Stars Aligned: 6 Coincidences Making the 49ers a Team of Destiny

It's been 29 years since the San Francisco 49ers last won a championship, fittingly in Super Bowl XXIX when Steve Young famously got the monkey off his back throwing a record six touchdowns. The 49ers cemented themselves as NFL royalty After going 5-0 in their first five Super Bowls. The quest for a sixth championship has proven to be elusive. The 49ers have dropped their next two in heartbreakers against the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs.

On Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers look to exact revenge on the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes for taking the Super Bowl LIV title away from them late in the 4th quarter.

San Francisco has knocked on the door of a championship for so long but came up just short each time. Jim Harbaugh brought the 49ers to the NFC Championship in three of his four years, experiencing three gut wrenching losses. The Kyle Williams fumbles against Eli Manning's Giants, a legendary comeback cut short on the goal line against the Ravens and John Harbaugh, the Richard Sherman "Sorry-ass receiver" Michael Crabtree tipped interception in Seattle.

San Francisco has been through hell and back since winning their last Super Bowl. Steve Young's career tragically cut short in Arizona in 1999. An era of incompetence featuring Dennis Erickson, Mike Nolan, and Mike Singletary. Then Jed York fired Harbaugh, half the team retired or left, and the 49ers were thrown right back into the dark ages. The 49ers were in a state of perpetual embarrassment paying Jim Harbaugh, Jim Tomsula, and Chip Kelly all as Kyle Shanahan was hired as the 4th coach in four years.

Then Shanahan brought the 49ers back to prominent dominance taking San Francisco to four of the last five NFC Championships and a two Super Bowls, but has experienced similar heart break to the Harbaugh teams. The blown 10 point lead in the Super Bowl at the hands of Patrick Mahomes and the missed Nick Bosa holding call on 3rd and 15, the Matt Stafford gift wrapped game sealing interception dropped by Jaquisky Tartt at Sofi Stadium, the season being stolen from the 49ers on the first drive in Philadelphia with Brock Purdy's elbow exploding.

This year, the 49ers are different. This year, the 49ers are better than they've ever been, healthier than they've ever been, and luckier than they've ever been. They've snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in both of their playoff games this year, showing a resilience they've never had before. The improbable, impossible rise for Brock Purdy from Mr. Irrelevant to MVP candidate has 49ers fans finally feeling that the stars are aligning. This is the year. It has to be.

When teams have a magical run, often times fans find coincidences that hopefully proves fate is on their side. In the 49ers quest for six, here are six coincidences that are hinting that the 49ers are a team of destiny. 

1. The 49ers beat two NFC North teams in the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions to get to Super Bowl LVIII. The last time they did that was in 1988, where the 49ers beat the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears on route to winning Super Bowl XXIII vs the Cincinnati Bengals. 

2. Speaking of past NFC playoff trends, every one of the 49ers five Super Bowl championships were paved by beating a team wearing blue in the NFC Championship. Joe Montana connected with Dwight Clark on “The Catch” to ignite their dynasty against the Dallas Cowboys in 1981, they beat the Chicago Bears in 1984 and 1988, they beat the Rams in 1989, and Steve Young finally broke through the dynastic Cowboys in 1994. The 49ers are fresh off a 17 point comeback over the Detroit Lions tying the 2012 49ers for the largest comeback victory in NFC Championship history. 

3. The 49ers are franchise that likes to keep things in the family. After being forced to relinquish control of the 49ers after failing to report a riverboat gambling license, legendary owner Eddie DeBartolo sold the team to his sister Denise Debortolo York. Now, nephew Jed York runs the team.

When the 49ers last won in Super Bowl XXIX, Mike Shanahan was on the coaching staff as the offensive coordinator to head coach George Seifert and Ed McCaffrey was on the roster at wide receiver. Fast forward to today, both sons have elevated their role on the 49ers. Kyle Shanahan is the head coach and Christian McCaffrey is an MVP candidate at running back. Kyle will lead his coaching staff through another Super Bowl and Christian is in line to produce a much loftier stat line than his father’s one catch for 5 yards. 

4. This one is my favorite. Legendary broadcaster Jim Nantz has called six Super Bowls in his illustrious career including other landmark events like the Final Four and the Masters. In every single Super Bowl called by Nantz, the team wearing white has won the game.

The list includes: 2006 Colts over Bears, 2009 Saints over Colts, 2012 Ravens over 49ers, 2015 Broncos over Panthers, 2018 Patriots over Rams, and 2020 Buccaneers over Chiefs.

The uniform matchup for Super Bowl LVIII? The Chiefs wearing red, the 49ers wearing white, and Jim Nantz calling play by play in the booth. 

5. The 49ers lost to the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV (54). From the day of that game, February 2nd, 2020 to the game on Sunday, February 11th, 2024, it will be exactly 4 years and 9 days. 4 and 9 for the 49ers. These numbers are getting crazy. 

6. For the most absurd and potentially annoying one of them all. 

The Super Bowl has become the biggest even on the American calendar that parades massive media coverage and celebrities. Taylor Swift is currently the most famous celebrity on Earth, and yeah everyone is fatigued by the coverage of her dating Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Swift has been on record that her favorite number is her lucky number: 13. 

“I was born on the 13th, I turned 13 on Friday the 13th, my first album went Gold in the US in 13 weeks, every time I’ve won an award at an award show, I’ve been seated in row M which is the 13th letter or like the 13th seat or the 13th row or the 13th section. It’s really a good number.” 

Taylor Swift will reportedly be in attendance for Super Bowl LVIII, marking her 13th Chiefs game since dating Kelce, and 100-13=87. Kelce wears 87.

This is Super Bowl LVIII (58). 5+8=13. 

The Super Bowl will be on February 11th. 2/11. 2+11=13. 

The game features the 49ers. 4+9=13. 

The 49ers starting quarterback is Brock Purdy. He wears number 13.

A lot of weird coincidences that seem to help out the 49ers. If I’m reading the signs, San Francisco looks like the team of destiny taking down the best quarterback since Brady.

It's been a grueling road to capture championship number six. Sometimes a franchise is just due, especially if they've knocked on the door the amount of times the 49ers have. Their last championship window was shut far quicker than anyone could have expected. Now after going through similar struggles so close to winning the Lombardi, the 49ers feel like they can ride the good vibes of destiny against the new villains of the NFL.

Bang Bang Niner Gang.

***BONUS COINCIDENCE

Brandon Aiyuk told reporters a ladybug landed on him before the NFC Championship, signaling good luck for the game. He benefitted directly making a game changing play on a ball that bounced of a Lion's face mask into his hands to move the chains to the goal line. The game was played on January 28th.

Do you know what else is on January 28th? National Gift of the Ladybug Day, a day honoring all children with critical illnesses and is an opportunity to raise an awareness of child illness.

49ers feel like there's some magic...