San Francisco 49ers
Before the beginning of the 2007 season, former coach Bill Walsh died of complications from leukemia. In the offseason, cornerback Nate Clements was signed as a free agent from the Buffalo Bills. Clement’s contract was worth $80 million for 8 years, the largest contract given to a defensive player in NFL history at the time.
The San Francisco 49ers started 2-0, winning their first two games against the Arizona Cardinals and the St. Louis Rams. This marked the first time the 49ers started 2-0 since 1998. They went on to lose eight straight games going into the middle of the season before defeating Arizona. They finished the season with a 5-11 record.
In the offseason, the 49ers signed QB Shaun Hill to a 3 year deal, which raised many questions about the future of Alex Smith with the team. Smith’s 1st 3 seasons have not been successful and was outshined by Hill who completed 54 of 79 passes for 501 yards with five touchdowns and one interception. His passer rating was 101.3. It remains to be seen who will win the starting job for the 2008 season.
