| 1983 San Francisco 49ers season | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Owner | Edward J. DeBartolo Jr. |
| President | Bill Walsh |
| General manager | John McVay |
| Head coach | Bill Walsh |
| Defensive coordinator | George Seifert |
| Home field | Candlestick Park |
| Results | |
| Record | 10–6 |
| Division place | 1st NFC West |
| Playoff finish | Won Divisional Playoffs (vs. Lions) 24–23 Lost NFC Championship (at Redskins) 21–24 |
| Pro Bowlers | QB Joe Montana DE Fred Dean CB Ronnie Lott FS Dwight Hicks |
The 1983 San Francisco 49ers season was the franchise's 34th season in the National Football League and their 38th overall. The team attempted to improve on its 3–6 record from 1982. The 49ers started the season with a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, 22–17. However, the 49ers throttled the Vikings the next week 48–17 and then the Cardinals the following week 42–27. They ended the first half of the season 6–2 before splitting their last eight games to finish the season 10–6 and clinching the NFC West and the #2 seed in the playoffs. In the divisional round of the playoffs, the 49ers came back to beat the Lions 24–23 after Joe Montana found Freddie Solomon in the end zone with 1:23 remaining, and Lions kicker Eddie Murray missed a 41-yard field goal as time expired. However, in the NFC Championship game, the 49ers were not able to outlast the top-seeded Redskins, as after coming back to tie a game in which they trailed 21–0 at the start of the 4th quarter, they lost 24–21 after Washington took the lead on a field goal with 40 seconds left in the game.