San Francisco 49ers Equivalents for HBO’s Game of Thrones

The San Francisco 49ers have some interesting characters on their roster. And so does HBO’s hit series Game of Thrones. So what if members of the red and gold suddenly found themselves starring in one of the biggest entertainment series on television right now? Let’s take a look.

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The San Francisco 49ers and Game of Thrones. It’s a match made in heaven, right?

OK, so this isn’t a serious article. But it’s a fun one. Who can provide an in-depth comparison between two seemingly unrelated topics?

Well, we can.

No, Levi’s Stadium isn’t going to be attacked by a band of Wildlings. And the infamous banner flying above the stadium last year, protesting a certain CEO’s tenure with the organization, didn’t breathe fire down like Daenerys Targaryen’s dragons.

The last we checked, none of the 49ers players are expert swordsmen.

But what if we could find equivalents between GoT and the 49ers? Well, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to try.

All this started from a simple tweet of mine blending two ideas into one.

Congratulations. You’re getting a glimpse into what often goes into my head too frequently.

Needless to say, I got a lot of responses and ideas. I’ll pirate a good number of them.

So enjoy, 49ers and GoT fans. Let’s try to match some 49ers with our favorite characters in the Seven Kingdoms.

Please Note: I intentionally omit any obscene or crude comparisons for the list. Game of Thrones has plenty of it. So if you feel this is omitted somewhere, feel free to write up your own comparisons elsewhere.

And there may be some spoilers throughout, if you haven’t seen the series.

Next: Jim Harbaugh as Ned Stark

Jim Harbaugh as Ned Stark

Oh, to lose your head at the height of your own power.

Such is the case of former 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh, who was dismissed by the Niners front office in a “mutual” parting of ways following the 2014 season.

Like Ned Stark, who had risen through the ranks to be the Hand of the King, Harbaugh ultimately answered to powers who could destroy him.

And all of this while both Harbaugh and Stark were doing as much as they could to ensure success and righteousness with their respective contexts.

OK, so Harbaugh still has his noggin on top of his body. Stark can’t say the same about his.

I guess this also makes CEO Jed York a bit like Joffrey Baratheon then.

Next: Trent Baalke as Tywin Lannister

Trent Baalke as Tywin Lannister

If CEO Jed York is running the show, general manager Trent Baalke is the guy who makes it all work.

For better or for worse.

Such is the case with Tywin Lannister — the ruthless controller who holds the key to keeping the Lannister’s hold on King’s Landing secure.

If King’s Landing is the equivalent to Levi’s Stadium, one would need a Lannister-type presence running the show. There isn’t doubting any of Lannister’s control and power, just like there shouldn’t be much doubt Baalke holds the same control over the Niners organization.

This does, of course, create enemies. And those enemies, both big and small, will want to see the power toppled at some point.

How long can Baalke maintain control?

Next: NaVorro Bowman as John Snow

NaVorro Bowman as John Snow

The Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch has one major thing in common with 49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman — each has had his career resurrected (thank you, Rob Lowder).

If you haven’t seen Game of Thrones at all yet, and are interested in doing so, you may want to skip ahead to the next slide. This means a spoiler alert.

Snow found himself assassinated by the hands of some of his own men. While Bowman wasn’t exactly struck down by assassins during the Niners 2014 NFC Championship loss, he did suffer a horrendous injury which must have left many 49ers fans with the same feeling when they saw Snow bleeding to death at the end of season five.

But Snow, the unquestioned leader of men along the Night’s Watch, came back to life and was more determined than ever.

And we can say the same thing about Bowman. He’s the 49ers’ top guy, much like Snow is for GoT.

Next: One of the All-ACL Team as Bran Stark

A 49ers ACL-Injured Player as Bran Stark

Pick one of the 49ers’ numerous prospects coming off a collegiate ACL injury, and you have the Niners equivalent for Bran Stark.

Stark suffered a paralyzing back injury in season one, which negated the use of his legs and any ability to walk. These crippling injuries are no joke, so please take any humor here as it is and nothing more — a comparison between the NFL and television entertainment.

San Francisco has a few of these guys. Offensive guard Brandon Thomas is one. Wide receiver DeAndre Smelter and cornerback Will Redmond are others..

Stark, on the other hand, has made his impact felt in subsequent seasons. And we all keep wondering what his role will be as the series progresses. Will he rise to power in spite of his early setback?

We could ask the same of the Niners’ All-ACL team too.

Next: Chip Kelly as Varys

Chip Kelly as Varys

Get your mind out of the gutter if you thought I was going there.

49ers head coach Chip Kelly compares directly to Varys — the Master of Whisperers for the crown. Varys has his sources everywhere and appears to be scheming nonstop, although we’d like to think his efforts as good for the Realm.

Kelly has his schemes too, and these are often viewed as unique, different and hard to read on the surface.

Ousted in their own lands, Kelly with the Philadelphia Eagles and Varys in King’s Landing, each is trying to find vindication in their new ventures and restore order to establishments in utter disarray.

Next: DeForest Buckner and Arik Armstead as The Hound and The Mountain

DeForest Buckner as The Hound & Arik Armstead as The Mountain

The 49ers now have two bookend defensive linemen to intimidate and overpower opponents on the gridiron of battle.

And the Seven Kingdoms can also speak of Sandor Clegane, better known as The Hound, and Ser Gregor Clegane, known as The Mountain.

The Hound is the younger brother to The Mountain, much like Buckner may be like a little brother to Armstead, who preceded him during his rise to the pro level (he was drafted one year earlier). But The Hound — also compared to Buckner, in this case — has more potential. He could be the primary focal point as The Hound was over the course of the series.

This doesn’t make The Mountain, or Armstead, any less feared. Both have their fair share of victims on the battlefield.

And Niners fans are hoping both Buckner and Armstead enjoy the same prowess on Sundays.

Next: Jim Tomsula as Tommen Baratheon

Jim Tomsula as Tommen Baratheon

Former 49ers head coach Jim Tomsula draws a lot of comparisons to King Tommen Baratheon.

Both ascended to their respective thrones in the wake of crisis, athough King Tommen didn’t replace Ned Stark in the series. And yet both were totally unprepared for the job at hand.

Baratheon’s uncertainties and indecision painted a picture eerily similar to what 49ers fans saw with Tomsula.

And how many times did we look at either character’s actions and think, “what are you doing?”

Tomsula’s reign over the 49ers on-field efforts lasted only one season. So far, Baratheon’s has lasted just a bit longer.

But it seems in jeopardy right now.

Next: Phil Dawson as Maester Aemon

Phil Dawson as Maester Aemon

OK, so I have to play a little fun with the age game here. Sorry, Phil Dawson.

Well, as the oldest member of the 49ers (41 years old), Dawson is likely seeing his tenure in the NFL as a kicker coming to an end.

Just like Maester Aemon of the Night’s Watch.

Aemon was well respected by his peers, and not just because of his pedigree. The men who took the black viewed him as an ageless wonder and as someone who bore an incredible amount of wisdom ahead of such a young group.

Maybe Dawson holds the same sort of respect, although we have to hope the Niners’ kicker isn’t suffering from any blindness at this age.

Next: Zane Beadles as Samwell Tarly

Zane Beadles as Samwell Tarly

If there’s one character who might actually resemble a real Game of Thrones actor, it’s new 49ers offensive guard Zane Beadles.

Hair and all.

In the series, Samwell Tarly is the lovable and fallible character who joins the Night’s Watch after failed efforts in his home land.

But put into the right scenario, Tarly is able to rise to the occasion and deliver knockout blows. Heck, he took down a White Walker!

Beadles may not be as lovable, but put into the right system — a zone-blocking scheme, in this case — he may thrive.

And there’s a bit of a resemblance there too.

Next: Quinton Patton as Littlefinger

Quinton Patton as Petyr Baelish

Petyr Baelish, better known as Littlefinger, is a deceptive and intriguing character throughout his screen time on GoT.

You don’t know if he’s good or bad. He’s done a bit of both.

Much like 49ers wide receiver Quinton Patton.

Patton is one of those players you expect to break out at any moment. But just when you think he’s reached the peak of making an impact, he winds up going the other direction.

Sometimes literally:

Fans don’t know what to make of Patton. And GoT fans likely don’t know what to make of Baelish either. Is he worth keeping on your side? Or is he too risky a commodity?

Well, according to Gil Kidron of the Huffington Post, we should be “rooting for Littlefinger to win.”

Maybe we should for Patton as well.

Next: Blaine Gabbert as Tyrion Lannister

Blaine Gabbert as Tyrion Lannister

OK, so size has nothing to do with this comparison. In real life, Tyrion Lannister’s character, Peter Dinklage, is a midget. 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert is 6-foot-4.

And while Lannister, often referred to as “the Imp,” is frequently seen imbibing and visiting brothels, Gabbert is probably more of a stand-up guy.

Still, Gabbert holds the underdog role well. Like Lannister, Gabbert didn’t exactly start off on the right foot. Constantly mocked and ridiculed in his own land — with the Jacksonville Jaguars, in Gabbert’s case — each character had to take to new ventures to secure a better future.

Gabbert is making allies in the locker room. Lannister made allies with Daenerys Targaryen.

And maybe this is the need for both guys moving forward.

Oh, and it helps Gabbert was reported to study four to five times harder than his counterpart, Colin Kaepernick, according to Bleacher Report. Just like the Imp knowing more than his own brother Jaime Lannister.

Speaking of Kap…

Next: Colin Kaepernick as Jaime Lannister

Colin Kaepernick as Jaime Lannister

It’s only fitting we end this slideshow with two of the more divisive characters in their respective entertainment venues.

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick is divisive. And he once stood near the top of the NFL pedestal. In comparison, Jaime Lannister — a high-profile member of the Kingsguard — is also just as controversial in the series.

Lannister, known as the King Slayer for his role in taking down the Mad King, was considered to be one of the best swordsmen in Westeros.

I guess Kaepernick could get credit for taking down former 49ers quarterback Alex Smith’s reign in San Francisco.

But, just when one thought Lannister was reaching his peak, the King Slayer lost his dominant hand and no longer wielded the same sword with the conviction that made him such a force in the first place.

Kaepernick still has both hands but, like Lannister, he’s no longer at the peak of his power. Constantly wondering if he’ll switch sides at any point, one has to wonder what the future holds for either Kaepernick and Lannister moving forward.

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There are many more characters deserving GoT comparisons. And we can take our picks from current, and previous, 49ers roster members and link them to equivalents on the HBO hit series.

But I’ll let you make the additional comparisons. After all, this is for fun. Nothing more.

So let’s see whether or not the Niners can reach the Iron Throne at any point here soon and, if so, which player winds up sitting atop the Seven Kingdoms.

Next: Are the 49ers Gearing Up to Spend Big in 2017 Free Agency?

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and Sports-Reference.com unless otherwise indicated.

Comparisons between 49ers coaches and players are mine alone and not the reflection of FanSided or Niner Noise. For more Game of Thrones content, be sure to check out FanSided’s Game of Thrones page.