(Santa Clara) Kyle Shanahan was a teenager when the intense playoff rivalry between the Dallas Cowboys and the 49ers San Francisco reached its climax with the presentation of three National Conference finals between these two teams in as many years.
Posted on January 11
Now Shanahan will take on a prominent role as head coach of the 49ers, and not as the son of the team’s offensive coordinator, during the reunion scheduled for Sunday in Dallas, as part of a first-round playoff game.
“It couldn’t be cooler, because I feel like it’s the most beautiful part of my childhood,” Shanahan said.
“It was in seventh, eighth, ninth grade, in 1992, 1993, 1994, every year. I thought we were the best team in the league. […] I remember being on the sidelines and seeing how good the Cowboys were. And it was amazing. And the following year, to go to Dallas to determine home-field advantage. And we all know what happened there; that one has never been tight. »
Then, Shanahan launched into an in-depth recap of the following season’s date, which the 49ers won, as if the match took place last week and not a quarter of a century ago.
“As you can see, I still remember those games. They are part of my childhood. It was such cool football because everyone knows those three National Association finals, those three years, were the Super Bowls. »
The history of confrontations 49ers-Cowboys is rich in memorable moments, starting with the back-to-back conference finals of the early 70s, the infamous “Wrestle” in the 1981 season, and the intense rivalry of the 90s, when the Cowboys won both first encounters, on the way to Super Bowl triumphs, and the 49ers, the third.
This will be the eighth time these two teams have met in the playoffs. Only the Cowboys and the Rams, with nine appointments, have crossed swords more often in similar circumstances since the advent of the Super Bowl.
However, it will be their first meeting since 1994, when the 49ers defeated the Cowboys. Also, it will be the first time these two organizations have made the playoffs in the same season since 1998.
“I’m on fire,” said Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.
” Are you serious ? The Dallas-Niners games of the early 90s, some of those conference finals. I can hear (John) Madden and (Pat) Summerall talking about it. My first playoff game Dallas and San Francisco. I’m on fire. That’s exciting. »
