The 2016 season was the San Francisco 49ers' 67th in the National Football League (NFL), their 71st overall, their third playing their home games at Levi's Stadium and their only season under head coach Chip Kelly. The season saw the 49ers attempting to rebound from their 5âÂÂ11 record the previous year, but they finished 2âÂÂ14, with both wins coming against their division rival Los Angeles Rams. The 49ers also nearly became the first team (and only the second since the AFLâÂÂNFL Merger in 1970) since the 2001 Carolina Panthers to win their opener and lose the remainder of their games, prior to the 49ers' Week 16 win over the Rams. Consequently, the 49ers became the first team to achieve this dubious distinction twice, having previously achieved this 2004, when they also finished 2âÂÂ14, both wins against the Arizona Cardinals. The 49ers' 1âÂÂ7 home record tied the worst home record in franchise history (not including the strike-shortened 1982 season). As a result, the 49ers fired Kelly and general manager Trent Baalke.
The 49ers defense also set an NFL record by allowing a 100-yard rusher in seven straight games and easily finished last in the league in rush defense.
After the 2015 season ended, the 49ers fired Jim Tomsula as head coach. On January 14, 2016, the 49ers hired Chip Kelly as their head coach. Kelly had spent the previous three seasons as head coach for the Philadelphia Eagles and had been fired before finishing what would turn out to be a disappointing 7âÂÂ9 Eagles season.
The 49ers entered free agency with the following:
Notes
The 49ers' preseason opponents and schedule were announced April 7, 2016.
49ers kicked the season off at 1-0
With the loss, 49ers fell to 1-1
With the loss, 49ers fell to 1-2
With the loss, 49ers fell to 1-3
The 49ers wore their black alternate uniforms for this game as part of Color Rush.
With the loss, 49ers fell to 1-4
Days prior to Week 6, Head Coach Chip Kelly confirmed that quarterback Colin Kaepernick would start in place of Blaine Gabbert. This was Kaepernick's first start of the season.
With the loss, 49ers fell to 1-5
With the loss, 49ers fell to 1-6
With their 7th consecutive loss, 49ers fell to 1-7
With the loss, 49ers fell to 1-8 and extended their losing streak to 8 games.
With their 9th loss in a row, the 49ers fell to 1-9. As of 2024, this marks the 49ers last loss to New England.
With their 10th straight loss, the 49ers fell to 1-10 and they were mathematically eliminated from postseason contention for the third consecutive season. An attempted rally by the 49ers was stopped short of the end zone in the final seconds.
With their 11th straight loss, 49ers fell to 1-11
With their 12th consecutive loss, the 49ers fell to 1-12 and finished 0-4 against the AFC East.
With another blowout loss, the 49ers extended their losing streak to 13 games and finished 0-4 against the NFC South.
With the win, the 49ers snapped their 13-game losing streak and swept the Rams on the season, while going 0âÂÂ13 against the rest of the league. With the Cleveland Browns standing 0âÂÂ14 before this week, the 49ers win also ended the possibility of two teams finishing 1âÂÂ15 for the first time, or becoming the first team since the 2001 Carolina Panthers to win their opener and lose the remainder of their games.
With the loss, the 49ers ended their season 2âÂÂ14, their worst record since 2004. This was Colin Kaepernick's last game as a 49er.