Long before George Seifert agonized over losses as the 49ers' head coach, he took them hard as a fan.

In fact, Seifert still isn't completely over a 31-27 defeat to the Lions in the 1957 NFL Western Conference playoff game - a setback that elicits a "doggone it" from him 54 years later. A senior at Polytechnic High, Seifert watched the game at Kezar Stadium as an usher and recalls the weather (overcast) and postgame mood of disbelief as the crowd filed out after watching Detroit erase a 20-point second-half deficit.

"It was very disheartening," said Seifert, who grew up in the Mission District, "but it probably made me an even bigger fan, because I went through some highs and then certainly had that low."

Today, Seifert, 71, is back in fan mode after a 17-year tenure as a defensive backs coach (1980 to '82), defensive coordinator (1983 to '88) and head coach (1989 to '96) in San Francisco. And he's ready to celebrate a long-awaited high after watching the Niners endure nearly a decade of lows.

With a win against the Rams today at Candlestick Park, the 49ers (9-2) will win their first NFC West title since 2002. Seifert believes another successful run could be ahead for a once-proud franchise that went 46-82 from 2003 to '10.

Seifert, who enthusiastically endorsed Jim Harbaugh's hiring in January, has been impressed by the unique stamp the first-year head coach has placed on the 49ers.

"He's doing it with his own system and his own way of doing things," Seifert said. "It's not the West Coast offense or anybody else's offense, or anybody else's defense, or anybody else's way of operating the organization. He has his own way of doing it, and he's been influenced by a number of outstanding coaches and players through the years. And he's kind of put it all together in this pretty neat package. Let's just kind of enjoy it and have fun with it. I think we're all fortunate."

Seifert retains close ties to the organization - he introduced inductee R.C. Owens at the Niners' Hall of Fame dinner last month - but he's enjoying this season's resurgence from a distance.

Ten years removed from coaching his final game with the Panthers, he's deep into a retirement that includes plenty of hunting, fishing and time with his family, which includes his wife of 46 years, Linda, two children and four grandchildren.

Seifert, who lives in Incline Village, Nev., and has a home in Bodega Bay, did a phone interview this week from Colusa, one of his prime spots for duck hunting. He'll watch today's game while "babysitting" some of his grandchildren near Los Altos.

He has 49ers season tickets but hasn't attended a game this season.

"I coached football for 37 years or something like that," Seifert said. "And I love the outdoors. I love to hunt and fish and spend time with my family. So I do that. I watch the games on television, and I listen to the talk shows and I watch ESPN. I consider so many people in the organization friends and we interact from time to time. So I stay on top of it."

Seifert is particularly pleased the 49ers could clinch the division against the Rams, a longtime rival he recalls routinely dominating San Francisco when he was growing up. As the Niners' head coach, Seifert lost his first two games against the Rams in 1989, a preseason defeat in Tokyo and a 13-12 regular-season loss in Candlestick Park.

That set the stage for San Francisco's 30-27 Monday night win in Anaheim later that season. John Taylor had touchdown receptions of 92 and 96 yards, and the 49ers erased a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit to clinch the NFC West title.

Seifert, who had a 15-2 record against the Rams, says it was the most satisfying win he had against his rivals.

Late Rams owner Georgia Frontiere "at halftime was walking the sidelines with her glass of white wine toasting the Rams' fans because they had a lead," Seifert said. "And, ultimately, we came back and won the game. That was pretty special. I hate to gloat, but that was a lot of fun."

Seifert, the owner of five Super Bowl rings, has experienced plenty of good times thanks to his lifelong relationship with the 49ers. But he believes losing makes success even sweeter.

That 1957 loss to the Lions, he says, made him appreciate San Francisco's win over Dallas in the 1981 NFC Championship Game even more. And, today, a division-title-clinching win over the Rams would be particularly satisfying, given the lean years that preceded it.

"We've obviously had some down times," Seifert said, "but that almost makes it better."