They joined the NFL in the AAFC-NFL merger in 1950; from then through 1969 they did not win a division or conference title, and only finished as high as second once.
Armed with Bill Walsh's innovative West Coast offense, Hall of Fame level quarterback play in Joe Montana and later Steve Young, and a dominant defense, the 49ers would win five Super Bowls in 1981, 1984, 1988, 1989, and 1994, and made the playoffs every year but 1982 and 1991 during their run of dominance.
This drought came to end under rookie head coach Jim Harbaugh when the 49ers won their division with a 13–3 record in 2011.
From 2011 to 2013, they earned three straight berths in the NFC Championship Game, which included a loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII.
They would have another stretch of non-winning seasons from 2014–2018 before a 13–3 turnaround season in 2019 under head coach Kyle Shanahan saw them win the NFC, but lose to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV.