| 1996 San Francisco 49ers season | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Owner | Edward J. DeBartolo Jr. |
| General manager | Carmen Policy |
| Head coach | George Seifert |
| Offensive coordinator | Marc Trestman |
| Defensive coordinator | Pete Carroll |
| Home field | 3Com Park |
| Results | |
| Record | 12–4 |
| Division place | 2nd NFC West |
| Playoff finish | Won Wild Card Playoffs (vs. Eagles) 14–0 Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Packers) 14–35 |
| Pro Bowlers | QB Steve Young WR Jerry Rice DT Bryant Young FS Merton Hanks |
The 1996 San Francisco 49ers season was the club's 51st since its inception. In commemoration, the 49ers wore a special 50th anniversary patch. They also wore a new uniform reminiscent of the 1994 throwback uniforms with white pants and shadowed numbers, but with a darker shade of red and an updated logo. The franchise tied for first place in the NFC West with a 12–4 record, but lost the division title to the Carolina Panthers on the division-record tiebreaker (the Panthers had swept the Niners in the season). The 49ers ranked 3rd in the league in points scored and 4th in fewest points allowed.
Although the team was competitive the entire season, nagging and recurring injuries to offensive players and an inconsistent running game contributed to a what was considered a disappointing season. After a 14–0 wild-card playoff victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, the 49ers were defeated by the Green Bay Packers in the divisional playoffs 35–14. This ended up being George Seifert's final season as the 49ers' head coach and also the final San Francisco season for defensive coordinator Pete Carroll, who would become the head coach of the New England Patriots the following season.