Editing San Francisco 49ers (section)

==== Dick Nolan years (1968–1975) ====
For the [[1968 NFL season|1968 season]], the 49ers hired [[Dick Nolan (American football)|Dick Nolan]], who had been [[Tom Landry]]'s defensive coordinator with the [[Dallas Cowboys]], as their head coach.<ref name="w011">{{cite web | last=Wallace | first=William N. | title=Nolan Strikes Pay Dirt With Revitalized 49ers | website=The New York Times | date=1970-12-29 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/12/29/archives/nolan-strikes-pay-dirt-with-revitalized-49ers.html | access-date=2024-08-30}}</ref> Nolan's first two seasons with the 49ers had gone much the same as the previous decade, with the 49ers going 7–6–1 and 4–8–2.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|chapter-url=http://prod.static.49ers.clubs.nfl.com/assets/docs/Team/year-by-year-results.pdf|chapter=49ers Yearly Results and Statistics National Football League (1950–present)|title=2016 Season Media Guide|access-date=August 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525171035/http://prod.static.49ers.clubs.nfl.com/assets/docs/Team/year-by-year-results.pdf|archive-date=May 25, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

The 49ers started out the [[1970 NFL season|1970 season]] 7–1–1, with their only loss a one-point defeat to [[1970 Atlanta Falcons season|Atlanta]]. After losses to [[1970 Detroit Lions season|Detroit]] and [[1970 Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles]], the 49ers won their next two games before the season finale against the [[1970 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]]. Going into the game, the 49ers had a half-game lead on the Rams and needed either a win or a [[1970 New York Giants season|Giants]] victory against the Rams in their finale to give the 49ers their first-ever divisional title.<ref name=":0" />

In the early game, the Giants lost to the Rams 31–3, thus forcing the 49ers to win their game to clinch the division. In wet, rainy conditions in Oakland, the 49ers won against the Raiders, 38–7, giving the 49ers their first divisional title, which made them champions of the NFC West. The 49ers won their divisional playoff game 17–14 against the defending conference champion [[1970 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]], thus setting up a matchup against the [[1970 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] for the NFC Championship. In the final home game for the 49ers at [[Kezar Stadium]], the 49ers kept up with the Cowboys before losing 17–10, which resulted in the Cowboys going to [[Super Bowl V]]. The 49ers sent five players to the [[1970 Pro Bowl|Pro Bowl]] that season, including MVP veteran quarterback [[John Brodie]], wide receiver [[Gene Washington (49ers)|Gene Washington]], and linebacker [[Dave Wilcox]]. Nolan was also named NFL Coach of the Year for 1970. Following the 1970 season, the 49ers moved from Kezar Stadium to [[Candlestick Park]]. Despite being located on the outskirts of the city, Candlestick Park gave the 49ers a much more modern facility with more amenities that was easier for fans to access by highway.<ref>Parkhouse, B. L., ''The Management of Sport: Its Foundation and Application'' ([[Maryland Heights, Missouri|Maryland Heights, MO]]: [[Mosby (imprint)|Mosby]], 1991), p. 166.</ref>{{rp|166}}

The 49ers won their second straight divisional title in 1971 with a 9–5 record. The 49ers again won their divisional playoff game, this time against the [[1971 Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins]], by 24–20. This set up a rematch against the [[1971 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] in the NFC Championship game, this time played in Dallas. Though the defense again held the Cowboys in check, the 49ers offense was ineffective, and the eventual Super Bowl champion Cowboys beat the 49ers again, 14–3. In 1971, eight 49ers made the [[1972 Pro Bowl|Pro Bowl]], including defensive back [[Jimmy Johnson (cornerback)|Jimmy Johnson]] and Gene Washington, both for the second year in a row, as well as defensive end [[Cedric Hardman]], running back [[Vic Washington]], and offensive lineman [[Forrest Blue]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1971/probowl.htm|title=1971 NFL Pro Bowlers {{!}} Pro-Football-Reference.com|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|language=en|access-date=April 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120201154551/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1971/probowl.htm|archive-date=February 1, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

The 49ers won their third consecutive NFC West title in [[1972 NFL season|1972]] with five wins in their last six games, making them the only franchise to win their first three divisional titles after the 1970 [[AFL–NFL merger]]. Their opponents in the divisional playoffs were the [[1972 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]], making it the third consecutive year the teams faced each other in the playoffs. Vic Washington took the opening kickoff 97 yards for a score, and the 49ers took a 21–6 lead in the second quarter. After the 49ers took a 28–13 lead in the fourth quarter, Tom Landry sent quarterback [[Roger Staubach]], who was backing up [[Craig Morton]], into the game. Staubach quickly led the Cowboys on a drive to a field goal, bringing the score to within 28–16, and as the game wound down it appeared that this would be the last points the Cowboys would get. However, Dallas completed the comeback in the last two minutes. Just after the two-minute warning, Staubach took just four plays to drive 55 yards in only 32 seconds, hitting [[Billy Parks]] on a twenty-yard touchdown pass to bring the score to 28–23. Cowboys kicker [[Toni Fritsch]] then executed a successful onside kick that was recovered by [[Mel Renfro]], giving the Cowboys the ball at midfield with 1:20 left on the clock. With the 49ers on the ropes, Staubach scrambled for 21 yards, then completed a 19-yard sideline pass to Billy Parks who went out of bounds at the 10-yard line to stop the clock. Staubach then completed the comeback with a 10-yard touchdown pass to [[Ron Sellers]] with only 52 seconds left, giving the Cowboys a dramatic 30–28 victory; it was the third straight season the Cowboys had defeated the 49ers in the postseason. It would also be their last postseason appearance for [[1981 San Francisco 49ers season|nine years]].

The 49ers run at the top of the NFC West ended in [[1973 NFL season|1973]] with the 49ers falling to a 5–9 record, their worst since 1969. The team lost six of its last eight games, including games to the also-ran [[1973 New Orleans Saints season|New Orleans Saints]] and [[1973 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]. In the final season of his career, longtime 49ers quarterback John Brodie split playing time with two other quarterbacks, most notably longtime backup [[Steve Spurrier]]. The team also suffered from not having a dominant running back, with Vic Washington leading the team with only 534 yards rushing.

In [[1974 NFL season|1974]], the 49ers drafted [[Wilbur Jackson]] from the [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|University of Alabama]] to be the team's primary back. Jackson enjoyed a fine rookie year, leading the 49ers with 705 yards rushing. He and fellow running back [[Larry Schreiber]] combined for over 1,300 yards rushing. With Steve Spurrier injured and missing nearly the entire year, the 49ers did not have a regular quarterback but did put together a respectable 6–8 record. Following the season, longtime tight end [[Ted Kwalick]] left the 49ers to join the [[World Football League]], then the Oakland Raiders upon the WFL's dissolution.<ref name=":0" />

The 49ers dropped to 5–9 in what would be Dick Nolan's final season as coach in [[1975 NFL season|1975]], losing their final four games of the season. Wilbur Jackson was hurt much of the year and [[Delvin Williams]] led the 49ers in rushing with 631 yards rushing. Following the 1975 season the 49ers traded for [[New England Patriots]] quarterback [[Jim Plunkett]], former Heisman Trophy winner from nearby [[Stanford Cardinal football|Stanford University]] (which was also the alma mater of John Brodie). Though Plunkett had shown promise with the Patriots, he had not won there, and it was thought that he needed a change of scenery. [[Monte Clark]] was also brought on as 49ers head coach.<ref name=":0" />

The 49ers featured one of the best running games in the NFL in [[1976 NFL season|1976]]. Delvin Williams emerged as an elite back, gaining over 1,200 yards rushing and made the Pro Bowl. Wilbur Jackson also enjoyed a resurgence, rushing for 792 yards. Once again Gene Washington was the team's leading receiver with 457 yards receiving and six scores. The 49ers started the season 6–1 for their best start since 1970. Most of the wins were against second-tier teams, although the 49ers did shut out the Rams 16–0, in [[1976 Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles]] on ''[[Monday Night Football]]''. In that game the 49ers recorded 10 sacks, including 6 by [[Tommy Hart]]. However, the 49ers lost four games in a row, including two against divisional rivals Los Angeles and [[1976 Atlanta Falcons season|Atlanta]] that proved fatal to their playoff hopes.