If you’ve been a San Francisco 49ers fan for the past ten years you know this stage like the Taylor Swift song “All Too Well” (Taylor’s Version).
In the last decade, the 49ers have fallen short in either the Super Bowl or the NFC Championship game. This has relied on fans to remember the good old days when quarterbacks Joe Montana and Steve Young led the 49ers to five Super Bowl titles during the 80’s and 90’s.
Although my 61-year-old dad tells me these were the good old days, I am 25 and only associate the 49ers with heartbreak and despair in the playoffs.
When did the heartbreak first begin for the 49er Faithful?
In 2013 quarterback Colin Kaepernick led the 49ers to their first Super Bowl appearance since 1994 against the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens dominated the game until the infamous lights went out during the second half. When the lights went on and the game resumed, the 49ers played their hearts out and the momentum shifted. It appeared that the 49ers might come back and win this game, however that was not the case. The 49ers fell short with less than two minutes to go and with 4th and goal.
In the years following, the 49ers would, once again, make the playoffs and be considered Super Bowl contenders. And once again they failed at hoisting the Lombardi trophy.
As time went on, the star-studded roster dwindled and the team slowly fell apart. The 49ers moved on from Colin Kaepernick. The team swapped head coaches as if they were going out of style. The team had lost its identity. That was until head coach, Kyle Shanahan, became the team’s head coach in 2017.
The Kyle Shanahan Era Begins
Shanahan completely changed the culture in the locker room and the vibe in San Francisco became electric! Finally, some missing pieces to the puzzle were coming into place.
The 49ers traded for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo that same year and fans were confident that this could be what was missing to help lead their team to the Promise Land.
In 2020, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and the 49ers went back to the Super Bowl this time against the Kansas City Chiefs. The 49ers outplayed the Chiefs for 3 quarters of the game. Nevertheless, the Chiefs became electric during the 4th quarter, leading them to defeat the 49ers. It seemed eerily too familiar for fans.
Garoppolo would struggle to stay healthy during his time in San Francisco ultimately falling to his demise. The team would lean on the last pick of the NFL draft to help solve their endless search for a Lombardi trophy.
Mr. Irrelevant becomes extremely relevant for San Francisco
Quarterback Brock Purdy was named Mr.Irrelevant, being the last pick in the NFL draft. Purdy has raised controversy in the sports media world because of the supporting cast he has around him. Nevertheless, Purdy has continued to win games, but some argue it’s due to having one of the best rosters in the NFL.
Purdy is in his second season starting in the NFL and has a 20-5 record. He has already led his team to two NFC Championship Games. His record in the playoffs is 4-1 which is a better record than some of his respected colleagues.
Last week, Purdy and the 49ers beat the Detroit Lions in the NFC Championship game, advancing them to the Super Bowl for the third time in ten years.
The Niners are considered to be favored to beat the Chiefs in Super Bowl 58.
San Francisco has yet another chance for redemption. This could be the year where the heartbreak and pain ends and 49er fans will have something to be proud of again.
The fans deserve good days, not just the good old days.
