Super Bowl 2024: 10 facts about the San Francisco 49ers

1. The 49ers have a championship pedigree, appearing in seven Super Bowls: 1982, 1985, 1989, 1990, 1995, 2013 and 2020. But the most recent of their five Super Bowl titles came in a 49-26 win over the Chargers in 1995.

2. Their nickname dates back to the year 1849, when thousands flocked to California in search of gold and became known as "49ers." Prospectors were soon en route to the site hoping to strike it rich.

3. Running back Christian McCaffrey and his father, Ed, both played for Stanford and the 49ers. And there's another prominent father-son connection, too. Mike Shanahan, father of 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, coached Ed McCaffrey, during their time together with the Denver Broncos.

4. Best all-time Niner? How otherworldly was receiver Jerry Rice? He caught 67 touchdowns from Joe Montana during their legendary partnership that spanned from 1985-92. Rice followed that by catching a then-record 92 touchdowns from Steve Young, who succeeded an injured Montana as the 49ers' starting quarterback in 1991. Rice won three receiving titles each with Montana and Young as his quarterback.

5. Yes, Brock Purdy was Mr. Irrelevant, the last pick in the 2022 draft. Now Purdy will become one of the youngest quarterbacks to start in a Super Bowl.  Purdy is 24. Only Dan Marino (23 in 1985) and Ben Roethlisberger (23 in 2006) were younger.

6. Last fall, Purdy told "The Today Show" that he lived with a roommate and drove a Toyota Sequoia. According to The Associated Press, Purdy signed a major deal with Toyota to be a national partner and brand ambassador. He is the first active player the company has partnered with since signing a partnership with the NFL in October 2023.

7. There’s only been one quarterback to wear number 13 and start and win a Super Bowl: Kurt Warner for the St. Louis Rams in 2000. Purdy wears No. 13. (By the way, Taylor Swift’s favorite number is 13.)

8. Kansas City is a team that the Kyle Shanahan-led 49ers have struggled against in his seven years at the helm. In three games, the 49ers are winless, and have been outscored by a combined score of 113-70. Kansas City is one of three teams Shanahan has yet to beat with the 49ers, the other two are the Bills and Ravens.

9. In Deion Sanders’ one year with the 49ers, Kyle Shanahan served as a ball boy (his father was then the team's offensive coordinator). Sanders gifted Kyle an autographed jersey.

10. The 49ers' 17-point comeback against the Lions last Sunday matched the largest NFC title game comeback in NFL history. The only other 17-point rally was also pulled off by the 49ers in a 2012 win over the Falcons.

By Kimberly Jones

kimberly.jones@newsday.comkimjonessports

Kimberly Jones covers the Giants for Newsday, a beat she first worked in the early 2000s before joining the YES Network to cover the Yankees. She worked for the NFL Network for more than a decade and has been heard semi-regularly on WFAN.