49ers–Seahawks rivalry

National Football League rivalry

49ers–Seahawks rivalry

49ers and Seahawks face off during Week 2 of the 2013 regular season.

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Location| San Francisco, Seattle
First meeting| September 26, 1976
49ers 37, Seahawks 21[1]
Latest meeting| November 17, 2024
Seahawks 20, 49ers 17[1]
Next meeting| 2025
Stadiums| 49ers: Levi's Stadium
Seahawks: Lumen Field
Statistics
Meetings total| 54[1]
All-time series| Seahawks: 31–23[1]
Regular season series| Seahawks: 30–22[1]
Postseason results| Tie: 1–1[1]
Largest victory| 49ers: 38–7 (1988)
Seahawks: 41–3 (2005)[1]
Most points scored| 49ers: 41 (2022)
Seahawks: 43 (2018)[1]
Longest win streak| 49ers: 6 (2022–2024)
Seahawks: 10 (2014–2018)[1]
Current win streak| Seahawks: 1 (2024–present)[1]
Post–season history[1]

* 2013 NFC Championship: Seahawks won: 23–17
* 2022 NFC Wild Card: 49ers won: 41–23

210km
130miles

Seahawks

49ers

Locations of the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks

The 49ers–Seahawks rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks.

While the teams first met in 1976, the rivalry did not develop until the early 2000s, specifically in 2002, when the Seahawks were placed with the 49ers in the NFC West, allowing for two annual meetings between the teams.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

The Seahawks lead the overall series, 31–23. The two teams have met twice in the playoffs, winning one each.[1]

## History

[edit]

Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers (final score 34–0), September 26, 2004

Since the teams became NFC West division rivals in 2002, the rivalry has grown considerably.[2] The rivalry was previously insignificant, due to both teams having little history against one another and both suffering long stretches of mediocrity. For example, while the Seahawks won four straight division titles from 2004 to 2007, the 49ers finished in third or fourth place each season and did not have a winning season from 2003 to 2010. Likewise, the Seahawks suffered four straight losing seasons from 2008 to 2011. Despite their stretch of mediocrity, the Seahawks have remained competitive in games against the 49ers in those years.

> "It don't get much better than the 49ers...it felt like a Super Bowl when we were playing during that time."

—K. J. Wright, Seahawks LB[9]

The rivalry intensified in 2011, when long-standing college rival coaches—former USC coach Pete Carroll and former Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh—took over as head coaches, with Carroll becoming the Seahawks' coach in 2010, and Harbaugh becoming the 49ers coach in 2011. Both teams drafted young, mobile quarterbacks to lead their franchises, Seattle's Russell Wilson and San Francisco's Colin Kaepernick.[10] Both coaches turned their respective franchises into perennial playoff contenders, and from 2010 to 2014, either the Seahawks or the 49ers won the NFC West championship.

The two teams met in the 2013 NFC Championship Game in Seattle with a trip to Super Bowl XLVIII on the line, with the Seahawks winning 23–17. The game ended when Seahawks' cornerback Richard Sherman, whom Harbaugh previously coached at Stanford, tipped an end zone pass that led to a game-ending interception. Sherman had his famous postgame interview immediately afterwards, calling out 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree and claiming to be the "best corner in the game".[11] Seattle went on to defeat the Denver Broncos 43–8 in Super Bowl XLVIII to win their first Super Bowl championship.[12] San Francisco had represented the NFC in a losing effort in Super Bowl XLVII the previous season. In 2018, Richard Sherman joined San Francisco and took them to Super Bowl LIV while coming a quarter short sparked the rivalry for a short while then it died down again.

The Seahawks lead the all-time series 31–23. After drafting Russell Wilson in 2012, the Seahawks dominated the rivalry, holding a 17–4 record against the 49ers before Wilson's departure in early 2022. After Wilson's departure, the 49ers turned the rivalry around, winning six in a row, which is the longest win streak for the 49ers against the Seahawks, before the Seahawks ended the streak with a 20–17 victory on 17 November 2024, which in turn came courtesy of a Geno Smith rushing touchdown.

## Season-by-season results

[edit]

San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks Season-by-Season Results[1]

1970s–1990s (49ers, 4–2)

| Season | Results | Location | Overall series | Notes

|
|
|
|

1976 | 49ers
37–21 | Kingdome | 49ers
1–0  | The Seahawks join the NFL as an expansion team. They are placed in the National Football Conference (NFC) and the NFC West, joining the 49ers as divisional rivals. In the following season, the Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers switched places, with the Seahawks moving to the American Football Conference (AFC) and the AFC West, where they would remain until the 2002 season.
1979 | Seahawks
35–24 | Candlestick Park | Tie
1–1  |
1985 | 49ers
19–6 | Candlestick Park  | 49ers
2–1  | Last meeting until the 2002 season the 49ers and Seahawks faced off in San Francisco.
1988 | 49ers
38–7 | Kingdome  | 49ers
3–1  | 49ers record their largest victory against the Seahawks with a 31–point differential.
49ers win Super Bowl XXIII.
1991 | 49ers
24–22 | Kingdome  | 49ers
4–1  | The 49ers eliminate the Seahawks from playoff contention with their win.
1997 | Seahawks
38–9 | Kingdome  | 49ers
4–2  | Last matchup at the Kingdome.

2000s (Seahawks, 10–6)

| Season | Season series | at San Francisco 49ers | at Seattle Seahawks | Overall series | Notes

|
|
|
|
|

2002 | 49ers 2–0 | 49ers
31–24 | 49ers
28–21 | 49ers
6–2  | During the NFL realignment, the Seahawks are moved back to the National Football Conference (NFC) and the NFC West, resulting in two meetings annually with the 49ers.
Seahawks open Seahawks Stadium (now known as Lumen Field).
In Seattle, a notable moment occurred when wide receiver Terrell Owens scored the game-winning touchdown, then signed the ball with a Sharpie he had in his sock.
In San Francisco, Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck threw for 427 passing yards, setting a franchise record for most passing yards in a game (broken later in the season).
2003 | Seahawks 2–0 | Seahawks
24–17 | Seahawks
20–19 | 49ers
6–4  |
2004 | Seahawks 2–0 | Seahawks
42–27 | Seahawks
34–0 | Tie
6–6  | In Seattle, 49ers get shut out for the first time since the 1977 season.
Midway through the season, former 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice is traded to the Seahawks.
2005 | Seahawks 2–0 | Seahawks
27–25 | Seahawks
41–3 | Seahawks
8–6  | In Seattle, the Seahawks record their largest victory against the 49ers with a 38–point differential and win all of their division games for the first time in franchise history with their win.
Seahawks lose Super Bowl XL.
2006 | 49ers 2–0 | 49ers
20–14 | 49ers
24–14 | Tie
8–8  |
2007 | Seahawks 2–0 | Seahawks
23–3 | Seahawks
24–0 | Seahawks
10–8  |
2008 | Tie 1–1 | Seahawks
34–13 | 49ers
33–30(OT) | Seahawks
11–9  |
2009 | Tie 1–1 | 49ers
23–10 | Seahawks
20–17 | Seahawks
12–10  |

2010s (Seahawks, 14–7)

| Season | Season series | at San Francisco 49ers | at Seattle Seahawks | Overall series | Notes

|
|
|
|
|

2010 | Tie 1–1 | 49ers
40–21 | Seahawks
31–6 | Seahawks
13–11  |
2011 | 49ers 2–0 | 49ers
33–17 | 49ers
19–17 | Tie
13–13  |
2012 | Tie 1–1 | 49ers
13–6 | Seahawks
42–13 | Tie
14–14  | Seahawks draft quarterback Russell Wilson.
49ers lose Super Bowl XLVII.
2013 | Tie 1–1 | 49ers
19–17 | Seahawks
29–3 | Tie
15–15  | Last matchup at Candlestick Park
2013 Playoffs | Seahawks 1–0 | —  | Seahawks
23–17  | Seahawks
16–15  | NFC Championship Game.
In a game-winning play, Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman deflects a last-minute pass intended for 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree that gets intercepted by linebacker Malcolm Smith.
Seahawks go on to win Super Bowl XLVIII.
2014 | Seahawks 2–0 | Seahawks
19–3 | Seahawks
17–7 | Seahawks
18–15  | 49ers open Levi's Stadium.
Game in San Francisco was played on Thanksgiving Day.
Seahawks lose Super Bowl XLIX.
2015 | Seahawks 2–0 | Seahawks
20–3 | Seahawks
29–13 | Seahawks
20–15  |
2016 | Seahawks 2–0 | Seahawks
25–23 | Seahawks
37–18 | Seahawks
22–15  |
2017 | Seahawks 2–0 | Seahawks
24–13 | Seahawks
12–9 | Seahawks
24–15  |
2018 | Tie 1–1 | 49ers
26–23(OT) | Seahawks
43–16 | Seahawks
25–16  | Former Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman signs with 49ers.
In Seattle, the Seahawks record their most points against the 49ers.
Seahawks win 10 straight games (2014–2018) and 8 straight at home (2012–2018).
2019 | Tie 1–1 | Seahawks
27–24(OT) | 49ers
26–21 | Seahawks
26–17  | The 49ers clinched the NFC West and 1st seed of the NFC with their win.
49ers lose Super Bowl LIV.

2020s (49ers, 6–5)

| Season | Season series | at San Francisco 49ers | at Seattle Seahawks | Overall series | Notes

|
|
|
|
|

2020 | Seahawks 2–0 | Seahawks
26–23 | Seahawks
37–27 | Seahawks
28–17  | Due to COVID-19-related restrictions on contact sports in Santa Clara, the 49ers' home game is moved to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
2021 | Seahawks 2–0 | Seahawks
28–21 | Seahawks
30–23 | Seahawks
30–17  | Final start in the series for Seahawks' quarterback Russell Wilson.
2022 | 49ers 2–0 | 49ers
27–7 | 49ers
21–13 | Seahawks
30–19  | In Seattle, the 49ers clinched their NFC West and swept the Seahawks for the first time since the 2011 season, and swept the NFC West for the first time since the 1997 season with their win.
2022 Playoffs | 49ers 1–0 | 49ers
41–23 | —  | Seahawks
30–20  | NFC Wild Card.
49ers score their most points in a game against the Seahawks.
2023 | 49ers 2–0 | 49ers
28–16 | 49ers
31–13 | Seahawks
30–22  | Game in Seattle was played on Thanksgiving Day.
49ers lose Super Bowl LVIII.
2024 | Tie 1–1 | Seahawks
20–17 | 49ers
36–24 | Seahawks
31–23  |

Summary of Results

| Season | Season series | at San Francisco 49ers | at Seattle Seahawks | Notes

|
|
|
|

Regular season  | Seahawks 30–22 | Seahawks 14–11  | Seahawks 16–11  | Seahawks are 1–0 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (2020), accounted for as a San Francisco 49ers home game.
Postseason  | Tie 1–1 | 49ers 1–0  | Seahawks 1–0  | NFC Wild Card: 2022
NFC Championship: 2013
Regular and postseason  | Seahawks 31–23 | Seahawks 14–12  | Seahawks 17–11  |

## See also

[edit]

* List of NFL rivalries
* NFC West
* Heritage Cup: Major League Soccer (MLS) rivalry between the Bay Area and Seattle

## References

[edit]

### General

[edit]

* 49ers vs Seahawks Results

### Specific

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "All Matchups, San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks". Pro Football Reference.
2. ^ a b Steward, Carl (October 12, 2003). "Ports of call build budding rivalry Seattle Seahawks San Francisco 49ers". Oakland Tribune. p. 22. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
3. ^ Maske, Mark (January 17, 2024). "Realignment Is Approved". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
4. ^ "Seahawks move to NFC in realignment - UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
5. ^ Allen, Percy (May 23, 2001). "New nesting grounds: Seahawks' move to NFC West likely with NFL realignment on table | The Seattle Times". archive.seattletimes.com. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
6. ^ Farmer, Sam (May 23, 2001). "NFL Votes to Realign in 2002". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
7. ^ Oates, Bob (February 2, 2002). "Schedules Will Be Balanced". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
8. ^ Freeman, Mike (May 23, 2001). "PRO FOOTBALL; Owners Approve N.F.L. Realignment". New York Times. p. D4. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
9. ^ Bell, Gregg (October 2, 2019). "Seahawks-Rams Thursday is big. But for K.J. Wright, it's not old Seahawks-49ers big". The News Tribune. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
10. ^ Farrar, Doug (December 5, 2013). "Second-year starting quarterbacks Kaepernick, Wilson are key men in revived Seahawks/49ers rivalry". Retrieved January 1, 2014.
11. ^ Eagle, Ben (January 19, 2014). "Richard Sherman calls out Michael Crabtree in all-time postgame interview". SI.com. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
12. ^ Gittings, Paul (February 3, 2014). "Seattle Seahawks wins Super Bowl for first time in its history". CNN. Retrieved February 9, 2025.

* v
* t
* e

San Francisco 49ers

* Founded in 1946
* Based and headquartered in Santa Clara, California

Franchise|

* Franchise
* Team history
* Coaches
* All-time roster
* Seasons
* Logo and uniform history
* Starting quarterbacks
* Draft history (First-round draft picks)
* Broadcasters
* Retired numbers

Stadiums|

* Kezar Stadium
* Candlestick Park
* Levi's Stadium
* State Farm Stadium
* Three games played due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Culture|

* 49er Faithful
* Sourdough Sam
* San Francisco 49ers Gold Rush
* West Coast offense
* The Pigskin Priest
* KGO
* KNBR
* Mr. Relevant

Lore|

* 1997 NFC Championship Game
* 2019 NFC Championship Game
* The Catch (II)
* Joe Cool
* Million Dollar Backfield
* Snowball Game
* No Punt Game
* Fútbol Americano
* Harbaugh Bowl
* The Tip
* Jet Chip Wasp

Rivalries|

* Arizona Cardinals
* Dallas Cowboys
* Green Bay Packers
* Oakland Raiders (former)
* Los Angeles Rams
* New York Giants
* Seattle Seahawks

Key figures|

* Eddie DeBartolo
* Denise DeBartolo York
* Jed York
* John York
* Gideon Yu

Division championships (22)|

* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1981
* 1983
* 1984
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1997
* 2002
* 2011
* 2012
* 2019
* 2022
* 2023

Conference championships (8)|

* 1981
* 1984
* 1988
* 1989
* 1994
* 2012
* 2019
* 2023

League championships (5)|

* 1981 (XVI)
* 1984 (XIX)
* 1988 (XXIII)
* 1989 (XXIV)
* 1994 (XXIX)

Current league affiliations|

* League: National Football League (1950–present)
* Conference: National Football Conference
* Division: West Division

Former league affiliation|

All-America Football Conference (1946–1949)

* v
* t
* e

Seattle Seahawks

* Founded in 1976
* Based in Seattle, Washington
* Headquartered in Renton, Washington

Franchise|

* Franchise
* History
* Seasons
* All-time roster
* Coaches
* Quarterbacks
* Expansion draft
* First-round draft picks
* Records
* Draft history
* Broadcasters
* Virginia Mason Athletic Center

Stadiums|

* Kingdome
* Husky Stadium
* Lumen Field

Culture|

* 12th Man
* 12s
* "Bitter Sweet Symphony"
* Blitz
* Blue Thunder
* "Can't Hold Us"
* Jones Soda
* Paul Allen
* Ring of Honor
* Seahawks Dancers
* Steve Largent Award
* Tuba Man
* Mama Blue

Lore|

* We want the ball and we're going to score!
* Snow Globe Game
* Beast Quake
* Legion of Boom
* Seattle Cover 3
* Fail Mary
* The Tip
* 2014 NFC Championship Game
* Super Bowl goal-line interception
* 2019 NFC Divisional playoff game

Rivalries|

* Arizona Cardinals
* Denver Broncos
* Green Bay Packers
* Oakland Raiders (former)
* Los Angeles Rams
* San Francisco 49ers

Division championships (11)|

* 1988
* 1999
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2010
* 2013
* 2014
* 2016
* 2020

Conference championships (3)|

* 2005
* 2013
* 2014

League championships (1)|

* 2013 (XLVIII)

Retired numbers|

* 12
* 45
* 71
* 80
* 96

Affiliations|

* League: National Football League
* Conference: National Football Conference
* Division: West Division

* v
* t
* e

National Football League rivalries

AFC|

| AFC East| AFC North| AFC South| AFC West

|
|
|

* Bills–Dolphins
* Bills–Jets
* Bills–Patriots
* Dolphins–Jets
* Dolphins–Patriots
* Jets–Patriots

* Bengals–Browns
* Bengals–Ravens
* Bengals–Steelers
* Browns–Ravens
* Browns–Steelers
* Ravens–Steelers

* Colts–Jaguars
* Colts–Texans
* Colts–Titans
* Jaguars–Texans
* Jaguars–Titans
* Texans–Titans

* Broncos–Chargers
* Broncos–Chiefs
* Broncos–Raiders
* Chargers–Chiefs
* Chargers–Raiders
* Chiefs–Raiders

Intra-conference|

* Bills–Chiefs
* Bills–Titans
* Broncos–Patriots
* Broncos–Steelers
* Colts–Patriots
* Dolphins–Raiders
* Patriots–Ravens
* Patriots–Steelers
* Raiders–Steelers
* Ravens–Titans
* Steelers–Titans
* Tom Brady–Peyton Manning

NFC|

| NFC East| NFC North| NFC South| NFC West

|
|
|

* Commanders–Cowboys
* Commanders–Eagles
* Commanders–Giants
* Cowboys–Eagles
* Cowboys–Giants
* Eagles–Giants

* Bears–Lions
* Bears–Packers
* Bears–Vikings
* Lions–Packers
* Lions–Vikings
* Packers–Vikings

* Buccaneers–Falcons
* Buccaneers–Panthers
* Buccaneers–Saints
* Falcons–Panthers
* Falcons–Saints
* Panthers–Saints

* 49ers–Cardinals
* 49ers–Rams
* 49ers–Seahawks
* Cardinals–Rams
* Cardinals–Seahawks
* Rams–Seahawks

Intra-conference|

* 49ers–Cowboys
* 49ers–Giants
* 49ers–Packers
* Bears–Cardinals
* Bears–Giants
* Buccaneers–Packers
* Cowboys–Packers
* Cowboys–Rams
* Cowboys–Vikings
* Eagles–Falcons
* Giants–Packers
* Packers–Seahawks
* Rams–Saints
* Rams–Vikings
* Saints–Vikings

| Interconference|

* 49ers–Raiders
* Broncos–Seahawks
* Buccaneers–Dolphins
* Cowboys–Steelers
* Eagles–Steelers
* Giants–Jets
* Giants–Patriots
* Raiders–Seahawks

| Governor's Cup|

* Missouri (historical)
* Texas

|

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template