- The 2012 49ers did not win the Super Bowl that year, but they were a dynamic team featuring a breakout star in Colin Kaepernick, a popular coach in Jim Harbaugh, and an offense and defense stacked with All-Pro players.
- Eight years later, see where the key members of the 2012 Niners are today.
- Read more of Business Insider's Super Bowl 2020 coverage here.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories .
Until this season, the San Francisco 49ers had not made the Super Bowl since 2012.
The San Francisco 49ers are back in the Super Bowl for the first time since 2012.
While that 2012 team did not win the whole thing, it was still a dynamic team that featured a cast of players and coaches who have made an impact on the NFL today.
The 2012 Niners featured a breakout star in Colin Kaepernick, a few all-time great offensive skill players, a dominant defense with a variety of names, and coaching staff still heavily involved in the game today.
Check out where the key members of the 2012 49ers are today.
Colin Kaepernick took over the starting quarterback job in November and flourished, showing off his huge arm and play-making on the ground.
Tom Gannam/AP Images
The 49ers went 5-2 with Kaepernick as a starter. He continued his strong play in the playoffs, accounting for 699 total yards and 5 touchdowns in two wins leading to the Super Bowl.
Kaepernick is not in the league today. He famously kneeled during the national anthem to protest social injustice and has not played since 2016.
Todd Kirkland/AP
Kaepernick is still active in his community work today and held a workout for teams in November 2019 to try to get back in the NFL.
Alex Smith was in his eighth season as 49ers quarterback. He suffered a concussion midway through the season and lost his job to Kaepernick. He was traded to the Chiefs after the season.
Tony Avelar/AP Images
Smith spent five seasons with the Chiefs, then was traded to the Washington Redskins in 2018. He suffered a devastating leg injury in 2018 from which hes still recovering. Its unclear if he will play football again.
Michael Ainsworth/AP Images
Frank Gore was the teams starting running back. He had an All-Pro season, with 1,214 rushing yards and 8 rushing touchdowns.
Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Images
Gore is still in the league today. He rushed for 599 yards and 2 touchdowns with the Buffalo Bills in 2019 and moved into third all-time in rushing yards.
Lynne Sladky/AP Images
Michael Crabtree led the team in receiving with 1,105 yards and 9 touchdowns.
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Crabtree has since bounced around the league, playing for the Raiders, Ravens, and the Cardinals in 2019.
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Mario Manningham, fresh off a Super Bowl win with the Giants the year before, was also on the roster, racking up 42 catches for 449 yards that year. He did not play in the Super Bowl because of injury.
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Manningham played just one more season, then retired as a Giant in 2014.
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After playing, he took part in football camps. It's unclear what he does today. He was arrested in December 2019 after failing to appear in court over a driving citation.
Source: Cleveland 19 News
Veteran tight end Vernon Davis produced 548 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns.
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2019 was Davis second season with the Redskins, but he only appeared in four games.
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Legendary wide receiver Randy Moss was on the 49ers, but he was in the late stages of his career and had just 28 catches, 434 yards, and 2 touchdowns.
Charlie Neibergall/AP Images
Moss is now an analyst with ESPN. He is a Hall of Famer and fourth all-time in receiving yards.
Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Images
Delanie Walker was a backup tight end. He had a then-career-high 344 receiving yards in 2012.
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Walker joined the Titans the following year and has been productive, producing four seasons of 800-plus yards. He is still with the Titans today.
Mark Humphrey/AP
Speedster Ted Ginn was a return specialist for the Niners.
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After stints with the Cardinals and Panthers, Ginn just finished his third season with the Saints in 2019.
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The 49ers defense featured several stars, with six All-Pro members. Aldon Smith was one of the faces of that defense, racking up 19.5 sacks in 2012.
Tom Gannam/AP Images
Despite a promising start to his career, Smith ran into a series of legal issues during his career.
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He was suspended in 2015 for violating the league's substance-abuse and personal conduct policies. The Raiders released him in 2018 after he was named a suspect in a domestic violence incident.
According to Jay Glazer , Smith is now sober and trying to work his way back into the league. He has not played since 2015.
Linebacker Patrick Willis also made the All-Pro and Pro Bowl that year and was something on an anchor to the Niners defense.
Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images
Willis retired in 2014 because of ongoing foot problems, to the surprise of many. He said in 2019 he was "doing a little bit of real estate, a little bit of technology and really just enjoying my time."
Jason Davis/Getty Images
Source: 247 Sports
Linebacker NaVorro Bowman also made both the Pro Bowl and All-Pro roster, posting a team-leading 148 tackles, 2 sacks, and an interception during the season.
Charlie Neibergall/AP Images
After playing with the Raiders in 2017, Bowman returned to the 49ers in 2019 and retired.
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Safety Dashon Goldson led the team with three interceptions.
Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Images
Goldson would go on to play with the Bucs, Redskins, and Falcons, retiring after 2016. He is now into real estate.
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
Source: LA Times
Safety Donte Whitner also made the Pro Bowl that year.
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Whitner retired in 2016. He is now an analyst for NBC Sports Bay Area.
via NBC Sports Bay Area/YouTube
Defensive tackle Justin Smith also earned a Pro Bowl selection.
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Smith retired in 2015. He was nominated for the Hall of Fame in 2019.
Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images
Right tackle Joe Staley was in his sixth season with the 49ers and earned a Pro Bowl selection.
Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images
Staley is still with the Niners today.
Tony Avelar/AP Images
Mike Iupati earned a Pro Bowl and All-Pro selection at left guard that season.
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Iupati has hopped around the NFC West, playing for the Cardinals from 2015-2018 and then the Seahawks in 2019.
Douglas Stringer/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images
Jim Harbaugh was the 49ers head coach.
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Harbaugh coached the 49ers until 2014, going 44-19-1 over four seasons. He is currently the head coach of Michigan.
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As defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio designed the 49ers dominant defense.
Jeff Chiu/AP Images
Fangio went on to serve as defensive coordinator for the Bears and is now the head coach of the Broncos.
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Greg Roman was the 49ers offensive coordinator.
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Roman is now the Ravens offensive coordinator and was credited with helping design a system that led to Lamar Jacksons breakout season.
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Jim Tomsula was the defensive line coach.
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Tomsula took over as Niners head coach in 2015 following Harbaughs exit. He went 5-11 and was fired after one season. He was a defensive line coach with the Washington Redskins in 2019 and was hired to the Cowboys coaching staff in 2020.
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Now, check out who could be the MVP of Super Bowl 2020....
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The 14 players with the best odds to be named MVP of Super Bowl LIV and our pick to win the award >
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