When the San Francisco 49ers finished 2006 at 7-9 and Frank Gore had laid waste to the rest of the NFC West by simply plowing them under, it seemed big things were in store for the storied franchise. After all, having a beast for a running back, and a former #1 NFL Draft Choice under center, things can only get better right? There was a real feeling of hope in the City by the Bay and fans in Monster Park were hoping for a return to the glory days and a shot at another Super Bowl.

Fate has a way of stepping in and yanking the rug out from under you. The season started well, with back to back NFC West wins over the Arizona Cardinals and St. Louis Rams, but took a tumble soon after. After falling to Pittsburgh in week 3, the Seattle Seahawks dealt a decisive blow to the 49ers season by knocking Alex Smith out with a separated shoulder. Though Smith returned later in the season, both Trent Dilfer and Shaun Hill carried the bulk of the load through the remaining games. More importantly, Frank Gore’s running production dropped by almost 600 yards from his breakout year in 2006. It all added up to a 5-11 season for San Francisco, and while hope may spring eternal, it often has to wait another year for redemption.