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The San Francisco 49ers have the distinction
of being the first major league professional sports franchise
on the West Coast. The 49ers entered professional football
in 1946 and matured, nationally and locally, when the club
was granted a National League franchise in 1950.
The
team earned its name from the surge of goldminers to the San
Francisco area during 1849, thus the nickname the San Francisco
49ers. It is the only name the team has been affiliated with
and San Francisco is the only city in which it has resided.
The
49ers won five Super Bowls, four in the 1980s, and are considered
The Team of the Eighties. They won XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV,
and XXIX.
The
team was led in its turnaround from late 1970s doormat by
new owner Eddie DeBartolo and head coach Bill Walsh. The former
coach of Stanford University made excellent draft picks, picked
up key free agents or players released by other teams and
is known as the creator of the 'West Coast offense'. During
their first Super Bowl run the team was known for its short
passing game and the play making ability of young quarterback
Joe Montana. Later they became dominant in all aspects of
the game. Some other famous 49ers include Steve Young, Ronnie
Lott, Dwight Clark, Jerry Rice, Roger Craig, Fred Dean, Eric
Wright, Dwight Hicks, Deion Sanders, and Ricky Watters. There
are many others as the team has had a policy of releasing
star players a year too early rather than a year too late.
That has led to some of their stars finishing up their careers
with other teams.
During the 2004-2005 season, rumors that the Yorks might sell
the team began spreading. Larry Ellison and former quarterback
Steve Young have been the names most commonly rumored as potential
buyers. The 49ers would finish that season with a record of
2-14, their second consecutive losing season in the 2000s,
and the worst record in the NFL for the season, which secured
them the first crack at the first round pick in the spring
NFL draft, and also resulted in the firing of head coach Erickson
and GM Terry Donahue. Two possible choices for the number
one pick are top college quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Alex
Smith.
The
49ers have announced they have hired Mike Nolan of the Baltimore
Ravens as their head coach to lead the team into the 2005
season
Founded: 1946, as part of the All-America
Football Conference; joined the NFL in 1950 as part of the
league merger.
Home stadium: Monster Park (1971 - present)
(formerly named Candlestick Park (1959-1995), 3Com Park (1995-2002),
San Francisco Stadium at Candlestick Point (2002-2004)); Kezar
Stadium (1946 - 1970).
Ownership: Denise DeBartolo York, John York,
The DeBartolo Corporation
General Manager: Vacant, formerly Terry Donahue
(2001-2005)
Head coach: Mike Nolan (2005-)
Uniform colors: Cardinal Red and 49ers Gold,
Black trim. Home uniforms: Gold pants and red jerseys. Road
uniforms: Gold pants and white jerseys. San Francisco 49ers'
Current Uniforms
Helmet design: Metallic Gold helmet with
intertwined "SF" in white on red oval with gold
and black trim. Black-red-black helmet striping. Red facemask.
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Arizona
Cardinals 
