After three straight playoff appearances, the San Francisco 49ers find themselves in both an unusual and uncomfortable spot: At home, watching the postseason.
However, two former members of the Niners' coaching staff are set to face off against each other as the AFC Wild Card round pits the Los Angeles Chargers visiting the Houston Texans.
The head coaches for both teams used to be employed by San Francisco.
And both will look to upend the other on Wild Card weekend.
Jim Harbaugh vs. DeMeco Ryans
From 2011 through 2014, Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh coached the 49ers. He led the team to a Super Bowl against his brother John Harbaugh's team, the Baltimore Ravens.
After leaving the NFL in 2015 (Niners fans still haven't forgotten this), Harbaugh switched gears and coached eight seasons for his alma mater, the University of Michigan, finishing his tenure there with a national championship.
The Bolts, meanwhile, made aggressive moves last winter. The team finished with a record of 5-12 and last in the AFC West.
Harbaugh has his new team in the playoffs after just one season at the helm.
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans also experienced a similar path to where he is today. The former defensive coordinator left San Francisco in 2023 and took over for a rebuilding Houston team, much like the Chargers.
The Texans employed Ryans after a 3-13-1 season, also finishing last in their division. In his first year at the helm, Ryans' new team qualified for the postseason.
Now, the two former 49ers coaches play one another in the hopes of extending their season and earning a berth to the Super Bowl.
Another interesting stat is both Harbaugh and Ryans are former players for the teams they coach now. Harbaugh played for the Chargers in 1999 and 2000, while Ryans played for the Texans from 2006 to 2011.
Other familiar 49ers faces in the game
Former Niners linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair is playing for the Texans. He signed with Houston after playing for an AFC South rival, the Tennessee Titans, in 2023.
Al-Shaair played four seasons in San Francisco from 2019 to 2022. During his time with the 49ers, he recorded two sacks, two forced fumbles and a pair of picks.
The six-year veteran played in the playoffs for the 49ers in 2021 and 2022. In six postseason games with San Francisco, Al-Shaair made 25 total tackles.
Although he won't be playing in Saturday's Wild Card matchup after landing on injured reserve, defensive back Jimmie Ward of the Texans is another well-known name among 49ers fans after they used a first-round pick on him way back in 2014 under Harbaugh.
Ward was one of the longest-tenured Niners in recent memory, playing in the Bay Area from his rookie season through 2022 before heading to Houston to join Ryans.
Chargers safety Tony Jefferson also had a brief cup of coffee with the 49ers in 2021, appearing in two games that season.
In addition, and while never a San Francisco player, the brother of 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa plays for the Chargers, defensive end Joey Bosa. This is the ninth season he has been with the Bolts, and his first was when during their last season in San Diego.
The elder Bosa has recorded at least five sacks in every season except for 2022 when he played just five games. The Bosa brothers both played in college at Ohio State University for the Buckeyes.
The winner of the Chargers and Texans game will advance to the divisional round of the playoffs next weekend, while the loser will join San Francisco watching the rest of the postseason from home.
The Texans and Chargers kick off on Saturday, Jan. 11 at 4:30 p.m. ET from NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.