1953 San Francisco 49ers season
The 1953 San Francisco 49ers season was the franchise's 4th season in the National Football League and their 8th overall. They were coming off a 7–5 record in 1952.
| 1953 San Francisco 49ers season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Buck Shaw |
| Home field | Kezar Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 9–3 |
| Division place | 2nd NFL Western |
| Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
The 49ers would play consistent football all season long, never losing consecutive games throughout the season en route to a franchise-best 9–3 record. However, the 49ers would lose both games against the Detroit Lions, who finished the season 10–2 to win the Western Conference and earn a spot in the NFL Championship game.
Offensively, San Francisco was led by quarterback Y. A. Tittle, who threw for 2121 yards and 20 TD's while completing 57.5% of his passes. Running back Joe Perry had another great season, rushing for 1018 yards along with 10 TD's, while Hugh McElhenny rushed for 503 yards and 3 TD's, and caught 30 passes for 474 yards and 6 TDs. Wide receiver Billy Wilson would catch a team-high 51 passes for 840 yards and 10 TDs.
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 27 | Philadelphia Eagles | W 31–21 | 1–0 | Kezar Stadium | 25,000 | Recap |
| 2 | October 4 | Los Angeles Rams | W 31–30 | 2–0 | Kezar Stadium | 41,446 | Recap |
| 3 | October 11 | Detroit Lions | L 21–24 | 2–1 | Briggs Stadium | 56,080 | Recap |
| 4 | October 18 | Chicago Bears | W 35–28 | 3–1 | Wrigley Field | 36,909 | Recap |
| 5 | October 25 | Detroit Lions | L 10–14 | 3–2 | Kezar Stadium | 52,300 | Recap |
| 6 | November 1 | Chicago Bears | W 24–14 | 4–2 | Kezar Stadium | 26,308 | Recap |
| 7 | November 8 | Los Angeles Rams | W 31–27 | 5–2 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 85,856 | Recap |
| 8 | November 15 | Cleveland Browns | L 21–23 | 5–3 | Cleveland Stadium | 80,698 | Recap |
| 9 | November 22 | Green Bay Packers | W 37–7 | 6–3 | Milwaukee County Stadium | 16,378 | Recap |
| 10 | November 29 | Baltimore Colts | W 38–21 | 7–3 | Memorial Stadium | 26,005 | Recap |
| 11 | December 6 | Green Bay Packers | W 48–14 | 8–3 | Kezar Stadium | 31,337 | Recap |
| 12 | December 13 | Baltimore Colts | W 45–14 | 9–3 | Kezar Stadium | 23,932 | Recap |
Week 1
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Standings
| NFL Western Conference | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | CONF | PF | PA | STK | ||
| Detroit Lions | 10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | 8–2 | 271 | 205 | W6 | |
| San Francisco 49ers | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | 8–2 | 372 | 237 | W4 | |
| Los Angeles Rams | 8 | 3 | 1 | .727 | 7–3 | 366 | 236 | W2 | |
| Chicago Bears | 3 | 8 | 1 | .273 | 2–7–1 | 218 | 262 | L2 | |
| Baltimore Colts | 3 | 9 | 0 | .250 | 2–8 | 182 | 350 | L7 | |
| Green Bay Packers | 2 | 9 | 1 | .182 | 2–7–1 | 200 | 338 | L5 | |
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
Pro Bowl
San Francisco's players selected for the Pro Bowl:
| Player | Position |
|---|---|
| Bill Johnson | Offensive Line |
| Hugh McElhenny | Running Back |
| Art Michalik | Linebacker |
| Leo Nomellini | Defensive Line |
| Joe Perry | Running Back |
| Gordie Soltau | Wide Receiver |
| Y. A. Tittle | Quarterback |