George Seifert

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Seifert was born and raised in San Francisco. He ushered at 49ers home games at Kezar Stadium while he attended San Francisco Polytechnic High School across the street. He planned to attend California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo but a few days before being scheduled to attend classes in August 1958, he was offered a scholarship at the University of Utah. He played guard and linebacker for the Utes. He served as graduate assistant at his alma mater for a year before being hired as head coach of Westminster College in Salt Lake City at age 25, where he led the Parsons to a 3–3 record. After working as an assistant at the University of Iowa, the University of Oregon, and Stanford University, Seifert was hired as head coach at Cornell University, then fired in November 1976 after going in two seasons. He then returned to Stanford in 1977, where he met Bill Walsh. When Walsh moved to the 49ers in 1979, Seifert joined his coaching staff the following year as the team's defensive backs coach. Seifert was promoted to defensive coordinator in 1983. As a 49er assistant, Seifert defenses finished in the top ten in fewest points allowed in each of his six seasons in that capacity: fourth in 1983, first in 1984, second in 1985, third in 1986 and 1987, and eighth in 1988. His final two defenses, 1987 and 1988, finished first and third in fewest yards allowed, respectively. On Seifert's 49th birthday, the 49ers won Super Bowl XXIII. Four days later, on January 26, 1989, Seifert was promoted to succeed Walsh as 49ers head coach as Walsh moved to the front office; owner Edward J. DeBartolo Jr. wanted a 'name coach' but Walsh's push for Seifert won out, which happened as the Cleveland Browns wanted to interview Seifert for the job. He would soon be characterized as a coach with intense focus and superstition, whether that involved bluntness or not walking across the 49ers helmet spraypainted on the practice turf. Seifert coached his first game as a head coach against the Indianapolis Colts and saw a 30–24 victory that got the ball rolling for a dominant season. Bolstered by an MVP season from Joe Montana to go with a highly ranked defense, the 49ers went 14–2 (losing those two games by a combined total of five points) to clinch the #1 seed in the playoffs. They defeated their opponents in the Divisional Round and NFC championship to reach Super Bowl XXIV. Th

In Their Own Story

On Seifert's 49th birthday, the 49ers won Super Bowl XXIII. Four days later, on January 26, 1989, he was promoted to succeed Walsh as head coach. Owner Edward J. DeBartolo Jr. wanted a 'name coach' but Walsh's push for Seifert won out, which happened as the Cleveland Browns wanted to interview Seifert for the job. He was characterized as a coach with intense focus and superstition, whether that involved bluntness or not walking across the 49ers helmet spraypainted on the practice turf. Seifert coached his first game as a head coach against the Indianapolis Colts and saw a 30-24 victory. The 1990 NFC Championship saw Montana knocked out of the game on a rough hit while trying to preserve a 13-9 lead in which New York did not score a touchdown, but a late Roger Craig fumble got the Giants another chance and they drove down the field to kick a game-winning field goal. The 1992 team engaged in history with the 'No Punt Game' against the Buffalo Bills in a 34-31 loss. The 1994 team dominated their competition in the playoffs, with the closest game being a 38-28 victory over Dallas in the NFC Championship. The 49-26 victory over the San Diego Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX was historic as Young threw for six touchdown passes.

Reader's Guide

Seifert's 49ers lost multiple postseason games during his tenure. The 1990 team lost the NFC Championship to the New York Giants. The 1992 team lost the NFC Championship to the Dallas Cowboys. The 1993 team lost the NFC Championship to the Dallas Cowboys. The 1995 team lost the Divisional Round to the Green Bay Packers. The 1996 team lost the Divisional Round to the Green Bay Packers.

Did You Know?

• Seifert owned the second-greatest winning percentage in NFL history by a head coach at the time of his resignation as the 49ers head coach, second to Guy Chamberlin.
• Seifert's 98 regular-season wins stood as the most in 49ers history for decades, until Kyle Shanahan broke the record during the 2024 season.