1952 San Francisco 49ers season


The 1952 San Francisco 49ers season was the franchise's 3rd season in the National Football League and their 7th overall. They were coming off a 7–4–1 record in 1951.
The 49ers won their first five games by at least two touchdowns and had visions of playing in their first-ever NFL Championship Game. However, they lost five of their final seven games to finish at 7–5, third place in the six-team National Conference.
Y. A. Tittle emerged as the starting quarterback, as he had a completion rate of 51.0% along with eleven touchdowns and 1,407 yards. Frankie Albert also had some action, completing 55.0% of his passes, along with eight TDs and 964 yards.
Joe Perry rushed for a team-high 725 yards and eight TDs, while rookie Hugh McElhenny had 684 yards on 98 attempts, along with six rushing TDs, while he caught 26 passes for 367 yards and earned another three touchdowns. Gordie Soltau led the club with 55 receptions for 774 yards and seven TDs.

Offseason

NFL Draft

RoundPickPlayerPositionCollege
19Hugh McElhennyHalfbackWashington
222Bob ToneffTackleNotre Dame
327Gene ShannonHalfbackHouston
333Billy TidwellHalfbackTexas A&M
446Marion CampbellTackleGeorgia
557Pat O'DonahueEndWisconsin
670Jim BeasleyCenterTulsa
781Don RobisonHalfbackCalifornia
894Jerry SmithTackleWisconsin
9105Glen ChristianHalfbackIdaho
10118Carl WestFullbackMississippi
11129J. D. KimmelTackleHouston/Army
12142Fred SnyderEndLoyola
13153Rudy YeagerTackleLSU
14166Frank SimonsEndNebraska

RoundPickPlayerPositionCollege
15177Haldo NormanEndGustavus Adolphus
16190Bob MeyersHalfbackStanford
17201Al BaldockEndUSC
18214Bill CareyEndMichigan State
20238Jess YatesEndLSU
21249Gene OffieldEndHardin–Simmons
22262Jim CozadTackleSanta Clara
23273Bill GlazierEndArizona
24286Ralph KreugerTackleCalifornia
25297Henry LaughlinFullbackKansas
26310Dick KaneGuardCincinnati
27321Waldo SchaafTackleOklahoma A&M
28334Joe PalumboGuardVirginia
29345Chuck MosherEndColorado
30358Dick PatrickCenterOregon

Regular season

Schedule

Standings

Pro Bowl

San Francisco's players selected for the Pro Bowl:
PlayerPosition
Hardy BrownLinebacker
Ed HenkeDefensive Line
Bill JohnsonOffensive Line
Hugh McElhennyRunning Back
Leo NomelliniDefensive Line
Joe PerryRunning Back
Gordie SoltauWide Receiver