The 2021 season was the San Francisco 49ers' 72nd season in the National Football League (NFL), their 76th overall and their fifth under the head coach/general manager tandem of Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch. In honor of the 75th anniversary of the team's founding in 1946, the 49ers introduced a commemorative logo to be used during this season.
They improved from their 6–10 record from the previous year and they returned to the playoffs after a one-year absence. Despite starting 2–0, they would lose 4 consecutive games. After an embarrassing Week 9 loss to an injury depleted Arizona Cardinals, the 49ers had a disappointing 3–5 record, but they would rebound and end the season winning 7 of their last 9 games, including a dramatic Week 18 win over the Los Angeles Rams in which the 49ers fought back from a 17–0 deficit to win 27–24 in overtime, thus allowing them to sneak into the playoffs. During the season, the 49ers showcased a well rounded team, finishing top 10 in both total offense and total defense. The offense averaged 376 yards a game, good for 8th in the league, while averaging 25.1 points a game. The defense was even better, giving up just 310 yards a game, good for 3rd overall, averaging 21.5 points a game. This included the 6th best pass defense and 7th best rush defense. The defense also generated 48 sacks during the season, 5th best in the league.
In the wild-card round, the 49ers upset the Dallas Cowboys 23–17. They would then upset the #1 seeded Green Bay Packers 13–10 in the divisional round, thus advancing to the NFC Championship for the second time in three years. However, they lost to their division rival and eventual Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams 20–17.
Offseason
Roster changes
Free agency The 49ers entered free agency with the following: Position Player Free agencytag Date Signed 2021 Team Notes OT Trent Williams UFA March 23, 2021 San Francisco 49ers Signed six-year contract CB Richard Sherman UFA September 29, 2021 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Signed one-year contract DE Solomon Thomas UFA March 19, 2021 Las Vegas Raiders Signed one-year contract FS Jaquiski Tartt UFA March 22, 2021 San Francisco 49ers Signed one-year contract FB Kyle Juszczyk UFA March 15, 2021 San Francisco 49ers Signed five-year contract RB Tevin Coleman UFA March 25, 2021 New York Jets Signed one-year contract WR Kendrick Bourne UFA March 19, 2021 New England Patriots Signed three-year contract CB K'Waun Williams UFA March 26, 2021 San Francisco 49ers Signed one-year contract OT Tom Compton UFA April 28, 2021 San Francisco 49ers Signed one-year contract DE Ronald Blair UFA June 1, 2021 New York Jets Signed one-year contract C Ben Garland UFA DE Kerry Hyder UFA March 25, 2021 Seattle Seahawks Signed three-year contract DE Ezekiel Ansah UFA RB Jerick McKinnon UFA May 1, 2021 Kansas City Chiefs Signed one-year contract C Tony Bergstrom UFA CB Jason Verrett UFA April 1, 2021 San Francisco 49ers Signed one-year contract CB Ahkello Witherspoon UFA March 19, 2021 Seattle Seahawks Signed one-year contract CB Dontae Johnson UFA March 19, 2021 San Francisco 49ers Signed one-year contract C Hroniss Grasu UFA DE Dion Jordan UFA CB Jamar Taylor UFA DE Jordan Willis UFA March 23, 2021 San Francisco 49ers Signed one-year contract QB C. J. Beathard UFA March 24, 2021 Jacksonville Jaguars Signed two-year contract LB Joe Walker UFA May 19, 2021 Washington Football Team QB Nick Mullens RFA June 14, 2021 Philadelphia Eagles Signed one-year contract TE Ross Dwelley RFA March 5, 2021 San Francisco 49ers Signed one-year contract LS Taybor Pepper RFA February 4, 2021 San Francisco 49ers Signed two-year contract RB Jeff Wilson RFA January 26, 2021 San Francisco 49ers Signed one-year contract QB Josh Rosen ERFA February 8, 2021 San Francisco 49ers Signed one-year contract CB Emmanuel Moseley ERFA March 15, 2021 San Francisco 49ers Signed two-year contract OT Daniel Brunskill ERFA April 13, 2021 San Francisco 49ers Signed one-year contract CB Ken Webster ERFA January 21, 2021 San Francisco 49ers Signed one-year contract WR River Cracraft ERFA February 22, 2021 San Francisco 49ers Signed one-year contract WR Trent Taylor UFA May 17, 2021 Cincinnati Bengals Signed one-year contract DT D. J. Jones UFA March 22, 2021 San Francisco 49ers Signed one-year contract S Marcell Harris RFA March 5, 2021 San Francisco 49ers Signed one-year contract RB Austin Walter ERFA February 8, 2021 San Francisco 49ers Signed one-year contractRFA: 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 2020 Team Date signed Notes CB Mark Fields October 13, 2020 Claimed off waivers CB Briean Boddy-Calhoun March 17, 2021 Signed one-year contract TE Daniel Helm C Alex Mack Atlanta Falcons March 18, 2021 Signed three-year contract LB Samson Ebukam Los Angeles Rams March 18, 2021 Signed two-year contract WR Trent Sherfield Arizona Cardinals March 19, 2021 Signed one-year contract S Tavon Wilson Indianapolis Colts March 22, 2021 Signed one-year contract DT Zach Kerr Carolina Panthers March 23, 2021 Signed one-year contract LB Nathan Gerry Philadelphia Eagles March 29, 2021 Signed one-year contract WR Mohamed Sanu Detroit Lions March 30, 2021 Signed one-year contract QB Nate Sudfeld Philadelphia Eagles April 7, 2021 Signed one-year contract RB Wayne Gallman New York Giants April 21, 2021 Signed one-year contract DT Maurice Hurst Jr. Las Vegas Raiders April 23, 2021 Signed one-year contract DE Arden Key WR Marqise Lee New England Patriots May 17, 2021 Signed one-year contract WR Bennie Fowler New Orleans Saints May 21, 2021 Signed one-year contract WR Andy Jones June 1, 2021 Signed one-year contract LB James Burgess Green Bay Packers June 2, 2021 Signed one-year contract TE MyCole Pruitt Tennessee Titans June 2, 2021 Signed one-year contract S Tony Jefferson June 7, 2021 Signed one-year contract OG Senio Kelemete Houston Texans June 11, 2021 Signed one-year contract WR Nsimba Webster Los Angeles Rams June 21, 2021 claimed off waivers DE Eddie Yarbrough Minnesota Vikings July 27, 2021 Signed one-year contract DE Anthony Zettel New Orleans Saints TE Jordan Matthews July 31, 2021 Signed one-year contract TE Joshua Perkins August 4, 2021 Signed one-year contract CB B. W. Webb LB Davin Bellamy August 6, 2021 Signed one-year contract LB Shilique Calhoun New England Patriots August 10, 2021 Signed one-year contract CB Alexander Myres Detroit Lions LB Donald Payne August 11, 2021 Signed one-year contract S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix August 12, 2021 Signed one-year contract DT Eddie Vanderdoes Houston Texans LB Mychal Kendricks August 16, 2021 Signed one-year contract CB Davontae Harris Baltimore Ravens August 17, 2021 Claimed off waivers OT Corbin Kaufusi August 27, 2021 Signed one-year contract WR River Cracraft August 28, 2021 Signed one-year contract CB Josh Norman Buffalo Bills September 6, 2021 Signed one-year contract CB Dre Kirkpatrick Arizona Cardinals September 14, 2021 Signed one-year contract RB Trenton Cannon September 15, 2021 Claimed off waivers Indicates that the player was a free agent at the end of his respective team's season.
Departures Position Player Date Notes DE Ronald Blair March 12, 2021 Released WR Marquise Goodwin March 17, 2021 Released TE Chase Harrell April 13, 2021 Waived TE Jordan Reed April 20, 2021 Retired CB Adonis Alexander May 4, 2021 Waived WR Matt Cole S Chris Edwards RB Austin Walter May 13, 2021 Waived WR Austin Proehl May 17, 2021 Waived WR Marqise Lee May 21, 2021 Waived TE Daniel Helm June 1, 2021 Waived QB Josh Johnson C Weston Richburg June 2, 2021 Retired CB Briean Boddy-Calhoun June 7, 2021 Waived OG Justin Skule June 11, 2021 Waived LB Nathan Gerry July 6, 2021 Waived DE Daeshon Hall July 26, 2021 Released WR Andy Jones July 27, 2021 Waived WR Bennie Fowler July 31, 2021 Released CB Tim Harris August 4, 2021 Waived DE Anthony Zettel August 6, 2021 Retired CB Mark Fields August 10, 2021 Waived G Isaiah Williams WR Kevin White August 11, 2021 Released LB Davin Bellamy August 12, 2021 Waived LB James Burgess August 16, 2021 Waived LB Donald Payne DT Eddie Vanderdoes TE Joshua Perkins August 17, 2021 Released CB Ken Webster Waived QB Josh Rosen Waived LB Shilique Calhoun August 24, 2021 Released CB B. W. Webb WR River Cracraft Waived OT Corbin Kaufusi FS Kai Nacua August 27, 2021 Released WR River Cracraft August 28, 2021 Waived WR Travis Benjamin August 31, 2021 Released C Jake Brendel S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix RB Wayne Gallman CB Dontae Johnson OG Senio Kelemete TE Jordan Matthews TE MyCole Pruitt QB Nate Sudfeld DE Eddie Yarbrough DE Alex Barrett Waived WR River Cracraft DT Darrion Daniels FB Josh Hokit OT Corbin Kaufusi S Jared Mayden OT Colton McKivitz CB Alexander Myres OG Dakoda Shepley WR Nsimba Webster CB Dontae Johnson September 6, 2021 Released
Draft
2021 San Francisco 49ers Draft Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 3 Trey Lance QB North Dakota State From Houston via Miami 2 48 Aaron Banks OG Notre Dame From Las Vegas 3 88 Trey Sermon RB Ohio State From Los Angeles Rams 102 Ambry Thomas CB Michigan 2020 Resolution JC-2A picks 5 155 Jaylon Moore OG Western Michigan 172 Deommodore Lenoir CB Oregon From New Orleans 180 Talanoa Hufanga S USC Compensatory pick 6 194 Elijah Mitchell RB Louisiana Notes
San Francisco traded its first-round selection (12th overall), a 2022 first-round selection, a 2022 third-round selection and a 2023 first-round selection to Miami in exchange for a first-round selection (3rd overall). San Francisco traded its second-round (43rd overall) and seventh-round (230th overall) selections to Vegas in exchange for a second-round (48th overall) and fourth (121st overall) selections. San Francisco traded 2 fourth-round selections (117th and 121st overall) to Los Angeles in exchange for a third-round selection (88th overall). San Francisco traded Kwon Alexander to New Orleans in exchange for a fifth-round conditional pick and LB Kiko Alonso. San Francisco traded its third-round and 2020 fifth-round selections to Washington in exchange for offensive tackle Trent Williams. San Francisco received third-round selections in 2021, 2022, and 2023, as compensation when defensive coordinator Robert Saleh was hired by the New York Jets as head coach and vice president of player personnel Martin Mayhew was hired by the Washington Football Team as general manager. San Francisco lost its 2021 seventh round selection, as Marquise Goodwin reverted from Philadelphia back to San Francisco. San Francisco acquired a seventh round selection (No. 230) and defensive end Jordan Willis from the New York Jets in exchange for a 2022 sixth round selection.
Undrafted free agents 2021 San Francisco 49ers Undrafted Free Agents Position Player College Notes OL Alfredo Gutiérrez Tecnológico de Monterrey Waived on August 31 LB Justin Hilliard Ohio State Waived on August 31 TE Josh Pederson Louisiana-Monroe Waived on August 4 LB Elijah Sullivan Kansas State Waived on August 31 WR Austin Watkins Alabama at Birmingham Waived on August 17
Staff
Final roster
<noinclude>
Preseason The 49ers' preseason schedule was announced on May 12. Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 Kansas City Chiefs L 16–19 0–1 Levi's Stadium Recap 2 August 22 at Los Angeles Chargers W 15–10 1–1 SoFi Stadium Recap 3 August 29 Las Vegas Raiders W 34–10 2–1 Levi's Stadium Recap
Regular season
Schedule The 49ers' 2021 schedule was announced on May 12.