The San Francisco 49ers have been also-rans for the past four seasons, finishing with double-digit losses in each. They were 4-12 in 2018 and wound up with the second pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, which turned into Nick Bosa. The Niners won 13 games in the regular season, an improvement of nine over last year. Others have won 10 more from one year to the next but none have won the Super Bowl. San Francisco has put itself in position for one of the most astounding turnarounds in league history in the Super Bowl era.
1975 Colts: From 2-12 to 10-4
The 1974 Colts saw a pair of coaches, Howard Schnellenberger (0-3) and Joe Thomas (2-9). They flipped to Ted Marchibroda the next season and saw improvement. The Colts started 1-4 before finishing the season on a nine-game winning streak. The season ended with a 28-10 loss to the Steelers in a Divisional round game.
1976 Patriots: From 3-11 to 11-3
The Patriots suffered through many lean seasons. One was 1975 when they went 3-11 under former Oklahoma coach Chuck Fairbanks. The next year, they flipped their mark and went 11-3. The season ended with a 24-21 Divisional round loss to the Raiders.
1988 Bengals: From 4-11 to 12-4
The late Sam Wyche and the Bengals were on quite a Yo-Yo. They went 10-4 in 1986, 4-11 in 1987 and then 12-4 in 1988. Boomer Esiason threw for more than 3,500 yards in ’88.
1999 Colts: From 3-13 to 13-3
The Colts appear again. They struggled in 1997 and ’98 going 3-13 in both years. In 1999, things turned. Peyton Manning found his groove and threw for more than 4,000 yards.
2004 Chargers: From 4-12 to 12-4
Marty Schottenheimer saw his team flips its mark from 2003 to ’04. The second season saw Drew Brees start 15 games. The Chargers’ run ended with a bitter playoff loss to the Jets.
2004 Steelers: From 6-10 to 15-1
The Steelers and Bill Cowher orchestrated a massive turnaround, going plus-nine from 2003 to ’04. Rookie QB Ben Roethlisberger starred and the season was bright with the loss coming in Week 2 to the Ravens, 30-13. The season ended with a 41-27 defeat to the Patriots in the Conference championship.
2008 Dolphins: From 1-15 to 11-5
Cam Cameron’s time in Miami was miserable with the team barely avoiding a winless campaign. The next season Tony Sparano ran the show and they finished with six straight victories to go 11-5. A Wild-Card loss to the Ravens ended the magic.
2012 Colts: From 2-14 to 11-5
Chuck Pagano replaced Jim Caldwell and things turned in Indy. That is what happens when you go from Curtis Painter to Andrew Luck.
2013 Chiefs: From 2-14 to 11-5
Romeo Crennel had a disaster of a season and it led to a change to Andy Reid, who one could say has had a degree or 10 of success in Kansas City.
2016 Cowboys: From 4-12 to 13-3
The Jason Garrett time in Dallas saw ups and downs and downs and ups. One of the highs was going from an awful 4-12 in 2015 to a 13-3 season that ended with that Divisional round loss to Green Bay.
2017 Jaguars: From 3-13 to 10-6
Call it a fluke or whatever now. but the Jaguars somehow became Super Bowl contenders for a minute in 2017. It feels as if the prior year and seasons since are for more reflective of this franchise’s play.
2019 49ers: From 4-12 to 13-3
A stunning turnaround saw the Niners struggle to the second overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. They grabbed Ohio State’s Joey Bosa and Kyle Shanahan made the offense fall into place under Jimmy Garoppolo and the defense turned ferocious. One game away from a Super Bowl championship.
2001 Patriots: From 5-11 to 11-5
Bill Belichick suffered double-digit losses in 2000, his first season with the Patriots. That wasn’t going to last long as one of best coaches in NFL history kicked his team into high gear the following season when they won the Super Bowl.
1981 Niners: From 6-10 to 13-3
Bill Walsh and the 1980 Niners did not find much good as they lost double-digit games. The Genius was able to instill his lessons into the team the following season and they went to win the Super Bowl.
1999 Rams: From 4-12 to 13-3
The Rams and Dick Vermeil struggled big time in 1998. Tony Banks was 4-10 in his starts. A backup named Kurt Warner completed 4-of-11 passes in his one appearance. The next season, Warner started every game, throwing for 4,300 yards and 41 TDs. The team went on to win the Super Bowl over the Tennessee Titans.
