The rivalry between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams may not be the oldest in the NFL, but it has been one of the most intense over the past decade. The two teams are naturally linked as division opponents, but since Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan took over as head coaches of their respective teams, the rivalry has gone from a casual Sunday affair to must-watch TV.
Shanahan and McVay’s relationship dates back to 2014 when they both worked together in Washington. However, it is their matchups as head coaches that have shaped this rivalry in recent years. The 49ers, under Shanahan, lead the regular-season series with a 10-6 record. Unfortunately, the Rams have the only playoff victory between the two.
The NFC Championship loss stung the 49ers, but it is the identity of the Rams’ quarterback that made it even more painful.
In the 2021 offseason, both the 49ers and Rams competed for Matthew Stafford. While San Francisco was the first to hear that Stafford might be available, the Rams ultimately won the bidding war. Los Angeles sent multiple first-round picks and Jared Goff to Detroit, a trade the 49ers could not match.
Left without Stafford, the 49ers turned back to Jimmy Garoppolo and traded up to draft Trey Lance. Fast forward to the Super Bowl, and the Rams are celebrating a Lombardi Trophy. For the 49ers, watching their division rival accomplish what they could not—led by the quarterback they failed to acquire—was a bitter pill to swallow.
Stafford Done Haunting the 49ers?
As the 2024 season ended, there was speculation about Matthew Stafford’s future. Would the 36-year-old retire, or would he return for another season?
Following a playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Stafford spoke about his future. He glanced at his watch, acknowledging that the game had just ended, and said it would “take some time to think about it.”
“As far as my future goes, it’s 30 minutes after the last game, so I’ll take some time to think about it, but I feel like I was playing some pretty good ball,” Stafford told reporters postgame.
As Stafford considered retirement, excitement began to build for the 49ers. If Stafford retired, it would open the door for San Francisco to dominate the NFC West for the next few years. No longer would they need to face Stafford twice a season or compete with the Rams for the division title.
On paper, the 49ers’ path to the playoffs would be considerably clearer with Stafford gone.
Stafford Returning in 2025
However, Stafford has other plans.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Stafford intends to return in 2025.
“My understanding is that Matthew Stafford plans to play next season,” Rapoport said. “This is essentially what he communicated to the Rams. He wanted to take some time off and basically told them, ‘I feel good, I don’t see why I wouldn’t play.’”
This news is a blow for the 49ers. Just when it seemed like they might finally be free of Stafford’s presence, he’s coming back.
While Stafford may not be the quarterback he once was, he remains a formidable threat. He finished the regular season with 3,762 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and eight interceptions over 16 games. However, Stafford was exceptional in the postseason. In a wild-card win over the Minnesota Vikings, he threw for 209 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. He followed that up with a 324-yard, two-touchdown performance in the Rams’ loss to the Eagles, once again throwing no interceptions.
His play shows that he still has plenty of fuel left in the tank—a troubling thought for the San Francisco 49ers.
