A brief history of the 49ers and Chiefs in the Super Bowl

As we head into Super Bowl Sunday, it’s a good time to look back at the two teams appearing in this one and compare their Super Bowl history.

As you might’ve guessed, one has been far more successful in the big game than the other. Let’s review.

San Francisco 49ers

Super Bowl wins: 1981, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1994

Appearances: 2012

During the 80s, the 49ers were the dynasty of note. They won four times in the decade and won the NFC West seven times,

Since then, their fortunes have declined, though they were still frisky in the 1990s when they made the Super Bowl and won it once and largely paced the NFC West. Their playoff drought from 2003-2010 was a long and dispiriting one, and a similar decline awaited them from 2013-2018. They were resurgent with Jim Harbaugh and Colin Kaepernick for a short time, making the Super Bowl over our beloved Falcons in 2012, but ultimately losing.

Still, they’re one of the most heralded franchises in league history for a reason, and names like Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, and Steve Young are a big reason why. This version of the 49ers lacks the raw star power of versions past—Jimmy Garoppolo sure is handsome, but he’s not Montana and he’s certainly not Young—but they’re awfully talented and formidable looking.

Unfortunately for the rest of the NFC, this isn’t likely to be their last Super Bowl appearance for a while. I’m still rooting for the...

Kansas City Chiefs

Super Bowl wins: 1969

Appearances: 1966

If the 49ers have been one of the league’s most successful franchises, the Chiefs have fallen well short of that. They only have five fewer playoff appearances than San Francisco and won three AFL championships before the merger, but haven’t been able to turn those postseason appearances into Super Bowls.

For 50 years.

That’s why as fans of a long-suffering franchise, it’s difficult to root against Kansas City, which has one of its most talented teams in a very long time. The Chiefs were involved in the very first Super Bowl and picked up their first and only Super Bowl win a few years later, but largely they’ve been trying and failing to get back since. A win here would mean a lot for that franchise and a lot for Andy Reid, who has been trying and failing a long time himself.

Who do you have winning tonight/