SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers face off against the Detroit Lions Sunday in the NFC Championship game.
In the postseason, the 49ers clinched the NFC with a number 1 seed, giving them a bye week during the Wild Card Games. The 49ers went on to beat Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round during a rainy Saturday night game in Santa Clara. Quarterback Brock Purdy threw for 252 yards from a final score of 21-24.
The 49ers have five Super Bowl titles from 1982, 1985, 1989, 1990 and 1995.
The Detroit Lions beat the Los Angeles Rams and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to make it to the NFC Championship for the first time since 1992. Quarterback Jared Goff threw for 287 yards to beat the Buccaneers and secure a spot in the championship.
The Detroit Lions are the only team in the NFC that hasn't made it to the Super Bowl.
Here are the Northern California natives on the 49ers and Lions.
San Francisco 49ers
Brandon Aiyuk — Wide Receiver
Brandon Aiyuk was born in Rocklin though he attended McQueen High School in Reno, NV and went on to attend Sierra College and Arizona State University.
The 49ers selected Aiyuk #25 during the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He signed a four-year contract. During the 2023 regular season, Aiyuk had 75 receptions for 1,341 yards and seven touchdowns. In the 2023 postseason, he's had three receptions for 32 yards so far.
Arik Armstead — Defensive End
Arik Armstead is from Elk Grove, near Sacramento, CA and played football and basketball at Pleasant Grove High School in Elk Grove. He attended Oregon, was selected 17th for the 2015 draft and the first pick for the San Francisco 49ers.
For the 2023 season, Armstead has 27 tackles and 5 sacks. In the postseason so far, he's had three tackles. Looking at his nine-season-long career in the NFL, Armstead has had 302 total tackles and 33.5 sacks.
Ross Dwelley — Tight End
Though he won't actually play in the NFC Championship game due to an ankle injury, Ross Dwelley is from El Dorado Hills. He attended Oak Ridge High School and went to the University of San Diego.
Dwelley has had one reception for 12 yards this season in 12 games played. In his career, he's had 44 total receptions for 518 yards over 84 games played. He's been on Injury Reserve since spraining his ankle in week 13 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Dwelley signed with the San Francisco 49ers in 2018 as an undrafted free agent. He was re-signed to a one-year deal in March 2023.
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Detroit Lions
Jared Goff — Quarterback
Jared Goff was selected first overall by the Los Angeles Rams in the 2016 NFL Draft. He went to the Detroit Lions in a quarterback swap with Matthew Stafford. Stafford led the Rams to a Super Bowl win in 2022, just 13 months after being traded. The Lions also got a 2022 first-round pick, a 2023 first-round pick and a 2021 third-round pick.
Goff has thrown for 4,575 yards with a completion percentage of 67.3% during the 2023 regular season. He's had a 74.3% completion percentage in his two postseason games. He's avoided any interceptions in the postseason so far.
Goff attended the University of California, Berkeley before skipping his senior year to enter the draft. He grew up in Novato, CA in Marin County and attended Marin Catholic High School.
Zach Ertz — Tight End
Zach Ertz was born in Orange, CA and attended Monte Vista High School in Danville before going to Stanford University. According to ESPN, the Lions reached a deal with Ertz after TE Brock Wright had a forearm injury against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With Wright injured, the Lions only had TE Sam LaPorta available on the roster. ESPN reported Ertz was expected to be brought off the practice squad for the NFC Championship, though there's no guarantee he'll play.
Ertz was released by the Arizona Cardinals in November. During the 2023 regular season, Ertz had 27 receptions for 187 yards and a touchdown.
Watch more on ABC10 | 49ers vs. Lions: Northern California superfans hope to see Brock Purdy victorious
