The 1972 San Francisco 49ers season was the franchise's 23rd season in the National Football League and their 27th overall. The 49ers appeared in the playoffs for the third consecutive year.
After an ankle injury to quarterback John Brodie in a loss to the Giants to fall to 2–3, Steve Spurrier stepped in and turned things around with brilliant performances to get the 49ers back in the playoff picture by going 5–2–1 in the next eight games. In the regular season finale, Brodie returned late in the third quarter and threw two touchdown passes in the fourth to rally the 49ers to a 20–17 victory over the Minnesota Vikings for an 8–5–1 record and third straight division title.
In the divisional playoffs at Candlestick Park, the 49ers looked poised for a return to the NFC Championship game, leading the Dallas Cowboys 28–13 at the start of the fourth quarter, but the Cowboys scored seventeen unanswered points to win by two.
This was the third consecutive season that San Francisco lost to Dallas in the playoffs, and the 49ers' last postseason appearance for nine years.
Offseason NFL draft
Personnel Staff / Coaches
Roster
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 vs. New York Jets L 10–17 0–1 Gator Bowl 41,920 2 August 13 Cleveland Browns W 20–13 1–1 Candlestick Park 58,364 3 at San Diego Chargers L 16–17 1–2 San Diego Stadium 47,308 4 August 27 Denver Broncos L 24–27 1–3 Candlestick Park 58,115 5 September 3 Oakland Raiders W 34–21 2–3 Candlestick Park 61,237 6 at Los Angeles Rams W 17–14 3–3 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 60,807
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 17 San Diego Chargers W 34–3 1–0 Candlestick Park 59,438 2 September 24 at Buffalo Bills L 20–27 1–1 War Memorial Stadium 45,845 3 October 1 at New Orleans Saints W 37–2 2–1 Tulane Stadium 69,840 4 October 8 at Los Angeles Rams L 7–31 2–2 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 77,382 5 October 15 New York Giants L 17–23 2–3 Candlestick Park 58,606 6 October 22 New Orleans Saints T 20–20 2–3–1 Candlestick Park 59,167 7 October 29 at Atlanta Falcons W 49–14 3–3–1 Atlanta Stadium 58,850 8 November 5 at Green Bay Packers L 24–34 3–4–1 Milwaukee County Stadium 47,897 9 November 12 Baltimore Colts W 24–21 4–4–1 Candlestick Park 61,214 10 November 19 at Chicago Bears W 34–21 5–4–1 Soldier Field 55,701 11 November 23 at Dallas Cowboys W 31–10 6–4–1 Texas Stadium 65,124 12 Los Angeles Rams L 16–26 6–5–1 Candlestick Park 61,214 13 December 10 Atlanta Falcons W 20–0 7–5–1 Candlestick Park 61,214 14 Minnesota Vikings W 20–17 8–5–1 Candlestick Park 61,214 Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Standings
Postseason
Schedule Round Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Divisional Dallas Cowboys L 28–30 0–1 Candlestick Park 61,214
Awards and records Milestones
References
External links 1972 San Francisco 49ers at Pro-Football-Reference.com 1972 San Francisco 49ers at JT-SW.com