The name "49ers" comes from the prospectors who arrived in Northern California in the 1849 gold rush. The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the AAFC and joined the NFL in 1949 when the leagues merged. The 49ers won five championships between 1981 and 1994, led by Joe Montanna, Jerry Rice, Steve Young and coach Bill Walsh. Recently, they have struggled. After contending in Super Bowl XLVII under the leadership of coach Jim Harbaugh, but losing the big game, they have been plummeting since. Heading into the 2016 season, they have hired Chip Kelly to take over coaching duties and with them holding the #7 draft pick, thing might start looking up. Time will tell.