The 2009 San Francisco 49ers showed significant progress under head coach Mike Singletary, finishing with an 8-8 record and their first non-losing season since 2002. The year was highlighted by a dominant defense that ranked 4th in the league in points allowed and featured standout Pro Bowl performances from Patrick Willis, Justin Smith, and rookie Dashon Goldson. Offensively, the team saw the emergence of tight end Vernon Davis, who tied the NFL record for most touchdowns by a tight end in a single season with 13.