49ers veterans in the hunt for a ring
Only 14 players on the 53-man roster have playoff experience
Ronnie Lott tweeted a message to the 49ers once they locked up the NFC’s No. 1 seed: “Welcome to the playoffs. Now it gets really fun.”
Now? Those down-to-the-wire December games weren’t fun enough? Nope, not with what is now at stake — the 49ers’ first Super Bowl title in 25 years, and the franchise’s sixth overall since Lott helped them win their first in 1981 as a rookie.
When the 49ers (13-3) open the playoffs Saturday at home against the Minnesota Vikings (11-6), a new frontier awaits.
“Being in the playoffs is a blessing in general,” Sanders said last week. “These opportunities don’t come often.
“I feel the thing is you see the young guys and they may feel it’s going to be like this forever,” Sanders added. “That’s not the NFL. It doesn’t always go like this. You appreciate the moments success is around and you soak it in.”
This will be Garoppolo’s first playoff action other than two handoffs late in the 2014 Patriots’ AFC Championship Game. His Vikings counterpart, Kirk Cousins, notched his first playoff win in upset fashion Sunday with an overtime win at New Orleans in the wild-card round.
Here is a breakdown on which 49ers have experienced the Lombardi Trophy Hunt:
RUNNING BACK TEVIN COLEMAN (5 GAMES, 0 STARTS) >> He’s twice played in the postseason, doing so with the 2016-17 Atlanta Falcons. He’s totaled 53 carries (234 yards, one touchdown) and 11 receptions (105 yards, two TDs), including seven carries for 29 yards in the 2016 Falcons’ Super Bowl defeat.
DEFENSIVE END DEE FORD (5 GAMES, 4 STARTS) >> His first four years on the Kansas City Chiefs all led to the playoffs, although he was on injured reserve in their 2017 run. He totaled 1 1/2 sacks in the playoffs — and one critical offside penalty last year that allowed the New England Patriots to rally for the AFC’s Super Bowl berth. CENTER BEN GARLAND (8 GAMES, 2 STARTS) >> Weston Richburg’s injury replacement as the 49ers starting center has playoff experience from his spells with the 2014 Broncos and 201617 Falcons. Four years ago, he played in the Super Bowl — with one defensive snap and eight on special teams.
QUARTERBACK JIMMY GAROPPOLO (1 GAME, 0 STARTS) >> He received Super Bowl rings for being on the Patriots’ 2014 and ’16 teams, and the only action he saw in the playoffs consisted of two handoffs on their final possession in the 2014 season’s AFC Championship rout.
KICKER ROBBIE GOULD (7 GAMES, 7 STARTS) >> He’s been to four postseasons, and one Super Bowl, that coming with the 2006 Chicago Bears and featuring a 44-yard field goal to cap their scoring in the 2917 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Miami, site of next month’s Super Bowl. His other playoff trips were with the 2005 and ’10 Bears, and 2016 New York Giants. He is 8-for-8 on field-goal attempts and 20-for-20 on point-after kicks.
FULLBACK KYLE JUSZCZYK (2 GAMES, 1 START) >> No, he wasn’t on the 2012 Baltimore Ravens that handed the 49ers their first-ever Super Bowl defeat. Rather, his playoff experience came on the 2014 Ravens (6 catches, 45 yards).
WIDE RECEIVER JORDAN MATTHEWS (2 GAMES, 0 STARTS) >> Unless an injury crops up, he’ll likely remain inactive for the 49ers. His playoff experience consists of two games for the 2018 Eagles (1 catch, 37 yards).
NOSE TACKLE EARL MITCHELL (5 GAMES, 0 STARTS) >> Re-signed last week after a year hiatus, Mitchell has a veteran presence as a nose tackle. He went to the playoffs with the 2011-12 Texans and 2016 Dolphins (1 sack, 13 tackles).
WIDE RECEIVER EMMANUEL SANDERS (8 GAMES, 4 STARTS) >> Acquired in an October trade, he’s certainly contributing in a quest to reach a third Super Bowl with his third team. He had six catches for 83 yards when the 2015 Broncos won the Super Bowl at Levi’s Stadium, and he had two catches as a rookie on the 2010 Steelers’ Super Bowl loss to the Packers.
He’s still searching for his first postseason touchdown (36 receptions, 446 yards).
CORNERBACK RICHARD SHERMAN (12 GAMES, 12 STARTS) >> His decorated playoff runs with the Seattle Seahawks (2012-16) were highlighted by their 2013 team’s Super Bowl win over Denver and a near repeat the next year against the Patriots. His only two postseason interceptions came in 2014.
LEFT TACKLE JOE STALEY (8 GAMES, 8 STARTS) >> He anchored the NFL’s best offensive line on the 2012 team that reached the Super Bowl. All eight of his playoff games came during the 2011-13 seasons, and this return likely won’t be the last for the 13th-year left tackle.
TIGHT END LEVINE TOILOLO (5 GAMES, 5 STARTS) >> Used primarily as a blocking tight end in his first 49ers season, he was deployed the same way for the 2016-17 Falcons’ playoff berths. He played 21 of 49 snaps with no targets in the ’16 Falcons’ Super Bowl loss.
LEFT GUARD LAKEN TOMLIN
SON (1 GAME, 1 START) >> He’s been waiting for this playoff return since making his one-and-done appearance as a rookie with the 2016 Detroit Lions at Seattle.
DEFENSIVE END ANTHONY ZETTEL (1 GAME, 0 STARTS) >> See above comment for Tomlinson, as Zettel also was on the 2016 Lions. He found refuge with the 49ers just last week.
Others not on the current 53-man roster:
TIGHT END GARRETT CELEK (6 GAMES, 0 STARTS) >> Now on injured reserve with a back injuury, he was a rookie in 2012 when the 49ers made their playoff run. He played in six playoff games his first two seasons, producing a 6-yard catch and helpful blocks.
LINEBACKER MARK NZEOCHA (0 GAMES, 0 STARTS) >>
He was inactive when the 2016 Cowboys went oneand-done in the playoffs.
CORNERBACK JASON VERRETT (0 GAMES, 0 STARTS) >>
He was on injured reserve, as he is now, when the 2018 San Diego Chargers went to the playoffs.