NFL team season
The 1951 San Francisco 49ers season was the franchise's 2nd season in the National Football League and their 6th overall. The team was coming off a 3–9 record in 1950.
The 49ers won their first ever NFL road game on October 14 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, after losing their first 7 in the league. The Niners were in playoff contention all year long, finishing 7–4–1, just a half game out of first place in the National Conference. Their biggest win of the season was a 44–17 victory over their California rivals, the Los Angeles Rams.
Frankie Albert and Y. A. Tittle split time at quarterback, with Albert throwing for 1,116 yards, while Tittle led the club with 8 TDs and completed 55.3% of his passes. Joe Perry once again led the team in rushing with 677 yards and 3 TDs, and wide receiver Gordie Soltau led the club with 59 catches for 826 yards and 7 TDs.
Offseason
NFL draft
Source:[1] |}
Preseason
[2]
Regular season
Schedule
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
1 | September 30 | Cleveland Browns | W 24–10 | 1–0 | Kezar Stadium | 48,263 | Recap |
2 | October 6 | at Philadelphia Eagles | L 14–21 | 1–1 | Shibe Park | 23,827 | Recap |
3 | October 14 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | W 28–24 | 2–1 | Forbes Field | 27,124 | Recap |
4 | October 21 | at Chicago Bears | L 7–13 | 2–2 | Wrigley Field | 42,296 | Recap |
5 | October 28 | Los Angeles Rams | W 44–17 | 3–2 | Kezar Stadium | 49,538 | Recap |
6 | November 4 | at Los Angeles Rams | L 16–23 | 3–3 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 54,346 | Recap |
7 | November 11 | New York Yanks | W 19–14 | 4–3 | Kezar Stadium | 25,538 | Recap |
8 | November 18 | Chicago Cardinals | L 21–27 | 4–4 | Kezar Stadium | 19,658 | Recap |
9 | November 25 | at New York Yanks | T 10–10 | 4–4–1 | Yankee Stadium | 10,184 | Recap |
10 | December 2 | at Detroit Lions | W 20–10 | 5–4–1 | Briggs Stadium | 46,467 | Recap |
11 | December 9 | Green Bay Packers | W 31–19 | 6–4–1 | Kezar Stadium | 15,121 | Recap |
12 | December 16 | Detroit Lions | W 21–17 | 7–4–1 | Kezar Stadium | 27,276 | Recap |
Note: Intra-conference opponents are in bold text. |
Game summaries
Week 1: Cleveland Browns at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Browns | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
49ers | 7 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
at Kezar Stadium, San Francisco
- Date: Sunday, September 30
- Game attendance: 48,263
- Pro-Football-Reference.com [3]
Game information |
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- SF – Gordie Soltau 42 yard field goal (SF 10–7)
- Third quarter
- SF – Joe Perry 6 yard run, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 17–7)
- CLE – Lou Groza 40 yard field goal (SF 17–10)
- Fourth quarter
- SF – Joe Perry 6 yard run, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 24–10)
| - Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- CLE – Dub Jones 5 Rec, 143 Yds, 1 TD
- SF –
- Top tacklers
| |
Week 2: San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles – Game summary
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
49ers | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
Eagles | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
at Shibe Park, Philadelphia
- Date: Sunday, October 7
- Game attendance: 23,827
- Pro-Football-Reference.com [3]
Game information |
- First quarter
- Second quarter
No scoring - Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
- PHI – Clyde Scott 28 yard pass from Adrian Burk, Bobby Walston kick (PHI 21–7)
- SF – Verl Lillywhite 11 yard pass from Y. A. Tittle, Gordie Soltau kick (PHI 21–14)
| - Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top tacklers
| |
Week 3: San Francisco 49ers at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
49ers | 7 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 28 |
Steelers | 0 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 24 |
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh
- Date: Sunday, October 14
- Game attendance: 27,124
- Pro-Football-Reference.com [3]
Game information |
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- PIT – Elbie Nickel 77 yard pass from Joe Geri, Joe Geri kick (TIE 7–7)
- PIT – Joe Geri 16 yard field goal (PIT 10–7)
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
- PIT – Lynn Chandnois 8 yard pass from Ray Mathews, Joe Geri kick (SF 28–17)
- PIT – Elbie Nickel 22 yard pass from Ray Mathews, Joe Geri kick (SF 28–24)
| - Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top tacklers
| |
Week 4: San Francisco 49ers at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
49ers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
Bears | 6 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 13 |
at Wrigley Field, Chicago
- Date: Sunday, October 21
- Game attendance: 42,296
- Pro-Football-Reference.com [3]
Game information |
- First quarter
- Second quarter
No scoring - Third quarter
- CHI – Johnny Lujack 1 yard run, Johnny Lujack kick (CHI 13–0)
- Fourth quarter
| - Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top tacklers
| |
Week 5: Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Rams | 3 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
49ers | 10 | 28 | 0 | 6 | 44 |
at Kezar Stadium, San Francisco
- Date: Sunday, October 28
- Game attendance: 49,538
- Pro-Football-Reference.com [3]
Game information |
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- LA – Dick Hoerner 12 yard run, Bob Waterfield kick (SF 38–17)
- Fourth quarter
- SF – Gordie Soltau 48 yard pass from Y. A. Tittle, kick failed (SF 44–17)
| - Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top tacklers
| |
Week 6: at Los Angeles Rams
Week 6: San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams – Game summary
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
49ers | 0 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 16 |
Rams | 10 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 23 |
at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles
- Date: Sunday, November 4
- Game attendance: 54,346
- Pro-Football-Reference.com [3]
Game information |
- First quarter
- LA – Bob Waterfield 39 yard field goal (LA 3–0)
- LA – Bob Waterfield 1 yard run, Bob Waterfield kick (LA 10–0)
- Second quarter
- SF – Joe Perry 58 yard run, Gordie Soltau kick (LA 10–7)
- LA – Bob Waterfield 20 yard field goal (LA 13–7)
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
- SF – Gordie Soltau 11 yard field goal (SF 16–13)
- LA – Elroy Hirsch 79 yard pass from Bob Waterfield, Bob Waterfield kick (LA 20–16)
- LA – Bob Waterfield 39 yard field goal (LA 23–16)
| - Top passers
- Top rushers
- SF – Joe Perry 12 Car, 115 Yds, 1 TD
- LA –
- Top receivers
- Top tacklers
| |
Week 7: New York Yanks at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Yanks | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
49ers | 7 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 19 |
at Kezar Stadium, San Francisco
- Date: Sunday, November 11
- Game attendance: 36,571
- Pro-Football-Reference.com [3]
Game information |
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- SF – Gordie Soltau 19 yard field goal (NYY 14–10)
- Fourth quarter
- SF – Safety, Hamp Tanner tackled Bob Celeri in end zone (NYY 14–12)
- SF – Billy Wilson 7 yard pass from Y. A. Tittle, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 19–14)
| - Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top tacklers
| |
Week 8: Chicago Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Cardinals | 7 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 27 |
49ers | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
at Kezar Stadium, San Francisco
- Date: Sunday, November 18
- Game attendance: 19,658
- Pro-Football-Reference.com [3]
Game information |
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- CHC – Elmer Angsman 80 yard pass from Charley Trippi, Cliff Patton kick (CHC 14–7)
- CHC – Don Paul 4 yard run, Cliff Patton kick (CHC 21–7)
- CHC – Cliff Patton 16 yard field goal (CHC 24–7)
- Third quarter
- SF – Frankie Albert 10 yard run, Gordie Soltau kick (CHC 24–14)
- CHC – Cliff Patton 24 yard field goal (CHC 27–14)
- Fourth quarter
| - Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top tacklers
| |
Week 9: at New York Yanks
Week 9: San Francisco 49ers at New York Yanks – Game summary
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
49ers | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
Yanks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 10 |
at Yankee Stadium, The Bronx, New York City
- Date: Sunday, November 25
- Game attendance: 10,184
- Pro-Football-Reference.com [3]
Game information |
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
No scoring - Fourth quarter
- NYY – Sherman Howard 8 yard run, Harvey Johnson kick (SF 10–7)
- NYY – Harvey Johnson 23 yard field goal (TIE 10–10)
| - Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top tacklers
| |
Week 10: San Francisco 49ers at Detroit Lions – Game summary
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
49ers | 6 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 20 |
Lions | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
at Briggs Stadium, Detroit
- Date: Sunday, December 2
- Game attendance: 46,467
- Pro-Football-Reference.com [3]
Game information |
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
- SF – Joe Arenas 12 yard pass from Y. A. Tittle, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 20–10)
| - Top passers
- Top rushers
- SF – Joe Perry 22 Car, 126 Yds
- DET –
- Top receivers
- Top tacklers
| |
Week 11: Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Packers | 3 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 19 |
49ers | 3 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 31 |
at Kezar Stadium, San Francisco
- Date: Sunday, December 9
- Game attendance: 15,121
- Pro-Football-Reference.com [3]
Game information |
- First quarter
- GB – Fred Cone 20 yard field goal (GB 3–0)
- SF – Gordie Soltau 23 yard field goal (TIE 3–3)
- Second quarter
- GB – Fred Cone 37 yard field goal (GB 6–3)
- SF – Joe Arenas 7 yard run, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 10–6)
- GB – Ray Pelfrey 3 yard pass from Tobin Rote, Fred Cone kick (GB 13–10)
- Third quarter
- SF – Joe Arenas 1 yard run, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 17–13)
- GB – Carl Elliott 11 yard pass from Tobin Rote, kick failed (GB 19–17)
- Fourth quarter
| - Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top tacklers
| |
Week 12: vs. Detroit Lions
Week 12: Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Lions | 3 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
49ers | 0 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
at Kezar Stadium, San Francisco
- Date: Sunday, December 16
- Game attendance: 27,276
- Pro-Football-Reference.com [3]
Game information |
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
- SF – Y. A. Tittle 1 yard run, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 21–17)
| - Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top tacklers
| |
Standings
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
Pro Bowl
San Francisco's players selected for the Pro Bowl:
References
- ^ "1951 San Francisco 49ers Draftees". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
- ^ "1951 San Francisco 49ers (NFL)". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l San Francisco 49ers 2008 Media Guide. San Francisco 49ers. p. 269.
External links
- 1951 49ers on Pro Football Reference
- SHRP Sports
San Francisco 49ers |
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- Founded in 1946
- Based and headquartered in Santa Clara, California
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San Francisco 49ers seasons |
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