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San Francisco 49ers-Los Angeles Rams: Rivalry, history, and Shanahan vs. McVay

ayrton ostly, usa today
·4-min read

Sunday's schedule of games in Week 3 of the 2024 NFL season features a divisional matchup between the San Francisco 49ers (1-1) and Los Angeles Rams (0-2). Sunday marks the first of two regular season games between the NFC West foes.

Both teams are coming off road losses in Week 2. San Francisco continued its losing streak in Minnesota with a 23-17 loss to the Vikings. Los Angeles lost its NFC West opener 41-10 to the Arizona Cardinals.

They're also dealing with injuries. San Francisco will be without reigning Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey and wide receiver Deebo Samuel. Tight end George Kittle is doubtful as well. Los Angeles will be without top wide receivers Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp as well as starting offensive linemen Steve Avila, Jonah Jackson, and Joe Noteboom.

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But injuries and recent losses don't matter in one of the older rivalries in the NFL. Here's what to know about the 49ers-Rams history:

San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams all-time record

San Francisco entered professional football in the All-American Football Conference (AAFC) in 1946 before merging with the NFL in 1950. Los Angeles originally joined the NFL in 1936 as the Cleveland Rams before moving to Los Angeles in 1946 to make way for the AAFC's Cleveland Browns.

The 49ers and Rams have played each other every season since 1950, and Sunday afternoon marks their 149th matchup. San Francisco leads the rivalry overall 77-68-3.

49ers-Rams ranks seventh all-time for most games played between two teams, behind these rivalries:

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49ers-Rams rivalry biggest moments

Despite playing each other for nearly eight decades, the 49ers and Rams have met just twice in the playoffs. San Francisco won the 1989 NFC championship game 30-3 over the Rams before taking a 55-10 win over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 24.

Los Angeles won the second postseason matchup with a 20-17 win in the 2021 NFC championship game over San Francisco before winning Super Bowl 46 23-20 against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Kyle Shanahan vs. Sean McVay record

San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan and Los Angeles Rams coach McVay are linked because of their time coaching together with the NFL's Washington franchise. The rivalry has taken on another layer of intrigue because of their history.

McVay earned his second job in the NFL working as an offensive assistant in Washington under Shanahan, who was the offensive coordinator, from 2010-13. After Shanahan's father Mike was fired following the 2013 season, McVay took over as offensive coordinator. He then became the youngest head coach in NFL history when the Rams hired him in 2017 at age 30.

Shanahan had offensive coordinator stops in Cleveland (2014) and Atlanta (2015-16) before the 49ers hired him on as head coach for the 2017 season as well.

Shanahan owns a 10-5 record against McVay as head coach. Los Angeles' 21-20 win in Week 18 last season was the Rams' first regular season win over San Francisco since 2018. But McVay won the lone playoff game between these two coaches in the 2021 NFC championship game, and also has the only Super Bowl win between the two.

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Kyle Shanahan coaching tree

McVay is one of five NFL head coaches who worked under Shanahan at one point before taking on their current roles. Robert Saleh (New York Jets), Matt LaFleur (Packers), DeMeco Ryans (Houston Texans), and Mike McDaniel (Miami Dolphins) are the other four.

There's another crop of coaches who are offensive coordinators as well who worked under Shanahan, including Klint Kubiak (New Orleans Saints) and Bobby Slowik (Texans).

Sean McVay coaching tree

McVay's success in Los Angeles - five playoff appearances and a Super Bowl win in seven seasons - has created a coaching tree of his own. Current head coaches who worked under him include Zac Taylor (Cincinnati), Kevin O'Connell (Minnesota), and Raheem Morris (Atlanta). Tennessee Titans coach Brian Callahan worked under Taylor and Carolina Panthers coach Dave Canales worked under former McVay assistant Shane Waldron as well.

Waldron (Chicago Bears), Zac Robinson (Falcons), and Liam Coen (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) are all offensive coordinators in the NFL who worked under McVay before their current roles.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 49ers vs. Rams: What to know about rivalry ahead of Week 3 NFL game