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 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
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 [ ]
Week
Date
Opponent
Result
Record
Venue
Attendance
Recap
1
September 30
Cleveland Browns
W 24–10
1–0
Kezar Stadium
48,263
Recap
2
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 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
Game summaries [ ]
Week One: Cleveland Browns at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
1
2
3 4 Total
Browns
7
0
3 0 10
49ers 7
3
7 7 24
at Kezar Stadium , San Francisco
Game information
First quarter CLE – Dub Jones 79 yard pass from Otto Graham , Lou Groza kick (CLE 7–0)
SF – Billy Wilson 25 yard pass from Frankie Albert , Gordie Soltau kick (TIE 7–7) 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 Two: San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles – Game summary
1
2
3 4 Total
49ers
7
0
0 7 14
Eagles 7
0
7 7 21
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 Top rushers Top receivers Top tacklers
Week Three: San Francisco 49ers at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
1
2
3 4 Total
49ers 7
0
21 0 28
Steelers
0
10
0 14 24
at Forbes Field , Pittsburgh
Game information
First quarter SF – Jim Cason 65 yard interception return, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 7–0) 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 SF – Gordie Soltau 6 Rec, 120 Yds
PIT – Top tacklers
Week Four: San Francisco 49ers at Chicago Bears – Game summary
1
2
3 4 Total
49ers
0
0
0 7 7
Bears 6
0
7 0 13
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 SF – Gordie Soltau 41 yard pass from Y. A. Tittle , Gordie Soltau kick (CHI 13–7)
Top passers Top rushers Top receivers SF – Gordie Soltau 8 Rec, 109 Yds, 1 TD
CHI – Top tacklers
Week Five: Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
1
2
3 4 Total
Rams
3
7
7 0 17
49ers 10
28
0 6 44
at Kezar Stadium , San Francisco
Game information
First quarter SF – Gordie Soltau 23 yard field goal (SF 3–0)
LA – Bob Waterfield 26 yard field goal (TIE 3–3)
SF – Joe Arenas 2 yard run, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 10–3) Second quarter SF – Gordie Soltau 10 yard pass from Frankie Albert , Gordie Soltau kick (SF 17–3)
LA – Elroy Hirsch 79 yard pass from Norm Van Brocklin , Bob Waterfield kick (SF 17–10)
SF – Johnny Strzykalski 1 yard run, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 24–10)
SF – Leo Nomellini 20 yard blocked punt return, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 31–10)
SF – Gordie Soltau 13 yard pass from Y. A. Tittle , Gordie Soltau kick (SF 38–10) 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 LA – Elroy Hirsch 7 Rec, 163 Yds, 1 TD
SF – Gordie Soltau 6 Rec, 132 Yds, 3 TDs Top tacklers
Week 6: at Los Angeles Rams [ ]
Week Six: San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams – Game summary
1
2
3 4 Total
49ers
0
7
6 3 16
Rams 10
3
0 10 23
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 Top rushers SF – Joe Perry 12 Car, 115 Yds, 1 TD
LA – Top receivers SF –
LA – Elroy Hirsch 4 Rec, 103 Yds, 1 TD Top tacklers
Week Seven: New York Yanks at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
1
2
3 4 Total
Yanks
0
14
0 0 14
49ers 7
0
3 9 19
at Kezar Stadium , San Francisco
Game information
First quarter SF – Gordie Soltau 5 yard pass from Frankie Albert , Gordie Soltau kick (SF 7–0) 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 Eight: Chicago Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
1
2
3 4 Total
Cardinals 7
17
3 0 27
49ers
7
0
7 7 21
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 Top rushers Top receivers CHC –
SF – Gordie Soltau 8 Rec, 110 Yds Top tacklers
Week 9: at New York Yanks [ ]
Week Nine: San Francisco 49ers at New York Yanks – Game summary
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
Game information
First quarter Second quarter SF – Gordie Soltau 21 yard field goal (SF 10–0) Third quarter No scoring
Fourth quarter
Top passers Top rushers Top receivers Top tacklers
Week Ten: San Francisco 49ers at Detroit Lions – Game summary
1
2
3 4 Total
49ers 6
0
7 7 20
Lions
0
3
7 0 10
at Briggs Stadium , Detroit
Game information
First quarter Second quarter DET – Doak Walker 23 yard field goal (SF 6–3) Third quarter SF – Bill Jessup 23 yard pass from Y. A. Tittle , Gordie Soltau kick (SF 13–3)
DET – Dorne Dibble 30 yard pass from Bobby Layne , Doak Walker kick (SF 13–10) 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 Eleven: Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
1
2
3 4 Total
Packers
3
10
6 0 19
49ers 3
7
7 14 31
at Kezar Stadium , San Francisco
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 – 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 Twelve: Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
1
2
3 4 Total
Lions
3
7
7 0 17
49ers 0
14
0 7 21
at Kezar Stadium , San Francisco
Game information
First quarter Second quarter DET – Pat Harder 1 yard run, Doak Walker kick (DET 10–0)
SF – Billy Wilson 31 yard pass from Joe Perry , Gordie Soltau kick (DET 10–7)
SF – Gordie Soltau 27 yard pass from Y. A. Tittle , Gordie Soltau kick (SF 14–10) Third quarter DET – Leon Hart 28 yard pass from Bobby Layne , Doak Walker kick (DET 17–14) 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 [ ]
^ San Francisco 49ers 2008 Media Guide , The Herald Printing Company, New Washington, Ohio, p. 367^ a b c d e f g h i j k l San Francisco 49ers 2008 Media Guide . San Francisco 49ers. p. 269.
San Francisco 49ers
Founded in 1946
Based and headquartered in Santa Clara, California Franchise Stadiums Culture Lore Rivalries Key figures Division championships (20) Conference championships (7) League championships (5) Retired numbers Current league affiliations Former league affiliation
Bold indicates Super Bowl victoryItalics indicates Super Bowl appearance