In 2023, Craig Counsell piloted the Brewers to 92 wins along with the third division title and fifth playoff appearance in his eight years at the helm. Counsell, however, became a free agent after that season, and the Cubs swooped in quickly .

Just two years later, Counsell is preparing to defeat Milwaukee in the 2025 NLDS. That's tied for the fewest seasons between a manager leaving one club and then facing said club in the playoffs. Here is a list of other managers -- including a couple of Hall of Famers -- who matched up against their previous team in October soon after moving off of their bench. The list is ordered by the number of seasons between the manager's departure from a team and when they saw that team in the postseason.

2 seasons: John McNamara, Red Sox, 1986 ALCS vs. CAL

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