah State11166Preston RidlehuberRBGeorgia12180Lyle LobachTSimpson13194Jim JacksonDBWestern Illinois14208Elmer CollettGSan Francisco State15222Saint SaffoldSESan Jose State16241Jim LeClairQBC.W. Post17255Jim BreelandCGeorgia Tech18269Ron ParsonDEAustin Peay State19283Dick FitzgeraldTNebraska20297Willie WalkerDEBaylor
Personnel Staff / Coaches
Roster
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue 1 August 7 Dallas Cowboys L 13–24 0–1 Kezar Stadium 2 August 14 Cleveland Browns L 17–28 0–2 Kezar Stadium 3 August 20 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers L 17–34 0–3 Multnomah Stadium 4 August 27 vs. Atlanta Falcons L 17–24 0–4 Williams–Brice Stadium 5 September 3 at Los Angeles Rams L 9–29 0–5 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 11 Minnesota Vikings T 20–20 0–0–1 Kezar Stadium 29,312 2 Bye 3 September 25 at Baltimore Colts L 14–36 0–1–1 Memorial Stadium 56,715 4 at Los Angeles Rams L 3–34 0–2–1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 45,642 5 October 9 Green Bay Packers W 21–20 1–2–1 Kezar Stadium 39,290 6 October 16 at Atlanta Falcons W 44–7 2–2–1 Atlanta Stadium 54,788 7 October 23 Detroit Lions W 27–24 3–2–1 Kezar Stadium 36,745 8 October 30 at Minnesota Vikings L 3–28 3–3–1 Metropolitan Stadium 45,007 9 November 6 Los Angeles Rams W 21–13 4–3–1 Kezar Stadium 35,372 10 November 13 at Chicago Bears T 30–30 4–3–2 Wrigley Field 47,079 11 November 20 Philadelphia Eagles L 34–35 4–4–2 Kezar Stadium 31,993 12 November 24 at Detroit Lions W 41–14 5–4–2 Tiger Stadium 53,189 13 December 4 at Green Bay Packers L 7–20 5–5–2 Milwaukee County Stadium 48,725 14 December 11 Chicago Bears W 41–14 6–5–2 Kezar Stadium 37,170 15 December 18 Baltimore Colts L 14–30 6–6–2 Kezar Stadium 40,005 Note: Intra-conference opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: vs Minnesota Vikings
Week 3: at Baltimore Colts
Standings
Statistics Team leaders Category Player(s) Value Rank Passing yards John Brodie 2,810 3rd Passing touchdowns John Brodie 16 6th Rushing yards Ken Willard 763 5th Rushing touchdowns Ken Williard 5 13th Receiving yards Dave Parks974 5th Receiving touchdowns Dave Parks 5 17th Points Tommy Davis86 12th Kickoff return yards Kermit Alexander984 2nd Punt return yards Kermit Alexander 198 4th Interceptions Kermit Alexander/Jimmy Johnson 4 t6thSacksClark Miller10 11th Note that sack totals from 1960 to 1981 are considered unofficial by the NFL.
League rankings Category Total yards Yards per game NFL rank Passing offense 2,992 213.7 3rd Rushing offense 1,790 127.9 6th Total offense 4,782 341.5 3rd Passing defense 2,250 160.7 11th Rushing defense 1,629 116.4 5th Total defense 4,179 298.5 8th References
External links 1966 49ers on Pro Football Reference 49ers Schedule on jt-sw.com