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49ers–Seahawks rivalry

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49ers–Seahawks rivalry
49ers and Seahawks face off during Week 2 of the 2013 regular season.
LocationSan Francisco, Seattle
First meetingSeptember 26, 1976
49ers 37, Seahawks 21[1]
Latest meetingNovember 17, 2024
Seahawks 20, 49ers 17[1]
Next meeting2025
Stadiums49ers: Levi's Stadium
Seahawks: Lumen Field
Statistics
Meetings total54[1]
All-time seriesSeahawks: 31–23[1]
Regular season seriesSeahawks: 30–22[1]
Postseason resultsTie: 1–1[1]
Largest victory49ers: 38–7 (1988)
Seahawks: 41–3 (2005)[1]
Longest win streak49ers: 6 (2022–2024)
Seahawks: 10 (2014–2018)[1]
Current win streakSeahawks: 1 (2024–present)[1]
Post–season history[1]

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

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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

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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
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
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, 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 WR Terrell Owens scored the game-winning touchdown, then signed the ball with a Sharpie he had in his sock.
In San Francisco, Seahawks QB 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 WR Jerry Rice is traded to the Seahawks.
2005 Seahawks 2–0 Seahawks
27–25
Seahawks
41–3
Seahawks
8–6
In Seattle, 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 QB 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 CB Richard Sherman deflects a last-minute pass intended for 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree that gets intercepted by LB 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.
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, Seahawks record their most points in a game 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
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, 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' QB Russell Wilson.
2022 49ers 2–0 49ers
27–7
49ers
21–13
Seahawks
30–19
In Seattle, 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.
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

Wins of decades score:

San Francisco 49ers *1-2 Seattle Seahawks.

Excluding the 2020s as the decade isn’t yet finished.

  • San Francisco 49ers get a win for winning the 1980s. Both the 1970s and 1990s was a tie at one win each team.

See also

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References

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General

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Specific

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "All Matchups, San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks". Pro Football Reference.
  2. ^ a b Steward, Carl (2003-10-12). "Ports of call build budding rivalry Seattle Seahawks San Francisco 49ers". Oakland Tribune. p. 22. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  3. ^ Maske, Mark (2024-01-17). "Realignment Is Approved". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  4. ^ "Seahawks move to NFC in realignment - UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  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 2024-02-20.
  6. ^ Farmer, Sam (2001-05-23). "NFL Votes to Realign in 2002". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  7. ^ Oates, Bob (2002-02-02). "Schedules Will Be Balanced". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  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. ^ Seattle Seahawks wins Super Bowl for first time in its history, CNN, February 3, 2014