49ers' franchise record of 10-plus-loss seasons goes back to Joe Montana

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The 49ers broke a franchise record Sunday in their 43-16 loss to the Seahawks, and they wish it never was in the record books. 

In their 10th consecutive loss to their NFC West rivals, the 49ers dropped to 2-10 on the season. That makes four straight seasons of 10-plus losses for San Francisco.

And here comes the ugly record.

When the team's first streak of three consecutive seasons with at least 10 losses began, its starting quarterback was Steve DeBerg. The next year -- 1979 -- the 49ers drafted a former Notre Dame star named Joe Montana in the third round. Even he couldn't stop the streak at first.

Montana only started one game in 1979 and seven more in 1980. In 1981, everything changed, as he started all 16 regular-season games under center and won his first of four Super Bowl trophies for the 49ers. 

Yes, having perhaps the greatest quarterback of all time helps. So does knowing who will be under center, though.

Since the 49ers started their new ugly franchise record in 2015, they have used six different starting quarterbacks -- Colin Kaepernick, Blaine Gabbert, Brian Hoyer, C.J. Beathard, Jimmy Garoppolo and Nick Mullens.

Once Montana and the 49ers took off in 1981, they reached the playoffs in nine out of the next 10 seasons. With a healthy Garoppolo leading the charge in 2019, it's time to turn back the clock and look to go a perfect 10 for 10.

Seems simple, right?

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