The 2010 season was the San Francisco 49ers' 61st in the National Football League (NFL), their 65th overall and their third and final under head coach Mike Singletary. The 49ers were looking to build upon their 8–8 season in 2009 and were expected by many to win the NFC West for the first time since 2002; however, they lost each of their first five games and ended up with a 6–10 record as they failed to reach the playoffs for the eighth consecutive season. The 49ers originally retained Jimmy Raye as the offensive coordinator, marking the first time since Greg Knapp in 2003 that the 49ers had the same offensive coordinator for more than one season; however, after their third loss to start the season, the 49ers fired Raye and promoted quarterbacks coach Mike Johnson to offensive coordinator. Ultimately, head coach Singletary was himself fired before the last game of the season. He was replaced by defensive line coach Jim Tomsula for the final game of the regular season.
Offseason
Coaching changes The first major coaching change in the offseason was the firing of Al Everest as special teams coordinator. The 49ers interviewed several candidates and by mid-January settled on Kurt Schottenheimer as special-teams coordinator. One week later, another assistant coaching change was made when incumbent offensive line coach Chris Foerster was permitted to accept an offer to coach the same position with new Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan. To replace Foerster, the 49ers immediately hired outgoing Seahawks offensive line coach Mike Solari, who had previously been an assistant line coach with the 49ers.
Roster changes
Free Agency +San Francisco 49ers Free AgencyPosition Player Status* 2009 Team 2010 Team K Shane Andrus RFA San Francisco 49ers San Francisco 49ers G David Baas RFA San Francisco 49ers San Francisco 49ers WR Arnaz Battle UFA San Francisco 49ers Pittsburgh Steelers CB Dre' Bly UFA San Francisco 49ers Detroit Lions LB Ahmad Brooks RFA San Francisco 49ers San Francisco 49ers QB David Carr UFA New York Giants San Francisco 49ers RB Thomas Clayton RFA San Francisco 49ers New England Patriots NT Aubrayo Franklin Franchise San Francisco 49ers San Francisco 49ers CB Walt Harris UFA San Francisco 49ers Baltimore Ravens DB Marcus Hudson RFA San Francisco 49ers Carolina Panthers CB William James UFA Detroit Lions San Francisco 49ers OT Tony Pashos UFA San Francisco 49ers Cleveland Browns CB Karl Paymah UFA Minnesota Vikings San Francisco 49ers SS Mark Roman UFA San Francisco 49ers TBD K Ricky Schmitt RFA San Francisco 49ers Tennessee Titans OT Barry Sims UFA San Francisco 49ers San Francisco 49ers LB Jeff Ulbrich UFA San Francisco 49ers Retired (Now Coach) RB Brian Westbrook UFA Philadelphia Eagles San Francisco 49ers WR Brandon Jones UFA San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks *RFA: Restricted free agent, UFA: Unrestricted free agent, ERFA: Exclusive rights free agent, Franchise: Franchise tag
Trades +San Francisco 49ers TradesTrading team 49ers Receive 49ers Give Detroit Lions 2011 7th-round draft pick QB Shaun Hill Miami Dolphins WR Ted Ginn Jr. 2010 5th-round draft pick Denver Broncos 2010 1st-round draft pick (11) 2010 1st-round draft pick (13) 2010 4th-round draft pick (113) San Diego Chargers 2010 3rd-round draft pick (91) 2010 6th-round draft pick (197) 2011 4th-round draft pick 2010 3rd-round draft pick (79) Seattle Seahawks 2011 6th-round draft pick DE Kentwan Balmer
2010 NFL draft
After finishing the 2009 season with a record of 8–8, the 49ers held the 13th overall pick in the 2010 NFL draft. They also obtained the 17th overall pick as a result of a trade in the 2009 NFL draft that gave their second and fourth round picks in 2009 to the Carolina Panthers for the Panthers' first round pick in 2010. The 49ers traded their fifth round pick in 2010 to Miami for wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. In the first round of the 2010 draft the 49ers moved up two picks by trading their #13 pick and 4th Round pick to the Denver Broncos to move up to pick #11, with which they selected offensive tackle Anthony Davis from Rutgers. Six picks later, the 49ers again chose to solidify their offensive line by selecting top-rated guard Mike Iupati out of Idaho.
+ San Francisco 49ers 2010 NFL Draft selections Draft order Player name Position Height Weight College Contract Notes Round Choice Overall 1 11 11 Anthony Davis T 6 ft 5 in 323 lb Rutgers From Denver Broncos 13 13Traded to the Denver Broncos 17 17 Mike Iupati G 6 ft 5 in 331 lb Idaho From Carolina Panthers 2 17 49 Taylor Mays S 6 ft 3 in 230 lb USC 3 15 79Traded to the San Diego Chargers 27 91 NaVorro Bowman LB 6 ft 0 in 242 lb Penn State from San Diego Chargers 4 15 113Traded to the Denver Broncos 5 14 145Traded to the Miami Dolphins 6 4 173 Anthony Dixon RB 6 ft 1 in 233 lb Mississippi State From San Diego Chargers 13 182 Nate Byham TE 6 ft 4 in 268 lb Pittsburgh 37 206 Kyle Williams WR 5 ft 10 in 188 lb Arizona StateCompensatory pick 7 17 224 Phillip Adams CB 5 ft 10 in 192 lb South Carolina State
Staff 2010 San Francisco 49ers staff Front office Co-chairman – Denise DeBartolo York Co-chairman – John York President/CEO – Jed York Executive vice president of football and business operations – Paraag Marathe Executive vice president of football administration – Lal Heneghan Vice president of player personnel – Trent Baalke general manager – Trent Baalke Director of pro personnel – Tom Gamble Director of college scouting – Joel Patten Director of football operations – Brian Hampton
Head coaches Head coach – Mike Singletary Interim head coach/defensive line – Jim Tomsula Special assistant to the head coach – Bill Nayes Special assistant to the head coach/defensive backs/secondary – Johnnie Lynn
Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Jimmy Raye Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks – Mike Johnson Running backs – Tom Rathman Senior assistant/wide receivers – Jerry Sullivan Tight ends – Pete Hoener Offensive line – Mike Solari Assistant offensive line – Ray Brown Offensive assistant/quarterbacks – Jason Michael Offensive assistant – Chris Beake Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Greg Manusky Outside linebackers – Jason Tarver Inside linebackers – Vantz Singletary Defensive backs – Vance Joseph Pass rush specialist – Al Harris
Special teams coaches Special teams coordinator – Kurt Schottenheimer Assistant special teams – Dave Fipp
Strength and conditioning Head strength and conditioning – Duane Carlisle Assistant strength and conditioning – Mark Uyeyama
Roster
Schedule
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 August 15 at Indianapolis Colts W 37–17 1–0 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 2 August 22 Minnesota Vikings W 15–10 2–0 Candlestick Park Recap 3 August 28 at Oakland Raiders W 28–24 3–0 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap 4 September 2 San Diego Chargers W 17–14 4–0 Candlestick Park Recap
Regular season Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 12 at Seattle Seahawks L 6–31 0–1 Qwest Field Recap 2 September 20 New Orleans Saints L 22–25 0–2 Candlestick Park Recap 3 September 26 at Kansas City Chiefs L 10–31 0–3 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 4 October 3 at Atlanta Falcons L 14–16 0–4 Georgia Dome Recap 5 October 10 Philadelphia Eagles L 24–27 0–5 Candlestick Park Recap 6 October 17 Oakland Raiders W 17–9 1–5 Candlestick Park Recap 7 October 24 at Carolina Panthers L 20–23 1–6 Bank of America Stadium Recap 8 October 31 Denver Broncos W 24–16 2–6 Wembley Stadium Recap 9 Bye 10 November 14 St. Louis Rams W 23–20 3–6 Candlestick Park Recap 11 November 21 Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 0–21 3–7 Candlestick Park Recap 12 November 29 at Arizona Cardinals W 27–6 4–7 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 13 December 5 at Green Bay Packers L 16–34 4–8 Lambeau Field Recap 14 December 12 Seattle Seahawks W 40–21 5–8 Candlestick Park Recap 15 December 16 at San Diego Chargers L 7–34 5–9 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 16 December 26 at St. Louis Rams L 17–25 5–10 Edward Jones Dome Recap 17 January 2, 2011 Arizona Cardinals W 38–7 6–10 Candlestick Park Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Standings
Regular season results
Week 1: at Seattle Seahawks
The 49ers began their season at Qwest Field for an NFC West match against the Seattle Seahawks. In the first quarter, the Niners had the early lead when kicker Joe Nedney made a 23-yard field goal, which was extended in the second quarter when Nedney made another 23-yard field goal. Then, San Francisco failed to maintain it and then fell behind when Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck got a 1-yard touchdown run, followed by him making a 13-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Deon Butler. In the third quarter, the 49ers struggled further when quarterback Alex Smith threw an interception to cornerback Marcus Trufant, which was returned 32 yards for a touchdown. This was followed by Hasselbeck's 3-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Deion Branch. In the fourth quarter, the Niners continued to struggle when kicker Olindo Mare made a 35-yard field goal.
With the loss, the 49ers began their season at 0–1.
Week 2: vs. New Orleans Saints
Hoping to rebound from their divisional road loss to the Seahawks, the 49ers played their Week 2 home opener against the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints on Monday night.
San Francisco trailed early in the first quarter as center David Baas' high snap deep within Niner territory resulted in a safety. The Saints would add onto their lead as quarterback Drew Brees completed a 6-yard touchdown pass to running back Reggie Bush. The 49ers would respond in the second quarter with quarterback Alex Smith finding running back Frank Gore on a 12-yard touchdown pass.
The Niners would take the lead in the third quarter as rookie running back Anthony Dixon got a 2-yard touchdown run, but New Orleans would answer with Brees' 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end David Thomas. In the fourth quarter, the Saints would add onto their lead as kicker Garrett Hartley got a 46-yard and a 19-yard field goal. San Francisco would tie the game with Gore's 7-yard touchdown run, followed by Smith's 2-point conversion pass to tight end Vernon Davis. However, New Orleans would get the last laugh as Hartley made the game-winning 37-yard field goal.
With the loss, the 49ers fell to 0–2.
Week 3: at Kansas City Chiefs
Looking for their first win, the 49ers flew to Arrowhead Stadium for an interconference duel with the Chiefs. Prior to the game, tight end Vernon Davis guaranteed victory. In the 2nd quarter, the 49ers trailed early as QB Matt Cassel completed a 31-yard TD pass to WR Dexter McCluster. The 49ers replied with kicker Joe Nedney hitting a 51-yard field goal. The 49ers fell further behind when Chiefs' kicker Ryan Succop hit a 32-yard field goal and then in the third quarter when Cassel found WR Dwayne Bowe and TE Tony Moeaki on 45 and 18-yard TD passes, respectively. RB Thomas Jones followed these scores with a 3-yard TD run. The 49ers narrowed the score when QB Alex Smith made a 12-yard TD pass to WR Josh Morgan.
With the loss, the 49ers fell to 0–3.
Week 4: at Atlanta Falcons