1981 San Francisco 49ers season

Infobox NFL season
team = San Francisco 49ers
year = 1981
record = 13-3
division_place = 1st NFC West
coach = Bill Walsh
stadium = Candlestick Park
playoffs = Super Bowl ChampionsThe San Francisco 49ers 1981 season was their 32nd season in the National Football League. The season was highlighted by their first Super Bowl victory. A big turning point for the franchise was the drafting of Ronnie Lott from the University of Southern California. Quarterback Joe Montana began the 1981 season as San Francisco's starting quarterback. The season would be one of the franchise's most successful seasons to that point. Montana was influential as he helped San Francisco win two of those games with fourth-quarter comebacks. One of the most famous moments of his career was part of the winning drive in the NFC Championship Game. Under the tutelage of Bill Walsh, the team finished the regular season with a 13-3 record.

NFL Draft

Regular Season Schedule

Postseason

NFC Divisional Playoff

* San Francisco 49ers 38, New York Giants 24Linescore Amfootball
Road=Giants
R1=7
R2=3
R3=7
R4=7
RT=24
Home=49ers
H1=7
H2=17
H3=0
H4=14
HT=38

"January 3 1982 at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California"
*Game Time: 5:00 p.m. EST
*TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and John Madden

The Giants were making their first appearance in the postseason since 1963. First year starting quarterback Joe Montana led the 49ers to victory in his first ever playoff game, completing 20 of 31 passes for 304 yards and 2 touchdowns, with 1 interception. His top target in the game was receiver Dwight Clark, who caught 5 passes for 104 yards.

NFC Championship Game

* San Francisco 49ers 28, Dallas Cowboys 27Linescore Amfootball
Road=Cowboys
R1=10
R2=7
R3=0
R4=10
RT=27
Home=49ers
H1=7
H2=7
H3=7
H4=7
HT=28

"January 10 1982 at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California"
*Game Time: 5:00 p.m. EST
*TV announcers (CBS): Vin Scully and Hank Stram
*Referee: Jim Tunney

The 49ers were making their third appearance in the NFC Championship Game. Their opponent was their opponent for the two previous NFC Championship Games-the Dallas Cowboys. In both previous matches, the 49ers had lost the game. The game is remembered for The Catch. The play, remembered in 49er lore as "Red Right Tight--Sprint Right Option" had called for both the primary receiver, Solomon, and Dwight Clark to line up on the right. Montana was supposed to roll to his right and find Solomon. Clark's pattern called for him to cut left across the end zone, stop, and immediately reverse his path to the right. If Solomon were covered, it would be up to Montana to find Clark. Due to the pressure, Montana's pass was high, but Clark was in position to make his memorable grab.

A photograph of the catch, with Clark at the height of his leap and Everson Walls reaching out to try to block the ball, was featured on the cover of "Sports Illustrated" the following week.

Super Bowl XVI

* San Francisco 49ers 26, Cincinnati Bengals 21Linescore Amfootball
Road=49ers
R1=7
R2=13
R3=0
R4=6
RT=26
Home=Bengals
H1=0
H2=0
H3=7
H4=14
HT=21"January 24 1982 at Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan"
*TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and John Madden
*Referee: Pat Haggerty

Scoring summary:
*SF - TD: Joe Montana 1 yard run (Ray Wersching kick) 7-0 SF
*SF - TD: Earl Cooper 11 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) 14-0 SF
*SF - FG: Ray Wersching 22 yards 17-0 SF
*SF - FG: Ray Wersching 26 yards 20-0 SF
*CIN - TD: Ken Anderson 5 yard run (Jim Breech kick) 20-7 SF
*CIN - TD: Dan Ross 4 yard pass from Ken Anderson (Jim Breech kick) 20-14 SF
*SF - FG: Ray Wersching 40 yards 23-14 SF
*SF - FG: Ray Wersching 23 yards 26-14 SF
*CIN - TD: Dan Ross 3 yard pass from Ken Anderson (Jim Breech kick) 26-21 SF

Roster

Awards and records

* Joe Montana, Super Bowl Most Valuable Player
* Bill Walsh, National Football League Coach of the Year Award

References

* [http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sfo/1981.htm 49ers on Pro Football Reference]
* [http://www.jt-sw.com/football/pro/results.nsf/Teams/1981-sf 49ers Schedule on jt-sw.com]

succession box
title = Super Bowl Champions
San Francisco 49ers
years = 1981
before = Oakland Raiders 1980
after = Washington Redskins
1982