49ers–Cowboys rivalry

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

As the Cowboys play in NFC East and the 49ers in the NFC West, they do not play every year; instead, they play at least once every three years and at least once every six seasons at each team's home stadium due to the NFL's rotating division schedules when their respective divisions are paired up. Additionally, not only both teams could meet in the playoffs, but also if they finish in the same place in their respective divisions, they would play the ensuing season.

It is one of the greatest inter-division rivalries in the NFL. ''Sports Illustrated'' ranked it as the eighth best rivalry while the NFL Top 10 ranked this rivalry to be the tenth best in the NFL. In 2020, CBS ranked it as the No. 1 NFL rivalry of the 1990s. The rivalry was also the subject of two 2015 episodes of NFL Network's ''The Timeline'' entitled "A Tale of Two Cities" with actors Sam Elliott (Cowboys) and Jeremy Renner (49ers) as narrators.

The 49ers lead the overall series, 21–19–1. The two teams have met nine times in the playoffs, with the Cowboys holding a 5–4 record.

History

The Cowboys and 49ers have faced each other in the postseason nine times, the second most between any two NFL teams (behind only the 49ers–Packers rivalry; those two teams have met ten times). The rivalry between the Cowboys and 49ers started gaining traction in the 1970s. The Cowboys defeated the 49ers in the 1970 and 1971 NFC Championship games, and again in the 1972 Divisional playoff game. The 1981 NFC Championship game in San Francisco, which saw the 49ers' Joe Montana complete a game-winning pass to Dwight Clark in the final minute (now known as The Catch) is one of the most famous games in NFL history.

The rivalry became even more intense from 1992 to 1994 when the two teams faced each other in the NFC Championship game during all three seasons. Dallas won the first two match-ups while San Francisco won the third, and in each of these pivotal match-ups, the game's victor went on to win the Super Bowl. With the Cowboys winning the Super Bowl following the 1995 season, from 1992 to 1995, either the Cowboys or the 49ers were Super Bowl champions, giving both teams five each – which, at the time, was tied for the most by any NFL team and later NFC team (currently, both teams are tied for third behind the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New England Patriots with six each).

The rivalry went cold for many years due to the two teams’ inability to make the postseason in the same year after and until , when both teams made the playoffs and were matched against each other in the Wild Card round in Dallas. The 49ers won that game 23–17. The two teams would meet each other in the 2022 playoff divisional round, which saw the 49ers take a 19–12 win. Both teams qualified for the 2023 postseason. However, the teams' fellow rival, the Green Bay Packers, defeated the Cowboys, becoming the first 7 seed to win a playoff game against the 2 seed. The loss not only prevented a third straight matchup with the 49ers, but also allowed the Packers and 49ers to play in a record 10th playoff game.

Players who have won championships with both teams include defensive end Charles Haley, linebacker Ken Norton Jr., and cornerback Deion Sanders.

As of the 2024 season, the 49ers are one of two NFC teams that the Cowboys have a losing record against, along with the Green Bay Packers.

Season-by-season results

, -
,
, style=", 49ers
26–14
, Cotton Bowl
, 49ers
1–0
, Cowboys join the NFL as an expansion team. They are placed in the Western Conference but are moved to the Eastern Conference the following season.
, -
,
, style=", 49ers
31–24
, Kezar Stadium
, 49ers
2–0
,
, -
,
, style=", Cowboys
39–31
, Cotton Bowl
, 49ers
2–1
,
, -
,
, style=", 49ers
24–16
, Kezar Stadium
, 49ers
3–1
,
, -
,
, Tie
24–24
, Cotton Bowl
, 49ers
3–1–1
, Game was played on Thanksgiving Day.
Most recent tied game in Cowboys history as of . Former Cowboys defensive back and assistant coach Dick Nolan makes his debut as 49ers head coach, as he was hired 1968 season.
, -
, -

, -
! 1970 playoffs
! style=", Cowboys
17–10
! Kezar Stadium
! 49ers
3–2–1
! NFC Championship Game. First postseason meeting in the series. Last meeting in Kezar Stadium. Cowboys lose Super Bowl V.
, - style="background:#f0f0f0"
! 1971 playoffs
! style=", Cowboys
14–3
! Texas Stadium
! Tie
3–3–1
! Second straight NFC Championship Game meeting. First start in series for Roger Staubach. First meeting in Texas Stadium. Cowboys win Super Bowl VI.
, -
,
, style=", 49ers
31–10
, Texas Stadium
, 49ers
4–3–1
, Game played on Thanksgiving Day. Most recent Thanksgiving Day meeting between these two teams.
, -
! 1972 playoffs
! style=", Cowboys
30–28
! Candlestick Park
! Tie
4–4–1
! NFC Divisional playoffs. First meeting at Candlestick Park. With Roger Staubach (who had been injured for much of the season) coming off the bench to replace an ineffective Craig Morton; Cowboys overcome 21–3 deficit and a 28–13 deficit in the fourth quarter to win. Last 49ers post-season game until 1981.
, -
,
, style=", Cowboys
20–14
, Texas Stadium
, Cowboys
5–4–1
, Cowboys take first lead in the series.
, -
,
, style=", Cowboys
42–35
, Candlestick Park
, Cowboys
6–4–1
, First ever Monday Night Football matchup between the two teams; Cowboys win Super Bowl XII.
, -
,
, style=", Cowboys
21–13
, Candlestick Park
, Cowboys
7–4–1
, Last start in the series for Roger Staubach.
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, -

, -
,
, style=", Cowboys
59–14
, Texas Stadium
, Cowboys
8–4–1
, Cowboys record their largest victory over the 49ers with a 45–point differential and tied their franchise record for most points scored in a game.
, -
,
, style=", 49ers
45–14
, Candlestick Park
, Cowboys
8–5–1
, First start in the series for 49ers' QB Joe Montana and 49ers' DE Fred Dean after Dean was acquired in a trade with the San Diego Chargers.

, -
! 1981 playoffs
! style=", 49ers
28–27
! Candlestick Park
! Cowboys
8–6–1
! NFC Championship Game. First postseason win for the 49ers over the Cowboys. Wide receiver Dwight Clark makes a leaping catch in the back of the end zone on a pass from Joe Montana with 51 seconds left, best referred to as "The Catch". 49ers win Super Bowl XVI.
, -
,
, style=", 49ers
42–17
, Candlestick Park
, Cowboys
8–7–1
,
, -
,
, style=", 49ers
31–16
, Candlestick Park
, Tie
8–8–1
, The 49er victory allowed them to clinch the final NFC wild-card spot that season.
, -
,
, style=", 49ers
31–14
, Texas Stadium
, 49ers
9–8–1
, 49ers win Super Bowl XXIV. 49ers take first series lead since 1972.
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, -

, -
,
, style=", 49ers
24–6
, Texas Stadium
, 49ers
10–8–1
, First start in series for Troy Aikman. Last start in series for Joe Montana.
, -
! 1992 playoffs
! style=", Cowboys
30–20
! Candlestick Park
! 49ers
10–9–1
! NFC Championship Game. Cowboys win Super Bowl XXVII. After the game, Cowboys' head coach Jimmy Johnson was caught saying "How Bout Them Cowboys" in their postgame locker room.
, -
,
, style=", Cowboys
26–17
, Texas Stadium
, Tie
10–10–1
,
, -
! 1993 playoffs
! style=", Cowboys
38–21
! Texas Stadium
! Cowboys
11–10–1
! Second straight NFC Championship Game meeting. Cowboys win Super Bowl XXVIII. Troy Aikman was knocked out of the game with a concussion after the knee of rookie 49er defensive tackle Dana Stubblefield struck his head.
, -
,
, style=", 49ers
21–14
, Candlestick Park
, Tie
11–11–1
,
, -
! 1994 playoffs
! style=", 49ers
38–28
! Candlestick Park
! 49ers
12–11–1
! Third straight NFC Championship Game meeting. 49ers win Super Bowl XXIX.
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,
, style=", 49ers
38–20
, Texas Stadium
, 49ers
13–11–1
, Cowboys win Super Bowl XXX.
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,
, style=", Cowboys
20–17(OT)
, 3Com Park
, 49ers
13–12–1
, First meeting between the two teams to go into overtime.
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,
, style=", 49ers
17–10
, 3Com Park
, 49ers
14–12–1
, Last start in the series for Steve Young.
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, -
,
, style=", 49ers
41–24
, Texas Stadium
, 49ers
15–12–1
, Last start in the series for Troy Aikman. This game was remembered for 49ers wide receiver (and future Cowboy) Terrell Owens spiking the ball on the Cowboys star at midfield following a touchdown and subsequently being hit by Cowboys safety George Teague.
, -
,
, style=", Cowboys
27–21
, Texas Stadium
, 49ers
15–13–1
,
, -
,
, style=", 49ers
31–27
, Texas Stadium
, 49ers
16–13–1
,
, -
,
, style=", Cowboys
34–31
, Monster Park
, 49ers
16–14–1
,
, -
,
, style=", Cowboys
35–22
, Texas Stadium
, 49ers
16–15–1
, Last meeting in Texas Stadium.
, -

, -
,
, style=", Cowboys
27–24 (OT)
, Candlestick Park
, Tie
16–16–1
, Last meeting in Candlestick Park.
, -
,
, style=", 49ers
28–17
, AT&T Stadium
, 49ers
17–16–1
, First meeting at AT&T Stadium.
, -
,
, style=", Cowboys
24–17
, Levi's Stadium
, Tie
17–17–1
, First meeting at Levi's Stadium.
, -
,
, style=", Cowboys
40–10
, Levi's Stadium
, Cowboys
18–17–1
, Cowboys take first lead in the series since winning the 1993 NFC Championship Game.
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, -
,
, style=", Cowboys
41–33
, AT&T Stadium
, Cowboys
19–17–1
, Limited fans in attendance due to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 49ers were eliminated from postseason contention with this loss, coupled with a win by the Cardinals.
, -
! 2021 playoffs
! style=", 49ers
23–17
! AT&T Stadium
! Cowboys
19–18–1
! NFC Wild Card playoffs. First playoff meeting since 1994.
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! 2022 playoffs
! style=", 49ers
19–12
! Levi's Stadium
! Tie
19–19–1
! NFC Divisional playoffs. Ninth postseason meeting.
, -
,
! style=", 49ers
42–10
, Levi's Stadium
, 49ers
20–19–1
, 49ers record their largest victory over the Cowboys with a 32–point differential.
, -
,
! style=", 49ers
30–24
, Levi's Stadium
, 49ers
21–19–1
,
, -

, -
, Regular season
, style=",
, 49ers 9–7
, 49ers 8–7–1
,
, -
, Postseason
, style=",
, Tie 3–3
, Cowboys 2–1
, NFC Wild Card: 2021
NFC Divisional: 1972, 2022
NFC Championship: 1970, 1971, 1981, 1992, 1993, 1994
, -
, Regular and postseason
, style=", 49ers 21–19–1
, 49ers 12–10
, Tie 9–9–1
,
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See also

*List of NFL rivalries
* California–Texas rivalry

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:49ers-Cowboys rivalry
NFL rivalries
Dallas Cowboys rivalries
San Francisco 49ers rivalries