A number of 49ers alumni will be squaring off when the Vikings visit the Rams in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs.
San Francisco 49ers fans should take a good deal of interest in the final NFL playoff game of the Wild Card round, a showdown between the NFC West-winning Los Angeles Rams and the surprising Minnesota Vikings, who could have walked away with the NFC North if it wasn't for the also-surging Detroit Lions.
The Niners lost to both the Rams and Vikings this season, and paying attention to a division rival always holds merit.
Especially if San Francisco fans want to take pleasure in laughing at a would-be elimination game for LA, assuming that happens.
Yet there are other reasons why fans would watch the Norsemen square off against Los Angeles, especially when looking at both teams' rosters and the number of familiar faces who once suited up for the 49ers.
Former 49ers appearing in Vikings vs. Rams playoff game
Vikings players
- QB Sam Darnold
- QB Nick Mullens
- WR Trent Sherfield
Darnold turned into one of the league's biggest storylines this season after spending 2023 as a backup to the Niners' own signal-caller, Brock Purdy.
The former New York Jets' top pick from the 2018 NFL Draft has resurrected his career, leading Minnesota's offense while simultaneously resurrecting his otherwise dormant career.
While he won't receive anywhere near the hype, Mullens certainly piques memories from San Francisco fans, too, particularly when recalling that Thursday Night Football game against the Oakland Raiders back in 2018.
Rams players
- QB Jimmy Garoppolo
- CB Ahkello Witherspoon
Mullens got the opportunity to be featured in 2018 because of one injury to Garoppolo, the season-ending ACL tear the then-starter for the 49ers suffered early that season.
Garoppolo's remaining Niners tenure had its ups and downs, which led to Jimmy G's unceremonious departure from San Francisco in 2023, a one-year stint with the Raiders and then a backup role behind Matthew Stafford down in Southern California.
Witherspoon, meanwhile, had his ups and downs in the Bay Area, too, but perhaps only 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey would have anything to say about that.
The Vikings and Rams square off on Monday, Jan. 13 at 8 p.m. ET.