2017 San Francisco 49ers season

The 2017 San Francisco 49ers season was the franchise's 68th season in the National Football League and their 72nd overall. It was also the first season under the head coach/general manager tandem of Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch. After a 0–9 start, they won 6 of their last 7 games and finished the season 6–10, improving from their last two season records. Despite this, the 49ers were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 12.

The 49ers season largely turned around after they acquired quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo from the New England Patriots on October 30, 2017. At this point, the 49ers had a record of 0–8, dead last in the NFC. Garoppolo made his first start during week 13 against the Chicago Bears and would lead them to a 15–14 win. Garoppolo would win the final five games of the season for the 49ers, bringing the regular-season record to 6–10, the most wins by the team since the 2014 season. During the 5-game win streak, the 49ers would win 3 straight games over teams that eventually made the playoffs (Weeks 15–17 against the Titans, Jaguars, and Rams). From weeks 1–12, the 49ers scored just 187 points (17 points per game), which was in the bottom half of the league. During the 5-game win streak, the 49ers offense scored 144 points (28.8 points per game). The highlight of the year was during week 16, the 49ers scored 44 points against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who had the NFL's top scoring defense allowing just 14.9 points per game. The 49ers finished the season by being the only team in the NFL to go undefeated in the month of December. The 49ers also became the first team in NFL history to start a season 0–9 and finish with more than three wins.

Coaching changes
Owner Jed York announced that he would hire a new general manager and the new head coach due to a bad season. On January 29, 2017, the 49ers hired John Lynch as their general manager. On February 6, 2017, the 49ers hired Atlanta Falcons' offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan as the new coach of the San Francisco 49ers.

Free agency
The 49ers entered free agency with the following:

Draft
Notes
 * undefined The 49ers acquired an additional sixth-round selection as part of a trade that sent their 2016 seventh-round selection and Vernon Davis to the Denver Broncos.
 * undefined The 49ers acquired an additional seventh-round selection as part of a trade that sent Andy Lee to the Cleveland Browns.
 * undefined The 49ers traded their sixth-round selection (Nos. 186 overall) to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for their sixth-round selection (Nos. 198 overall) and C Jeremy Zuttah.
 * undefined The 49ers acquired an additional fifth-round selection as part of a trade that sent their Derek Carrier to the Washington Redskins in 2015, but sent a seventh-round selection back due to Carrier's performance.
 * undefined The 49ers traded their first-round selection (Nos. 2 overall) to the Chicago Bears in exchange for their third- and fourth-round selection (Nos. 67 and 111 overall) and 2018 third-round selections.
 * undefined The 49ers traded their second- and fourth-round selection (Nos. 34 and 111 overall) to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for their first-round selection (Nos. 31 overall).
 * undefined The 49ers traded their third-round selection (Nos. 67 overall) to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for their seventh-round selection (Nos. 229 overall) and 2018 second-round selections.
 * undefined The 49ers traded their fourth- and seventh-round selection (Nos. 109 and 219 overall) to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for their third-round selection (Nos. 104 overall).
 * undefined The 49ers traded their 2018 fourth-round selections to the Denver Broncos in exchange for their fifth-round selections (Nos. 177 overall) and RB Kapri Bibbs.
 * undefined The 49ers traded their fourth- and fifth-round selection (Nos. 143 and 161 overall) to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for their fourth-round selection (Nos. 121 overall).

Schedule
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Week 3: vs. Los Angeles Rams
After losing to the Seahawks on the road, the 49ers went home to take on the Rams. In the first quarter the Rams scored first when Todd Gurley ran for a 3-yard touchdown to make it 7-0. The Niners managed to tie it up when Brian Hoyer ran for a 9-yard touchdown to make it 7-7. The Rams moved back into the lead when Jared Goff found Gurley on a 7-yard pass to make it 14-7. In the second quarter, the Rams increased their lead when Greg Zuerlein kicked a 48-yard field goal to make it 17-7. Though the Niners would come within 4 with 2 field goals of their own kicked by Robbie Gould: from 36 and 48 yards out to make the score 17-10 and then 17-13. Gurley then put the Rams up by double digits at halftime when he ran for a 2-yard touchdown to make it 24-13. In the third quarter Zuerlein kicked a 19-yard field goal to make it 27-13 Rams. The Niners then came within a touchdown when Carlos Hyde ran for one from a yard out. Though the Rams would move up by 2 touchdowns again when Goff found Sammy Watkins on a 1-yard pass to make it 34-20. In the fourth quarter, the Niners came within 8 when Garrett Celek caught a 1-yard pass from Hoyer (with a failed PAT) to make it 34-26. Though again, the Rams moved up by double digits when Goff and Watkins connected again on a 13-yard pass to make it 41-26. Finally, the Niners were able to come within two points with two more touchdowns: Trent Taylor caught a pass from Hoyer 3 yards out to make it 41-33. In conclusion, Hyde ran for another 1-yard touchdown (with a failed 2-point conversion) to make the final score 41-39.

With the loss, the Niners fell to 0-3.

Week 6: at Washington Redskins
With the loss, the 49ers fell to 0-6. With the Giants defeating the Broncos on Sunday Night Football, they became the last winless team in the NFC.

Week 8: at Philadelphia Eagles
With this loss, the 49ers secure their fourth consecutive non-winning season.

Week 10: vs. New York Giants
After starting the season 0–9, which was never recorded in team history, the Niners left the Cleveland Browns the only winless team in the NFL for 2017.

Week 13: at Chicago Bears
This was the first start as a 49er Quarterback for Jimmy Garoppolo.

Week 17: at Los Angeles Rams
With the win, the Niners finished their season 6-10. Jimmy Garoppolo also became the first QB to go 7-0 in his first 7 games started since Ben Roethlisberger in 2004.