The 2015 season was the San Francisco 49ers' 66th in the National Football League (NFL), their 70th overall, their second playing home games at Levi's Stadium and their only season under head coach Jim Tomsula. They were attempting to make history as the first team to play in a Super Bowl on their own home field, but they failed to improve on their 8–8 record from 2014, and ended with a 5–11 record to miss the playoffs for the second season in a row and suffered their first losing season since 2010 and their first last-place finish since 2005. The 49ers played poorly on both sides of the football all season, finishing last in the NFL in scoring offense and 18th in scoring defense, resulting in the firings of Tomsula and almost all of his staff at seasons end, including both coordinators. Beleaguered quarterback Colin Kaepernick started only 8 games during the season before he was benched for back-up Blaine Gabbert due to struggles.
Offseason
Coaching changes With their loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 15 of the 2014–15 season, the 49ers were mathematically eliminated from the postseason, exacerbating tensions between head coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager Trent Baalke. After the season ended, the 49ers and Harbaugh mutually agreed to end his contract. On January 14, 2015, Jim Tomsula was promoted to head coach after serving as defensive line coach with the team since 2007; it was his second time at the helm, as he previously served as the 49ers' interim head coach for one game, after Mike Singletary's firing in 2010.
Roster changes
Free Agency Position Player Free agencytag Date signed/released 2015 team Notes QB Blaine Gabbert UFA March 12, 2015 San Francisco 49ers Signed 2-year/$2 million QB Josh Johnson UFA April 2, 2015 Cincinnati Bengals RB Frank Gore UFA March 10, 2015 Indianapolis Colts Signed 3-year/$12 million RB Alfonso Smith UFA - - - RB Phillip Tanner UFA - - - WR Michael Crabtree UFA April 13, 2015 Oakland Raiders Signed 1 year/$3.2 million WR Brandon Lloyd UFA - - - WR Kassim Osgood UFA - - - G Mike Iupati UFA March 10, 2015 Arizona Cardinals Signed 5-year/$40 million LB Dan Skuta UFA March 11, 2015 Jacksonville Jaguars Signed 5-year/$20.5 million LB Desmond Bishop UFA March 31, 2015 San Francisco 49ers Signed 1 year CB Chris Culliver UFA March 13, 2015 Washington Redskins Signed 4-year/$32 million CB Perrish Cox UFA March 14, 2015 Tennessee Titans Signed 3-year/$15 million CB Chris Cook UFA March 14, 2015 San Francisco 49ers Signed 1 year LS Kyle Nelson RFA March 6, 2015 San Francisco 49ers Signed 4-year TE Garrett Celek RFA March 12, 2015 San Francisco 49ers Signed 1 yearRFA: Restricted free agent, UFA: Unrestricted free agent, ERFA: Exclusive rights free agent LEGEND Light green background indicates a player has been re-signed by the 49ers. Light red background indicates a player has departed the 49ers.
Signings Position Player 2014 Team Date signed Notes DE Darnell Dockett Arizona Cardinals March 5, 2015 Signed 2-year/$7.5 million WR Jerome Simpson Minnesota Vikings March 5, 2015 Signed 2-year deal WR Torrey Smith Baltimore Ravens March 11, 2015 Signed 5-year/$40 million RB Reggie Bush Detroit Lions March 14, 2015 Signed 1 year/2.5 million CB Shareece Wright San Diego Chargers March 14, 2015 Signed 1 year/$3 million OT Erik Pears Buffalo Bills March 14, 2015 Signed 2-year/$4.7 million LB Nick Bellore New York Jets April 3, 2015 Signed 2-year deal LB Philip Wheeler Miami Dolphins April 30, 2015 LB Shawn Lemon August 8, 2015 LB Steve Beauharnais Washington Redskins August 7, 2015 Indicates that the player was a free agent at the end of his respective team's season.
Departures Position Player Date Notes S Bubba Ventrone March 3, 2015 Retired LB Patrick Willis March 10, 2015 Retired WR Stevie Johnson March 12, 2015 Released LB Chris Borland March 16, 2015 Retired OT Jonathan Martin March 26, 2015 Released WR Trindon Holliday April 30, 2015 Released G Fouimalo Fonoti April 30, 2015 Waived WR Lance Lewis April 30, 2015 Waived DE Justin Smith May 18, 2015 Retired OT Anthony Davis June 5, 2015 Retired P Andy Lee June 6, 2015 Traded LB Aldon Smith August 7, 2015 Released CB Chris Cook August 5, 2015 Released TE Vernon Davis November 2, 2015 Traded
2015 NFL draft
+ San Francisco 49ers 2015 NFL Draft selections Draft order Player name Position Height Weight College Notes Round Choice Overall1 15 15Traded to the San Diego Chargers 17 17 Arik Armstead Defensive end 6'7" 292 Oregon From Chargers 2 14 46 Jaquiski Tartt Safety 6'1" 221 Samford 3 15 79 Eli Harold Defensive end 6'3" 247 Virginia 4 14 113Traded to the Buffalo Bills 18 117 Blake Bell Tight end 6'6" 252 Oklahoma From Chargers 27 126 Mike Davis Running back 5'9" 217 South Carolina From Broncos 33 132 DeAndre Smelter Wide receiver 6'2" 226 Georgia Tech Compensatory pick 5 15 151Traded to the Indianapolis Colts 29 165 Bradley Pinion Punter 6'5" 229 Clemson From Colts 6 14 190 Ian Silberman Guard 6'5" 306 Boston College 7 15 232Traded to the Miami Dolphins 27 244 Trenton Brown Guard 6'8" 355 Florida From Colts 29 246Traded to the Dallas Cowboys From Colts 37 254 Rory Anderson Tight end South Carolina Compensatory pick Notes The 49ers traded their first-round selection (No. 15 overall) to the San Diego Chargers in exchange for San Diego's first- and fourth-round selection (Nos. 17 and 117 overall, respectively) as well a fifth-round selection in 2016. The 49ers traded a conditional fourth-round selection to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for wide receiver Stevie Johnson; the selection could be upgraded to a third-rounder pending Johnson's statistics in . The 49ers acquired an additional fourth-round selection as part of a trade that sent their 2014 second- and seventh-round selections to the Denver Broncos. The 49ers traded a seventh-round selection to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for offensive tackle Jonathan Martin. The 49ers acquired an additional seventh-round selection in a trade that sent linebacker Cam Johnson to the Indianapolis Colts. The 49ers traded their fifth-round selection (No. 151 overall) to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for Indianapolis's fifth- and seventh-round selection (Nos. 165 and 244 overall, respectively). The 49ers acquired a sixth-round selection in 2016 as part of a trade that sent their seventh-round selections (No. 246) to Dallas Cowboys.
Undrafted free agents Position Player College Notes RB Jarryd Hayne None Played professional Rugby league from 2006 to 2014 in Australia QB Dylan Thompson South Carolina WR Dres Anderson Utah OLB Marcus Rush Michigan State WR Issac Blakeney Duke OT Patrick Miller Auburn WR Darius Davis Henderson State WR DeAndrew White Alabama
Staff
Final roster
Schedule
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 August 15 at Houston Texans L 10–23 0–1 NRG Stadium Recap 2 August 23 Dallas Cowboys W 23–6 1–1 Levi's Stadium Recap 3 August 29 at Denver Broncos L 12–19 1–2 Sports Authority Field at Mile High Recap 4 September 3 San Diego Chargers W 14–12 2–2 Levi's Stadium Recap
Regular season Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 Minnesota Vikings W 20–3 1–0 Levi's Stadium Recap 2 September 20 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 18–43 1–1 Heinz Field Recap 3 September 27 at Arizona Cardinals L 7–47 1–2 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 4 October 4 Green Bay Packers L 3–17 1–3 Levi's Stadium Recap 5 October 11 at New York Giants L 27–30 1–4 MetLife Stadium Recap 6 October 18 Baltimore Ravens W 25–20 2–4 Levi's Stadium Recap 7 Seattle Seahawks L 3–20 2–5 Levi's Stadium Recap 8 November 1 at St. Louis Rams L 6–27 2–6 Edward Jones Dome Recap 9 November 8 Atlanta Falcons W 17–16 3–6 Levi's Stadium Recap 10 Bye 11 November 22 at Seattle Seahawks L 13–29 3–7 CenturyLink Field Recap 12 November 29 Arizona Cardinals L 13–19 3–8 Levi's Stadium Recap 13 December 6 at Chicago Bears W 26–20 4–8 Soldier Field Recap 14 December 13 at Cleveland Browns L 10–24 4–9 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 15 December 20 Cincinnati Bengals L 14–24 4–10 Levi's Stadium Recap 16 December 27 at Detroit Lions L 17–32 4–11 Ford Field Recap 17 January 3 St. Louis Rams W 19–16 5–11 Levi's Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Minnesota Vikings
In the 49ers' first game with new head coach Jim Tomsula, the 49ers defeated the Minnesota Vikings 20–3 on Monday Night Football. In his first career start, Carlos Hyde rushed 26 times for 168 yards and two touchdowns. Hyde's 168 rushing yards were the most by a 49ers player since 2012, when Colin Kaepernick rushed for 181 against the Packers. Colin Kaepernick went 17 for 26 with 165 yards passing. The 49ers defense was stout, holding the Vikings to just three points and sacking Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater five times. Adrian Peterson, returning from suspension, rushed for only 31 yards on 10 carries. This game also marked the return of NaVorro Bowman, who missed all of the 2014 season with an injury. He had seven tackles and a sack in the season opener. In addition, the 49ers introduced black alternate uniforms.
Week 2: at Pittsburgh Steelers
The 49ers' first road game of the year ended in a disaster. The 49ers defense had no answer for Ben Roethlisberger, who went 21 for 27,369 yards and three touchdown passes as the Steelers won 43–18. The Steelers took a commanding 29–3 halftime lead. Despite only scoring 18 points, the 49ers offense opened up in the second half, with Kaepernick leading the 49ers into the Steelers red zone four times, but only able to score one touchdown (along with a field goal and two turnovers on downs). The highlight for the 49ers was Kaepernick hitting wide receiver Torrey Smith for a 75-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. The Steelers defense had a field day on Kaepernick, sacking him 5 times and making him lose a fumble.
With the loss, the 49ers fell to 1–1.
Week 3: at Arizona Cardinals
49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick became the first player since 1925 to throw two interceptions returned for touchdowns (pick sixes) to start a game. He had four interceptions in the game overall and the Cardinals thrashed the 49ers 47–7. This is the most points the Cardinals have ever scored against the 49ers. In the past two weeks, the 49ers were outscored 90–25.
With the loss, the 49ers dropped to 1–2.
Week 4: vs. Green Bay Packers
Despite a good showing by the 49ers defense (holding the Packers to a season-low 17 points and sacking Aaron Rodgers 3 times), the 49ers offense struggled all game. It was another frustrating day for Colin Kaepernick, who consistently missed receivers and threw an interception. Throughout the game, he was sacked six times. In the last two weeks, Kaepernick had no touchdown passes and five interceptions with a quarterback rating of 12.7.
With yet another tough loss, the 49ers dropped to 1–3, and were outscored by a total of 110–48 in their first 4 games. By the end of week 4, the 49ers were last in the league in total points scored.
Week 5: at New York Giants
In one of the wildest games of the year, the 49ers lost a heartbreaker in the final minute. The 49ers offense, which struggled the previous two weeks and had just 6 points at halftime in this game, came alive and scored three-second half touchdowns, including Carlos Hyde's 2-yard go-ahead touchdown run with 1:45 left on the clock to give the 49ers a 27–23 lead. But Giants quarterback Eli Manning led the Giants down the field and threw a 12-yard touchdown to Larry Donnell with 0:17 left in the game. The 49ers defense was shredded for an astonishing 525 yards by the Giants offense. There were five lead changes in the game, three of them in the final 4:29 of the fourth quarter.
With the loss, the 49ers fell to 1–4.
Week 6: vs. Baltimore Ravens