 Bethea started all 16 games in 2016 recording 110 combined tackles (96 solo), three passes defensed, one forced fumble, and an interception in 16 games and 16 starts.Pro Football Focus gave Bethea an overall grade of 72.5 and ranked 66th among the 88 qualifying safeties in 2016.On January 1, 2017, the San Francisco 49ers announced the firing of head coach Chip Kelly after the team finished with a 2-14 record.