San Francisco 49ers Playoff History

Last Modified Dec 10, 2024 15:36 GMT
San Francisco 49ers Playoff History
San Francisco 49ers at a San Francisco 49ers v Seattle Seahawks game

The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in the San Francisco Bay Area that competes in the NF) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) West division. The 49ers play its home games at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, located 38 miles (61 km) southeast of San Francisco. The team is named after the prospectors of the California gold rush. From 1981 to 1994, the 49ers won five Super Bowl titles.

Coaches Bill Walsh and George Seifert, together with Hall of Famers Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Ronnie Lott, Steve Young, Charles Haley, and Fred Dean, oversaw four Super Bowls in the 1980s. They are among the most successful teams in NFL history, having won their division 22 times between 1970 and 2023. The 49ers have participated in the most NFC Championship games (19), hosting 11 of them, which is also an NFC record, and have been in the league playoffs 30 times (29 in the NFL and one in the AAFC). They are the only team in NFL history with 38 playoff wins.

San Francisco 49ers Playoff Appearances Year-by-Year

The San Francisco 49ers have a playoff record of 39 wins and 25 losses out of a total of 64 games, as of December 2024. The 49ers played in 28 divisional rounds, winning 20, and 19 conference championships, winning eight. They appeared in eight Super Bowls in 1981, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1994, 2012, 2019, and 2023. They lost in 2012 to the Baltimore Ravens 31-34 and in 2019 and 2023 to the Kansas City Chiefs 20-31 and 22-25, respectively.

The San Francisco 49ers playoff appearances year-by-year are as follows:

YearRoundOpponentScoreResult
2023DivisionGreen Bay Packers24-21Win
2023ConfChampDetroit Lions34-31Win
2023SuperBowlKansas City Chiefs22-25Loss
2022WildCardSeattle Seahawks41-23Win
2022DivisionDallas Cowboys19-12Win
2022ConfChampPhiladelphia Eagles7-31Loss
2021WildCardDallas Cowboys23-17Win
2021DivisionGreen Bay Packers13-10Win
2021ConfChampLos Angeles Rams17-20Loss
2019DivisionMinnesota Vikings27-10Win
2019ConfChampGreen Bay Packers37-20Win
2019SuperBowlKansas City Chiefs20-31Loss
2013WildCardGreen Bay Packers23-20Win
2013DivisionCarolina Panthers23-10Win
2013ConfChampSeattle Seahawks17-23Loss
2012DivisionGreen Bay Packers45-31Win
2012ConfChampAtlanta Falcons28-24Win
2012SuperBowlBaltimore Ravens31-34Loss
2011DivisionNew Orleans Saints36-32Win
2011ConfChampNew York Giants17-20Loss
2002WildCardNew York Giants39-38Win
2002DivisionTampa Bay Buccaneers6-31Loss
2001WildCardGreen Bay Packers15-25Loss
1998WildCardGreen Bay Packers30-27Win
1998DivisionAtlanta Falcons18-20Loss
1997DivisionMinnesota Vikings38-22Win
1997ConfChampGreen Bay Packers10-23Loss
1996WildCardPhiladelphia Eagles14-0Win
1996DivisionGreen Bay Packers14-35Loss
1995DivisionGreen Bay Packers17-27Loss
1994DivisionChicago Bears44-15Win
1994ConfChampDallas Cowboys38-28Win
1994SuperBowlSan Diego Chargers49-26Win
1993DivisionNew York Giants44-3Win
1993ConfChampDallas Cowboys21-38Loss
1992DivisionWashington Redskins20-13Win
1992ConfChampDallas Cowboys20-30Loss
1990DivisionWashington Redskins28-10Win
1990ConfChampNew York Giants13-15Loss
1989DivisionMinnesota Vikings41-13Win
1989ConfChampLos Angeles Rams30-3Win
1989SuperBowlDenver Broncos55-10Win
1988DivisionMinnesota Vikings34-9Win
1988ConfChampChicago Bears28-3Win
1988SuperBowlCincinnati Bengals20-16Win
1987DivisionMinnesota Vikings24-36Loss
1986DivisionNew York Giants3-49Loss
1985WildCardNew York Giants3-17Loss
1984DivisionNew York Giants21-10Win
1984ConfChampChicago Bears23-0Win
1984SuperBowlMiami Dolphins38-16Win
1983DivisionDetroit Lions24-23Win
1983ConfChampWashington Redskins21-24Loss
1981DivisionNew York Giants38-24Win
1981ConfChampDallas Cowboys28-27Win
1981SuperBowlCincinnati Bengals26-21Win
1972DivisionDallas Cowboys28-30Loss
1971DivisionWashington Redskins24-20Win
1971ConfChampDallas Cowboys3-14Loss
1970DivisionMinnesota Vikings17-14Win
1970ConfChampDallas Cowboys10-17Loss
1957DivisionDetroit Lions27-31Loss
1949DivisionNew York Yankees17-7Win
1949ChampionshipCleveland Browns7-21Loss

San Francisco 49ers Playoff Win-Loss Record

RoundGamesWinsLosses
All-Time Playoffs643925
Wild Card Round862
Divisional Round28208
Conference Championship19811
Super Bowl853
Championship (pre-1966)101

San Francisco 49ers Conference Championships Record

The San Francisco 49ers conference championship record is as follows:

YearOpponentScoreResult
2023Detroit Lions34-31Win
2022Philadelphia Eagles7-31Loss
2021Los Angeles Rams17-20Loss
2019Green Bay Packers37-20Win
2013Seattle Seahawks17-23Loss
2012Atlanta Falcons28-24Win
2011New York Giants17-20Loss
1997Green Bay Packers10-23Loss
1994Dallas Cowboys38-28Win
1993Dallas Cowboys21-38Loss
1992Dallas Cowboys20-30Loss
1990New York Giants13-15Loss
1989Los Angeles Rams30-3Win
1988Chicago Bears28-3Win
1987Minnesota Vikings24-36Loss
1986New York Giants3-49Loss
1984Chicago Bears23-0Win
1983Washington Redskins21-24Loss
1981Dallas Cowboys28-27Win

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How many playoff games has Joe Montana played?

Montana appeared in 21 playoff games with the San Francisco 49ers. One of the most charismatic quarterbacks to have ever played the game was Joe Montana. He spent 14 seasons with the San Francisco 49ers and won four Super Bowls during that period (1979-1992). One of his most celebrated playoff games with the 49ers was the 1981 NFC Championship game against the Dallas Cowboys, where he made a game-winning touchdown pass.

How many times have the San Francisco 49ers made the playoffs with Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, and Steve Young?

Joe Montana (quarterback), Jerry Rice (wide receiver) and Steve Young (quarterback) are the most influential San Francisco 49ers players of all time. The three players were crucial to the great postseason run of the 49ers during the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s. They have won two Super Bowls, nine Division titles (NFC West), and three Conference Championships between 1987 and 1999 for the San Francisco 49ers. Young retired in 1999. Jerry Rice leads the record for the most number of touchdowns by a wide receiver (197) and is regarded as one of the best to have ever played the game.

Here is a look at the NFL postseason games where these players have featured for the San Francisco 49ers:

WeekDate OpponentPoints Scored Points AllowedStadium
1998 Playoffs- Wild Card Round Jan 3, 1999Green Bay Packers3027Candlestick Park, San Francisco
1998 Playoffs- Divisional RoundJan 9, 1999Atlanta Falcons1820Georgia Dome, Atlanta
1997 Playoffs- Divisional RoundJan 3, 1998Minnesota Vikings3822Candlestick Park, San Francisco
1997 Playoffs- Conference ChampionshipJan 11, 1998Green Bay Packers1023Candlestick Park, San Francisco
1996 Playoffs- Wild Card RoundDec 29, 1996Philadelphia Eagles140Candlestick Park, San Francisco
1996 Playoffs- Divisional RoundJan 4, 1997Green Bay Packers1435Lambeau Field, Wisconsin
1995 Playoffs- Divisional RoundJan 6, 1996Green Bay Packers1727Candlestick Park, San Francisco
1994 Playoffs- Divisional RoundJan 7, 1995Chicago Bears4415Candlestick Park, San Francisco
1994 Playoffs- Conference ChampionshipJan 15, 1995Dallas Cowboys3828Candlestick Park, San Francisco
1994 Playoffs- NFL Super BowlJan 29, 1995San Diego Chargers4926Joe Robie Stadium, Florida
1993 Playoffs- Divisional RoundJan 15, 1994New York Giants443Candlestick Park, San Francisco
1993 Playoffs- Conference ChampionshipJan 23, 1994Dallas Cowboys2138Texas Stadium, Texas
1992 Playoffs- Divisional RoundJan 9, 1993Washington Redskins2013Candlestick Park, San Francisco
1992 Playoffs- Conference ChampionshipJan 17, 1993Dallas Cowboys2030Candlestick Park, San Francisco
1990 Playoffs- Divisional RoundJan 12, 1991Washington Redskins2810Candlestick Park, San Francisco
1990 Playoffs- Conference ChampionshipJan 20, 1991New York Giants1315Candlestick Park, San Francisco
1989 Playoffs- Divisional RoundJan 6, 1990Minnesota Vikings4113Candlestick Park, San Francisco
1989 Playoffs- Conference ChampionshipJan 14, 1990Los Angeles Rams303Candlestick Park, San Francisco
1989 Playoffs- NFL Super BowlJan 28, 1990Denver Broncos5510Louisiana Superdome, Louisiana
1988 Playoffs- Divisional RoundJan 1, 1989Minnesota Vikings349Candlestick Park, San Francisco
1988 Playoffs- Conference ChampionshipJan 8, 1989Chicago Bears283Soldier Field, Illinois
1988 Playoffs- NFL Super BowlJan 22, 1989Cincinnati Bengals2016Joe Robbie Stadium, Florida
1987 Playoffs- Divisional RoundJan 9, 1988Minnesota Vikings2436Candlestick Park, San Francisco

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San Francisco 49ers Playoff Stats

Total Playoff Games Played: 64

Overall Playoff Record (Wins-Losses): 39-25

Total Super Bowls Won: 5 (8 Appearances)

All-time Passing Leader: Joe Montana 2,929/4,600, 35,124 yds, 244 TD

All-time Rushing Leader: Frank Gore 2,442 att, 11,073 yds, 64 TD

All-time Receiving Leader: Jerry Rice 1,281 rec, 19,247 yds, 176 TD

All-time Scoring Leader: Jerry Rice 1,130 points

All-time AV Leader: Jerry Rice 216 AV

Coach with most Wins: George Seifert 98-30-0

San Francisco 49ers Super Bowl Stats

Total Super Bowl Appearances: 8 (1981, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1994, 2012, 2019, 2023)

Super Bowl Winning Seasons: 1981, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1994

Most Scoring Super Bowl Win: 55-10 win against the Denver Broncos in the 1990 Super Bowl

Lowest Scoring Super Bowl Loss: 20-31 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2020 Super Bowl

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FAQs on San Francisco 49ers

A. The San Francisco 49ers have been to eight Super Bowls, winning five of them in 1981, 1984, 1988, 1989, and 1994.

A. Jerry Rice, widely considered amongst the best wide receivers the game has seen has the most receiving yards for the San Francisco 49ers with 19,247.

A. Till the end of the 2023-24 NFL season, the San Francisco 49ers have won 39 playoff games.

A. Denise DeBartolo York is the owner of the San Francisco 49ers. 

A. Joe Montana, the most successful quarterback in the San Francisco 49ers' history and has the most passing yards with 35,124 yards.

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