Although it is not the NFL’s most storied rivalry, the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams have had one of the finest in the past ten years. As division rivals, two teams are inextricably linked. But the rivalry has changed from being a Sunday pastime to a must-watch television show once Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan joined their respective teams.
Both McVay and Shanahan have a past that dates back to 2014, when they were both coaches in Washington. However, their dual roles as head coaches will live on in NFL history. Under Shanahan, the 49ers had a 10-6 record and dominate the regular season. Regretfully, of the two teams, the Rams have the only postseason triumph.
The 49ers were wounded by the NFC Championship loss, but the Los Angeles signal-caller’s actions only made the situation worse.
The 49ers and Rams both entered the Matthew Stafford sweepstakes during the 2021 offseason. The Rams eventually prevailed in the bidding war, even though San Francisco was the first to find out about his availability. The 49ers were unable to match Los Angeles’ price of sending Jared Goff and many first-round picks to Detroit.
San Francisco moved up to choose Trey Lance after they were left without a starter, Jimmy Garoppolo. Meanwhile, the Rams are raising the Lombardi Trophy in the Super Bowl. The 49ers lost at SoFi Stadium as their opponent used the quarterback they had failed to recruit to do what they have now failed to do twice.
