1951 San Francisco 49ers season

1951 San Francisco 49ers season
Head coach Buck Shaw
Home field Kezar Stadium
Results
Record 7–4–1
Division place T-2nd NFL National
Playoff finish did not qualify
Uniform

The 1951 San Francisco 49ers season was the team's second season in the NFL and sixth overall. The team was coming off a 3–9–0 record in 1950.

The 49ers would win their first ever NFL road game on October 14 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, after losing their first 7 in the league. The Niners would be 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 would split time at quarterback, with Albert throwing for 1,116 yards, while Tittle would lead the club with 8 TD's and completing 55.3% of his passes. Joe Perry would once again lead the team in rushing with 677 yards and 3 TD's, and wide receiver Gordie Soltau would lead the club with 59 catches for 826 yards and 7 TD's.

NFL draft

See also: 1951 NFL draft

Round Pick # Player Position College
1 3 Y. A. Tittle Quarterback LSU
2 17 Pete Schabarum Halfback California
3 28 Bill Mixon Halfback Georgia
5 53 Dick Steere Tackle Drake
5 54 Al Carapella Tackle Miami
6 64 Bishop Strickland Halfback USC
7 75 Dick Forbes End St. Ambrose
8 89 Joe Arenas Halfback Omaha
9 100 Bruce Van Alstyne End Stanford
10 112 Nick Feher Guard Georgia
11 126 Bill Jessup End USC
12 137 Jim Monachino Halfback California
13 148 Dick Harvin End Georgia Tech
14 162 Rex Berry Halfback BYU
15 173 Dave Sparks Guard South Carolina
Round Pick # Player Position College
16 184 Bob White Halfback Stanford
17 198 Art Michalik Guard St. Ambrose
18 209 Jim Murphy Tackle Xavier
19 220 John Phillips Halfback Southern Miss
20 234 Al Tate Tackle Illinois
21 245 Hardy Brown Fullback Tulsa
22 256 Dwight Winslow Fullback Boise Junior College
23 270 Wally Brunswald Halfback Gustavus Adolphus
24 281 Tom Kingsford Quarterback Montana
25 292 Mike Peterson End Denver
26 306 Keith Carpenter Tackle San Jose State
27 317 Ray Lung Guard Oregon
28 328 Jack Rohan Halfback Loras College
29 342 S. P. Garnett Tackle Kansas
30 353 Jerry Faske Halfback Iowa

[1]

Regular season

Schedule

# Date Visitor Score Home Record Attendance
1 September 30 Cleveland Browns 24–10 San Francisco 49ers 1–0–0 48,263
2 October 6 San Francisco 49ers 21–14 Philadelphia Eagles 1–1–0 23,827
3 October 14 San Francisco 49ers 28–24 Pittsburgh Steelers 2–1–0 27,124
4 October 21 San Francisco 49ers 13–7 Chicago Bears 2–2–0 42,296
5 October 28 Los Angeles Rams 44–17 San Francisco 49ers 3–2–0 49,538
6 November 4 San Francisco 49ers 23–16 Los Angeles Rams 3–3–0 54,346
7 November 11 New York Yanks 19–14 San Francisco 49ers 4–3–0 25,538
8 November 18 Chicago Cardinals 27–21 San Francisco 49ers 4–4–0 19,658
9 November 25 San Francisco 49ers 10–10 New York Yanks 4–4–1 10,184
10 December 2 San Francisco 49ers 20–10 Detroit Lions 5–4–1 46,467
11 December 9 Green Bay Packers 31–19 San Francisco 49ers 6–4–1 15,121
12 December 16 Detroit Lions 21–17 San Francisco 49ers 7–4–1 27,276

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. Cleveland Browns

Week One: Cleveland Browns at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Browns 7 0 3010
49ers 7 3 7724

at Kezar Stadium, San Francisco

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
  • CLE –
  • SF –
Top rushers
Top receivers
  • CLE – Dub Jones 5 Rec, 143 Yds, 1 TD
  • SF –
Top tacklers
  • CLE –
  • SF –

Week 2: at Philadelphia Eagles

Week Two: San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles – Game summary
1 2 34Total
49ers 7 0 0714
Eagles 7 0 7721

at Shibe Park, Philadelphia

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
  • SF –
  • PHI –
Top rushers
  • SF –
  • PHI –
Top receivers
  • SF –
  • PHI –
Top tacklers
  • SF –
  • PHI –

Week 3: at Pittsburgh Steelers

Week Three: San Francisco 49ers at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
1 2 34Total
49ers 7 0 21028
Steelers 0 10 01424

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh

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
  • SF –
  • PIT –
Top rushers
  • SF –
  • PIT –
Top receivers
Top tacklers
  • SF –
  • PIT –

Week 4: at Chicago Bears

Week Four: San Francisco 49ers at Chicago Bears – Game summary
1 2 34Total
49ers 0 0 077
Bears 6 0 7013

at Wrigley Field, Chicago

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
  • SF –
  • CHI –
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
  • SF –
  • CHI –

Week 5: vs. Los Angeles Rams

Week Five: Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Rams 3 7 7017
49ers 10 28 0644

at Kezar Stadium, San Francisco

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
  • LA –
  • SF –
Top rushers
  • LA –
  • SF –
Top receivers
Top tacklers
  • LA –
  • SF –

Week 6: at Los Angeles Rams

Week Six: San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams – Game summary
1 2 34Total
49ers 0 7 6316
Rams 10 3 01023

at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles

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
  • SF –
  • LA –
Top rushers
  • SF – Joe Perry 12 Car, 115 Yds, 1 TD
  • LA –
Top receivers
Top tacklers
  • SF –
  • LA –

Week 7: vs. New York Yanks

Week Seven: New York Yanks at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Yanks 0 14 0014
49ers 7 0 3919

at Kezar Stadium, San Francisco

Game information

First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
  • SF – Gordie Soltau 19 yard field goal (NYY 14–10)
Fourth quarter
Top passers
  • NYY –
  • SF –
Top rushers
  • NYY –
  • SF –
Top receivers
  • NYY –
  • SF –
Top tacklers
  • NYY –
  • SF –

Week 8: vs. Chicago Cardinals

Week Eight: Chicago Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Cardinals 7 17 3027
49ers 7 0 7721

at Kezar Stadium, San Francisco

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
  • CHC –
  • SF –
Top rushers
  • CHC –
  • SF –
Top receivers
Top tacklers
  • CHC –
  • SF –

Week 9: at New York Yanks

Week Nine: San Francisco 49ers at New York Yanks – Game summary
1 2 34Total
49ers 7 3 0010
Yanks 0 0 01010

at Yankee Stadium, The Bronx, New York City

Game information

First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter

No scoring

Fourth quarter
Top passers
  • SF –
  • NYY –
Top rushers
  • SF –
  • NYY –
Top receivers
  • SF –
  • NYY –
Top tacklers
  • SF –
  • NYY –

Week 10: at Detroit Lions

Week Ten: San Francisco 49ers at Detroit Lions – Game summary
1 2 34Total
49ers 6 0 7720
Lions 0 3 7010

at Briggs Stadium, Detroit

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
  • SF –
  • DET –
Top rushers
Top receivers
  • SF –
  • DET –
Top tacklers
  • SF –
  • DET –

Week 11: vs. Green Bay Packers

Week Eleven: Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Packers 3 10 6019
49ers 3 7 71431

at Kezar Stadium, San Francisco

Game information

First quarter
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
  • DET –
  • SF –
Top rushers
  • DET –
  • SF –
Top receivers
  • DET –
  • SF –
Top tacklers
  • DET –
  • SF –

Week 12: vs. Detroit Lions

Week Twelve: Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Lions 3 7 7017
49ers 0 14 0721

at Kezar Stadium, San Francisco

Game information

First quarter
  • DET – Pat Harder 13 yard field goal (DET 3–0)
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
  • SF – Y. A. Tittle 1 yard run, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 21–17)
Top passers
  • DET –
  • SF –
Top rushers
  • DET –
  • SF –
Top receivers
  • DET –
  • SF –
Top tacklers
  • DET –
  • SF –

Standings

NFL National Conference
W L T PCT CONF PF PA STK
Los Angeles Rams 8 4 0 .667 7–2 392 261 W1
San Francisco 49ers 7 4 1 .636 5–2–1 255 205 W3
Detroit Lions 7 4 1 .636 5–4–1 336 259 L1
Chicago Bears 7 5 0 .583 6–2 286 282 L1
Green Bay Packers 3 9 0 .250 1–8 254 375 L7
New York Yanks 1 9 2 .100 1–7–2 241 382 L2

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
Jim Cason Defensive back
Ray Collins Defensive line
Leo Nomellini Defensive line
Gordie Soltau Wide receiver

References

  1. ↑ San Francisco 49ers 2008 Media Guide, The Herald Printing Company, New Washington, Ohio, p. 367
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 San Francisco 49ers 2008 Media Guide. San Francisco 49ers. p. 269.
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