The 1973 San Francisco 49ers seasonprevious years output of 8-5-1, and looking to make the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. However, the team finished 5-9[1]
Top Players [ ] Quarterbacks John Brodie and Steve Spurrier split the time under center, but neither was particularly effective. Brodie retired at the end of the season. Vic Washington was the leading rusher with 534 yards and eight touchdowns; tight end Ted Kwalick the leading receiver, catching 47 passes for 729 yards and five touchdowns; and kicker Bruce Gossett the top scorer, with 105 points. On defense, cornerback Bruce Taylor intercepted six passes.
Staff / Coaches [ ]
1973 San Francisco 49ers final staff
Front Office
Team Owner(s) - Josephine Morabito & Jane Morabito
General manager / Team President – Louis Spadia
Personnel Scout - Dick Gallagher Head Coaches
Offensive Coaches
Offensive Coordinator - Jim Shofner
Quarterbacks / Wide Receivers – Jim Shofner
Offensive Backs – Doug Scovil
Offensive Line / Blocking – Dick Stanfel
Defensive Coaches
Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Line – Paul Wiggin
Linebackers – Ed Beard
Defensive Backfield / Secondary – Don Heinrich Special Teams Coaches
Special Teams – Ed Beard & Chet Franklin
Roster [ ]
1973 San Francisco 49ers roster
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
46 Danny Abramowicz 81 Ed Beverly 20 Mike Holmes 17 John Isenbarger RB18 Gene Washington 88 Dick Witcher Tight ends
Offensive linemen
79 Cas Banaszek T77 Jean Barrett T65 Randy Beisler G75 Forrest Blue C69 Woody Peoples G76 Len Rohde TDefensive linemen
Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
Reserve lists
None
Practice/Taxi Squad
None
Rookies in italics
NFL Draft [ ] Preseason [ ] Regular Season [ ] Schedule [ ]
Week
Date
Opponent
Result
Record
Att.
Location
1
September 16
@ Miami
L 21-13
0-1
68,275
Orange Bowl
2
September 23
@ Denver
W 36-34
1-1
50,966
Mile High Stadium
3
September 30
Los Angeles
L 40-20
1-2
57,487
Candlestick Park
4
October 7
@ Atlanta
W 13-9
2-2
58,850
Atlanta Stadium
5
October 14
Minnesota
L 17-13
2-3
56,438
Candlestick Park
6
October 21
New Orleans
W 40-0
3-3
52,881
Candlestick Park
7
October 28
Atlanta
L 17-3
3-4
56,825
Candlestick Park
8
November 4
@ Detroit
L 30-20
3-5
49,531
Tiger Stadium
9
November 11
@ Washington
L 33-9
3-6
54,381
RFK Stadium
10
November 18
@ Los Angeles
L 31-13
3-7
78,358
LA Coliseum
11
November 26
Green Bay
W 20-6
4-7
49,244
Candlestick Park
12
December 2
Philadelphia
W 38-28
5-7
51,155
Candlestick Park
13
December 9
@ New Orleans
L 16-10
5-8
62,490
Tulane Stadium
14
December 15
Pittsburgh
L 37-14
5-9
52,752
Candlestick Park
Game Summaries [ ] Week 1: at Miami Dolphins [ ]
Week 1: San Francisco 49ers at Miami Dolphins;– Game summary
1
2
3
4
Total
49ers
3
7
3
0
13
Dolphins
3
3
0
15
21
at Miami Orange Bowl , Miami, Florida
Game information
First quarter
SF – Bruce Gossett 47 yard field goal, 49ers 3-0.
MIA – Garo Yepremian 31 yard field goal, Tied 3-3. Second quarter
MIA – Garo Yepremian 53 yard field goal, Dolphins 6-3.
SF – Vic Washington 3 yard rush, (Bruce Gossett kick), 49ers 10-6. Third quarter
SF – Bruce Gossett 30 yard field goal, 49ers 13-6. Fourth quarter
MIA – Paul Warfield 10 yard pass from Bob Griese , (Garo Yepremian kick), Tied 13-13.
MIA – Garo Yepremian 53 yard field goal, Dolphins 16-13.
MIA – Safety, Curtis Johnson tackled Tom Wittum in end zone, Dolphins 18-13.
MIA – Garo Yepremian 22 yard field goal, Dolphins 21-13. Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
SF – Vic Washington - 8 receptions, 57 yards
MIA – Paul Warfield - 4 receptions, 39 yards, TD
Week 2: at Denver Broncos [ ]
Week 2: San Francisco 49ers at Denver Broncos;– Game summary
1
2
3
4
Total
49ers
0
20
10
6
36
Broncos
10
3
7
14
34
at Mile High Stadium , Denver, Colorado
Game information
First quarter
DEN – Jerry Simmons 18 yard pass from Charley Johnson , (Jim Turner kick), Broncos 7-0.
DEN – Jim Turner 34 yard field goal, Broncos 10-0. Second quarter
DEN – Jim Turner 28 yard field goal, Broncos 13-0.
SF – Bruce Gossett 22 yard field goal, Broncos 13-3.
SF – Jimmy Thomas 5 yard rush, (Bruce Gossett kick), Broncos 13-10.
SF – John Brodie 3 yard rush, (Bruce Gossett kick), 49ers 17-13.
SF – Bruce Gossett 39 yard field goal, 49ers 20-13. Third quarter
SF – Bruce Gossett 14 yard field goal, 49ers 23-13.
SF – Vic Washington 3 yard rush, (Bruce Gossett kick), 49ers 30-13.
DEN – Floyd Little 1 yard rush, (Jim Turner kick), 49ers 30-20. Fourth quarter
SF – Bruce Gossett 14 yard field goal, 49ers 33-20.
DEN – Gene Washington 19 yard pass from Charley Johnson, (Jim Turner kick), 49ers 33-27.
DEN – Floyd Little 1 yard rush, (Jim Turner kick), Broncos 34-33.
SF – Bruce Gossett 14 yard field goal, 49ers 36-34. Top passers
Top rushers
SF – Larry Schreiber - 12 rushes, 46 yards
DEN – Floyd Little – 17 rushes, 62 yards, 2 TDs Top receivers
SF – Ted Kwalick - 2 receptions, 67 yards
DEN – Haven Moses - 4 receptions, 53 yards
Week 3: vs. Los Angeles Rams [ ]
Week 3: Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers;– Game summary
1
2
3
4
Total
Rams
10
17
0
13
40
49ers
7
3
3
7
20
at Candlestick Park , San Francisco, California
Game information
First quarter
LA – David Ray 16 yard field goal, Rams 3-0.
SF – Vic Washington 13 yard rush, (Bruce Gossett kick), 49ers 7-3.
LA – Cullen Bryant 93 yard kickoff return, (David Ray kick), Rams 10-7 Second quarter
SF - Bruce Gossett 35 yard field goal, Tied 10-10.
LA – Lawrence McCutcheon 11 yard rush, (David Ray kick), Rams 17-10.
LA – Harold Jackson 39 yard pass from John Hadl , (David Ray kick), Rams 24-10.
LA – David Ray 19 yard field goal, Rams 27-10. Third quarter
SF – Bruce Gossett 24 yard field goal, Rams 27-13. Fourth quarter
LA – David Ray 27 yard field goal, Rams 30-13.
LA – David Ray 25 yard field goal, Rams 33-13.
LA – Tony Baker 1 yard rush, (David Ray kick), Rams 40-13.
SF – Ted Kwalick 20 yard pass from Steve Spurrier , (Bruce Gossett kick), Rams 40-20. Top passers
LA – John Hadl – 8/11, 118 yards, TD
SF – John Brodie – 11/25, 137 yards, 3 INTs Top rushers
LA – Lawrence McCutcheon - 15 rushes, 77 yards, TD
SF – Larry Schreiber – 8 rushes, 48 yards Top receivers
LA – Harold Jackson - 2 receptions, 45 yards, TD
SF – Gene Washington - 2 receptions, 52 yards
Week 4: at Atlanta Falcons [ ]
Week 4: San Francisco 49ers at Atlanta Falcons;– Game summary
Game information
First quarter No Scoring Second quarter
SF – Bruce Gossett 10 yard field goal, 49ers 3-0.
SF – Vic Washington 7 yard rush, (Bruce Gossett kick), 49ers 10-0.
ATL – Nick Mike-Mayer 42 yard field goal, 49ers 10-3.
ATL – Nick Mike-Mayer 46 yard field goal, 49ers 10-6. Third quarter
SF – Bruce Gossett 36 yard field goal, 49ers 13-6. Fourth quarter
ATL – Nick Mike-Mayer 37 yard field goal, 49ers 13-9. Top passers
SF – John Brodie – 13/24, 168 yards
ATL – Bob Lee – 13/28, 131 yards Top rushers
SF – Larry Schreiber - 12 rushes, 51 yards
ATL – Dave Hampton – 14 rushes, 74 yards Top receivers
SF – Gene Washington - 3 receptions, 67 yards
ATL – Ken Burrow - 5 receptions, 69 yards
Week 5: vs. Minnesota Vikings [ ]
Week 5: Minnesota Vikings at San Francisco 49ers;– Game summary
1
2
3
4
Total
Vikings
7
7
0
3
17
49ers
3
3
7
0
13
at Candlestick Park , San Francisco, California
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
MIN – Chuck Foreman 1 yard rush, (Fred Cox kick), Vikings 14-3.
SF - Bruce Gossett 41 yard field goal, Vikings 14-6. Third quarter
Fourth quarter
MIN – Fred Cox 22 yard field goal, Vikings 17-13. Top passers
Top rushers
MIN – Chuck Foreman - 22 rushes, 71 yards, TD
SF – Ken Willard – 7 rushes, 52 yards Top receivers
MIN – John Gilliam - 7 receptions, 107 yards, TD
SF – Gene Washington - 8 receptions, 118 yards
Week 6: vs. New Orleans Saints [ ]
Week 6: New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49ers;– Game summary
1
2
3
4
Total
Saints
0
0
0
0
0
49ers
0
10
21
9
40
at Candlestick Park , San Francisco, California
Game information
First quarter
No Scoring
Second quarter
Third quarter
SF – Vic Washington 1 yard rush, (Bruce Gossett kick), 49ers 17-0.
SF – Vic Washington 1 yard rush, (Bruce Gossett kick), 49ers 24-0.
SF – Ken Willard 3 yard rush, (Bruce Gossett kick), 49ers 31-0. Fourth quarter
SF – Safety, Bobby Scott tackled by Cedrick Hardman in end zone, 49ers 33-0.
SF – Ted Kwalick 36 yard pass from Joe Reed , (Bruce Gossett kick), 49ers 40-0. Top passers
Top rushers
NO – Howard Stevens - 6 rushes, 32 yards
SF – Ken Willard – 14 rushes, 66 yards, TD Top receivers
NO – Bob Newland - 3 receptions, 9 yards
SF – Danny Abramowicz - 4 receptions, 101 yards, TD
Week 7: vs. Atlanta Falcons [ ]
Week 7: Atlanta Falcons at San Francisco 49ers;– Game summary
1
2
3
4
Total
Falcons
7
7
3
0
17
49ers
0
0
0
3
3
at Candlestick Park , San Francisco, California
Game information
First quarter
ATL – Ken Burrow 51 yard pass from Bob Lee , (Nick Mike-Meyer kick), Falcons 7-0. Second quarter
ATL – Ken Burrow 22 yard pass from Bob Lee, (Nick Mike-Meyer kick), Falcons 14-0. Third quarter
ATL – Nick Mike-Meyer 52 yard field goal, Falcons 17-0. Fourth quarter
Top passers
ATL – Bob Lee – 11/13, 236 yards, 2 TDs, INT
SF – John Brodie – 12/26, 83 yards Top rushers
ATL – Dave Hampton - 25 rushes, 100 yards
SF – Vic Washington – 13 rushes, 59 yards Top receivers
ATL – Ken Burrow - 5 receptions, 164 yards, 2 TDs
SF – Doug Cunningham - 4 receptions, 32 yards
Week 8: at Detroit Lions [ ]
Week 8: San Francisco 49ers at Detroit Lions;– Game summary
1
2
3
4
Total
49ers
0
20
0
0
20
Lions
14
10
3
3
30
at Tiger Stadium , Detroit, Michigan
Game information
First quarter
DET – Larry Walton 19 yard pass from Bill Munson , (Jim O'Brien kick), Lions 7-0.
DET – Larry Walton 49 yard pass from Bill Munson, (Jim O'Brien kick), Lions 14-0. Second quarter
SF – Gene Washington 5 yard pass from John Brodie , (Bruce Gossett kick), Lions 14-7.
DET – Altie Taylor 19 yard rush, (Jim O'Brien kick), Lions 21-7.
SF – Bruce Gossett 24 yard field goal, Lions 21-10.
SF – Bruce Gossett 35 yard field goal, Lions 21-13.
ATL – Jim O'Brien 39 yard field goal, Lions 24-13.
SF – Ted Kwalick 31 yard pass from John Brodie, (Bruce Gossett kick), Lions 24-20. Third quarter
DET – Jim O'Brien 10 yard field goal, Lions 27-20. Fourth quarter
DET – Jim O'Brien 37 yard field goal, Lions 30-20. Top passers
SF – John Brodie – 23/47, 254 yards, 2 TDs, 6 INTs
DET – Bill Munson – 14/27, 234 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs Top rushers
SF – Jimmy Thomas - 7 rushes, 44 yards
DET – Mel Farr – 17 rushes, 71 yards Top receivers
SF – Ted Kwalick - 8 receptions, 133 yards, TD
DET – Larry Walton - 5 receptions, 99 yards, 2 TDs
Week 9: at Washington Redskins [ ]
Week 9: San Francisco 49ers at Washington Redskins;– Game summary
Game information
First quarter
WAS – Larry Brown 18 yard pass from Sonny Jurgensen (Curt Knight kick), Redskins 7-0. Second quarter
SF – Bruce Gossett 9 yard field goal, Redskins 7-3.
SF – Bruce Gossett 27 yard field goal, Redskins 7-6.
WAS – Curt Knight 42 yard field goal, Redskins 10-6.
SF – Bruce Gossett 38 yard field goal, Redskins 10-9. Third quarter
WAS – Charlie Harraway 25 yard pass from Bill Kilmer (Curt Knight kick), Redskins 17-9.
WAS – Curt Knight 32 yard field goal, Redskins 20-9.
WAS – Curt Knight 24 yard field goal, Redskins 23-9. Fourth quarter
WAS – Curt Knight 41 yard field goal, Redskins 26-9.
WAS – Mike Hancock 2 yard pass from Bill Kilmer (Curt Knight kick), Redskins 33-9. Top passers
SF – Joe Reed – 20/36, 233 yards, 2 INTs
WAS – Bill Kilmer – 22/39, 267 yards, 2 TDs Top rushers
SF – Jimmy Thomas - 11 rushes, 47 yards
WAS – Larry Brown – 19 rushes, 72 yards Top receivers
SF – Gene Washington - 5 receptions, 78 yards
WAS – Charlie Taylor - 7 receptions, 72 yards
Week 10: at Los Angeles Rams [ ]
Week 10: San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams;– Game summary
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
LA – Harold Jackson 25 yard pass from John Hadl (David Ray kick), Rams 7-3.
SF – Bruce Gossett 17 yard field goal, Rams 7-6.
LA – David Ray 37 yard field goal, Rams 10-6.
LA – Harold Jackson 25 yard pass from John Hadl (David Ray kick), Rams 17-6. Third quarter
LA – Jim Bertelsen 5 yard rush (David Ray kick), Rams 24-6. Fourth quarter
LA – Harold Jackson 57 yard pass from John Hadl (David Ray kick), Rams 31-6.
SF – Vic Washington 1 yard rush (Bruce Gossett kick), Rams 31-13. Top passers
SF – Joe Reed – 10/29, 128 yards, 2 INTs
LA – John Hadl – 12/22, 216 yards, 3 TDs Top rushers
SF – Jimmy Thomas - 9 rushes, 32 yards
LA – Lawrence McCutcheon – 20 rushes, 79 yards Top receivers
SF – Gene Washington - 2 receptions, 53 yards
LA – Harold Jackson - 4 receptions, 117 yards, 3 TDs
Week 11: vs. Green Bay Packers [ ]
Week 11: Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers;– Game summary
1
2
3
4
Total
Packers
0
3
0
3
6
49ers
0
10
0
10
20
at Candlestick Park , San Francisco, California
Game information
First quarter No Scoring Second quarter
SF – Vic Washington 1 yard rush, (Bruce Gossett kick), 49ers 7-0.
GB – Chester Marcol 35 yard field goal, 49ers 7-3.
SF – Bruce Gossett 25 yard field goal, 49ers 10-3. Third quarter No Scoring Fourth quarter
GB – Chester Marcol 15 yard field goal, 49ers 10-6.
SF – Ted Kwalick 20 yard pass from Steve Spurrier , (Bruce Gossett kick), 49ers 17-6.
SF – Bruce Gossett 22 yard field goal, 49ers 20-6. Top passers
GB – Jerry Tagge – 10/18, 107 yards, 2 INTs
SF – Steve Spurrier – 4/5, 50 yards, TD Top rushers
GB – John Brockington - 23 rushes, 89 yards
SF – Vic Washington – 21 rushes, 94 yards, TD Top receivers
GB – Rich McGeorge - 2 receptions, 41 yards
SF – Ted Kwalick - 2 receptions, 31 yards, TD
Week 12: vs. Philadelphia Eagles [ ]
Week 12: Philadelphia Eagles at San Francisco 49ers;– Game summary
1
2
3
4
Total
Eagles
0
0
7
21
28
49ers
7
21
3
7
38
at Candlestick Park , San Francisco, California
Game information
First quarter
SF – Windlan Hall 61 yard fumble return, (Bruce Gossett kick), 49ers 7-0. Second quarter
SF – Steve Spurrier 1 yard rush, (Bruce Gossett kick), 49ers 14-0.
SF – Doug Cunningham 3 yard rush, (Bruce Gossett kick), 49ers 21-0.
SF – Gene Washington 28 yard pass from Steve Spurrier, (Bruce Gossett kick), 49ers 28-0. 'Third quarter
PHI – Harold Carmichael 14 yard pass from Roman Gabriel , (Tom Dempsey kick), 49ers 28-7.
SF – Bruce Gossett 15 yard field goal, 49ers 31-7. Fourth quarter
PHI – Charle Young 18 yard pass from Roman Gabriel, (Tom Dempsey kick), 49ers 31-14.
PHI – Tom Sullivan 1 yard rush, (Tom Dempsey kick), 49ers 31-21.
SF – Steve Spurrier 1 yard rush, (Bruce Gossett kick), 49ers 38-21.
PHI – Norm Bulaich 1 yard rush, (Tom Dempsey kick), 49ers 38-28. Top passers
Top rushers
PHI – Tom Sullivan - 15 rushes, 79 yards, TD
SF – Ken Willard – 15 rushes, 117 yards Top receivers
Week 13: at New Orleans Saints [ ]
Week 13: San Francisco 49ers at New Orleans Saints;– Game summary
1
2
3
4
Total
49ers
3
0
0
7
10
Saints
7
6
3
0
16
at Tulane Stadium , New Orleans, Louisiana
Game information
First quarter
NO – Jubilee Dunbar 37 yard pass from Archie Manning (Bill McClard kick), Saints 7-0.
SF – Bruce Gossett 34 yard field goal, Saints 7-3. Second quarter
NO – Bill McClard 19 yard field goal, Saints 10-3.
NO – Bill McClard 20 yard field goal, Saints 13-3. Third quarter
NO – Bill McClard 29 yard field goal, Saints 16-3. Fourth quarter
SF – Ted Kwalick 14 yard pass from Joe Reed (Bruce Gossett kick), Saints 16-10. Top passers
SF – Steve Spurrier – 11/22, 99 yards, INT
NO – Bobby Scott – 8/19, 118 yards Top rushers
SF – Vic Washington - 11 rushes, 46 yards
NO – Jess Phillips – 22 rushes, 57 yards Top receivers
SF – Ted Kwalick - 5 receptions, 89 yards, TD
NO – Bob Newland - 5 receptions, 99 yards
Week 14: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers [ ]
Week 14: Pittsburgh Steelers at San Francisco 49ers;– Game summary
1
2
3
4
Total
Steelers
7
7
13
10
37
49ers
0
7
0
7
14
at Candlestick Park , San Francisco, California
Game information
First quarter
PIT – John Rowser 71 yard interception return, (Roy Gerela kick), Steelers 7-0. Second quarter
SF – Windlan Hall fumble recovery in end zone, (Bruce Gossett kick), Tied 7-7.
PIT – Preston Pearson 1 yard rush, (Roy Gerela kick), Steelers 14-7. 'Third quarter
PIT – Roy Gerela 27 yard field goal, Steelers 17-7.
PIT – Roy Gerela 27 yard field goal, Steelers 20-7.
PIT – Frank Lewis 50 yard pass from Terry Bradshaw , (Roy Gerela kick), Steelers 27-7. Fourth quarter
PIT – Roy Gerela 35 yard field goal, Steelers 30-7.
PIT – Steve Davis 1 yard rush, (Roy Gerela kick), Steelers 37-7. SF – Dave Atkins 3 yard rush, (Bruce Gossett kick), Steelers 37-14. Top passers
Top rushers
PIT – Preston Pearson - 15 rushes, 64 yards, TD
SF – Vic Washington – 15 rushes, 65 yards Top receivers
PIT – Frank Lewis - 5 receptions, 84 yards, TD
SF – Ted Kwalick - 4 receptions, 43 yards
Standings [ ] References [ ] External links [ ] 
