The Broncos and 49ers Share a Surprisingly Connected History
From Shanahan to McCaffrey, with Deion Sanders thrown in there.
The San Francisco 49ers have a long and treasured history in their 81 yards of existence and five Super Bowl championships. Among those who are a part of their history are long-time rivals such as the Dallas Cowboys who they’ve met in the playoffs nine times, or the Los Angeles Rams, who’ve long shared a state and division. However, it’s the Denver Broncos who also share a surprisingly deep connection with San Francisco.
This offseason, the 49ers lost starters Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufunga to free agency, both making their way to Denver. They won’t be gone for long, however, as they return to the Bay Area for a joint practice on the 7th of August before their game on the 9th. They won’t be the only returnees, as linemen DJ Jones and Mike McGlinchey also spent their rookie deals in San Francisco, only to part ways with Denver for bigger veteran deals.
The connections don’t end at a few shared players. Kyle Shanahan, son of Denver Broncos legend Mike Shanahan, grew up in Denver during his father’s Super Bowl runs in the late 90s. General manager John Lynch played for the Broncos under Mike Shanahan during his final years in the league from 2004 through 2007, earning a spot on their Ring of Fame.
The elder Shanahan spent three years with the 49ers as the team's offensive coordinator from 1992-1994. He was the coach for Joe Montana’s final season in the Bay before winning Super Bowl XXIX over the San Diego Chargers. It was Shanahan who helped lead Steve Young to his second MVP season and the famous “monkey off my back!” championship victory.
Prior to that season, the team signed CB Deion Sanders in free agency, a move that paid off tremendously with a Defensive Player of the Year award. Today, Sanders resides in nearby Boulder, Colorado, coaching the Colorado Buffaloes football team. Ironically, 1994 was the final year for CU’s legendary coach, Bill McCartney, who led the team to a No. 3 national ranking and a Fiesta Bowl championship over Notre Dame, Joe Montana’s alma mater.
It was during that season that Mike Shanahan met receiver Ed McCaffrey as a free agent signing. When Shanahan left for Denver, he’d bring McCaffrey with him and eventually break out with three straight 1,000-yard seasons. He’d finish his career with the Broncos, and as a result, Ed’s son, Christian, like Mike’s son Kyle, would grow up in Denver before eventually finding their way to the Bay.
All of these connections started in the 1990s, which kicked off with Super Bowl XXIV when the 49ers blew out the Broncos 55-10 in a battle between Joe Montana and John Elway. This would be one of Jerry Rice’s finest games with seven receptions and three touchdowns, though Montana would win MVP. Rice made three stops following his 49ers career, Oakland, Seattle, and Denver for his final preseason. Steve Young and Gary Kubiak would also both see playing time in relief of the starters late in the game.
The 49ers' offensive coordinator, Klay Kubiak, is the son of Gary Kubiak, who became a long-time coach for the Broncos after his playing days. Klay’s brother, Klint, has the same role for the rival Seahawks, but both grew up in Denver as well. Klay would play quarterback in Colorado at CSU and spend some time at the college ranks as a coach before being hired to the team in 2021.
There’s a surprisingly long history between the 49ers and Broncos despite the teams never sharing a division. While San Francisco resides on the coast, it’s still one of the closest teams to Denver. Perhaps a shared hatred of Seattle, which both have shared as a rival, is all the connection needed.