| 2014 San Francisco 49ers season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Jed York |
| General manager | Trent Baalke |
| Head coach | Jim Harbaugh |
| Home field | Levi's Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 8–8 |
| Division place | 3rd NFC West |
| Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers | SS Antoine Bethea G Mike Iupati T Joe Staley |
| Uniform | |
 | |
The 2014 season was the San Francisco 49ers' 65th in the National Football League (NFL), the 69th overall, and the fourth and final under the head coach/general manager tandem of Jim Harbaugh and Trent Baalke. It also marked the 49ers' inaugural season playing their home games at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
The 49ers were favorites to make another Super Bowl run at the beginning of the season. However, despite a 7–4 start, the 49ers suffered a late-season collapse, losing four of their final five games, and failing to improve on their 12–4 record from 2013. With their loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 15, the 49ers were mathematically eliminated from the postseason for the first time since the 2010 season. After the season ended, it was announced that Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers mutually agreed to end his contract with the team, which Harbaugh later disputed.[1][2]
Despite missing significant starters on the defensive side of the ball due to injuries for most of the season (including Pro-Bowlers NaVorro Bowman and Patrick Willis), the 49ers still finished with the NFL's fifth ranked defense in terms of total yards. They also led the league in interceptions with 23, led by cornerback Perrish Cox, who had five. The 49ers defense also finished fourth in the league in total takeaways with 29. The offense, on the other hand, struggled mightily. The 49ers finished 30th in passing yards per game, 25th in the league averaging just 19.1 points per game, while Colin Kaepernick was sacked 52 times during the season, a team record. From Weeks 7–15, the 49ers averaged just 13.8 points per game, last in the league. During that same stretch, they hit the twenty-point mark just once. They were also outscored by 81 points in the second half of games, and scored just one offensive touchdown in the fourth quarter all year. As a result, offensive coordinator Greg Roman was fired after the season ended.
- ^ Brady, James (February 13, 2015). "Harbaugh says he didn't leave 49ers by choice, told he was fired after Seahawks loss". SB Nation.
- ^ Wagoner, Nick (February 13, 2015). "Jim Harbaugh: Split not mutual". ESPN.com.