The 49ers–Seahawks rivalry is a

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...

(NFL)

rivalry A rivalry is the state of two people or groups engaging in a lasting competitive relationship. Rivalry is the "against each other" spirit between two competing sides. The relationship itself may also be called "a rivalry", and each participant ...

between the

San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers (also written as the San Francisco Forty-Niners and nicknamed the Niners) are a professional American football team based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The 49ers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member ...

and

Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle. The Seahawks compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC West, West division. The club entered the NFL a ...

. While the teams first met in , the rivalry did not develop until the early 2000s, specifically in , when the Seahawks were placed with the 49ers in the NFC West, allowing for two annual meetings between the teams. The Seahawks lead the overall series, 31–23. The two teams have met twice in the

playoffs The playoffs, play-offs, postseason or finals of a sports league are a competition played after the regular season by the top competitors to determine the league champion or a similar accolade. Depending on the league, the playoffs may be eithe ...

, winning one each.

History

Since the teams became

NFC West The National Football Conference – Western Division or NFC West is one of the four Division (sport), divisions of the National Football Conference (NFC) in the National Football League (NFL). It currently has four members: the Arizona Card ...

division rivals in 2002, the rivalry has grown considerably. 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. The rivalry intensified in 2011, when long-standing college rival coaches—former

USC USC may refer to: Education United States * Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, Santurce, Puerto Rico * University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina ** University of South Carolina System, a state university system of South Carolina * ...

coach

Pete Carroll Peter Clay Carroll (born September 15, 1951) is an American professional American football, football coach who is the head coach for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as head coach for the NCAA's ...

and former

Stanford Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University, is a private research university in Stanford, California, United States. It was founded in 1885 by railroad magnate Leland Stanford (the eighth governor of and th ...

coach Jim Harbaugh—took over as head coaches, with Carroll becoming the Seahawks' coach in , and Harbaugh becoming the 49ers coach in . Both teams drafted young, mobile quarterbacks to lead their franchises, Seattle's

Russell Wilson Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American professional American football, football quarterback for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He has primarily played for the Seattle Seahawks. With the Sea ...

and San Francisco's

Colin Kaepernick Colin Rand Kaepernick ( ; born November 3, 1987) is an American civil rights activist and former professional football quarterback. He played six seasons for the San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League (NFL). In 2016, he gained na ...

. 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 Super Bowl XLVIII was an American football game between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion 2013 Denver Broncos season, Denver Broncos and National Football Conference (NFC) champion 2013 Seattle Seahawks season, Seattle Seahawks to ...

on the line, with the Seahawks winning 23–17. The game ended when Seahawks'

cornerback A cornerback (CB) is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in gridiron football. Cornerbacks cover Wide receiver, receivers most of the time, but also blitz and defend against such Play from scrimmage, offensive running plays as sweep ...

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 Michael Alex Crabtree Jr. (born September 14, 1987) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for 11 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas Tech Red Raiders, twi ...

and claiming to be the "best corner in the game". Seattle went on to defeat the

Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver. The Broncos compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC West, West division. The team is headquartered in E ...

43–8 in Super Bowl XLVIII to win their first Super Bowl championship. San Francisco had represented the NFC in a losing effort in

Super Bowl XLVII Super Bowl XLVII was an American football game between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Baltimore Ravens and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion San Francisco 49ers to decide the National Football League (NFL) champio ...

the previous season. In 2018, Richard Sherman joined San Francisco and took them to

Super Bowl LIV Super Bowl LIV was an American football game played to determine the champion of the National Football League (NFL) for the 2019 NFL season, 2019 season. The American Football Conference (AFC) champion 2019 Kansas City Chiefs season, Kansas City ...

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

, - , , style=", 49ers
37–21 ,

Kingdome The Kingdome (officially the King County Stadium) was a multi-purpose stadium located in the Industrial District, Seattle, Industrial District (later SoDo, Seattle, SoDo) neighborhood of Seattle, Washington (state), Washington, United States. O ...

, 49ers
1–0 , The Seahawks join the NFL as an expansion team. They are placed in the

National Football Conference The National Football Conference (NFC) is a conference of the National Football League (NFL), the highest level of professional American football in the United States. The NFC and its counterpart, the American Football Conference (AFC), each h ...

(NFC) and the

, joining the 49ers as divisional rivals. In the following season, the Seahawks and

Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (colloquially known as the Bucs) are a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC S ...

switched places, with the Seahawks moving to the

American Football Conference The American Football Conference (AFC) is one of the two conferences of the National Football League (NFL), the highest level of professional American football in the United States. The AFC and its counterpart, the National Football Conference ...

(AFC) and the

AFC West The American Football Conference – Western Division or AFC West is one of the four divisions of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the National Football League (NFL). The division comprises the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, ...

, where they would remain until the 2002 season. , - , , style=", Seahawks
35–24 ,

Candlestick Park Candlestick Park was an outdoor stadium located in the Bayview-Hunters Point, Hunters Point area of San Francisco, California, United States. It was originally the home of Major League Baseball's San Francisco Giants, who played there from 1960 S ...

, Tie
1–1 , , - , , style=", 49ers
19–6 , Candlestick Park , 49ers
2–1 , Last meeting until the 2002 season the 49ers and Seahawks faced off in San Francisco. , - , , style=", 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. , - , , style=", 49ers
24–22 , Kingdome , 49ers
4–1 , The 49ers eliminate the Seahawks from playoff contention with their win. , - , , style=", Seahawks
38–9 , Kingdome , 49ers
4–2 , Last matchup at the

. , - , , style=", , style=", 49ers
31–24 , style=", 49ers
28–21 , 49ers
6–2 , During the NFL realignment, the Seahawks are moved back to the

(NFC) and the

, resulting in two meetings annually with the 49ers.
Seahawks open Seahawks Stadium (now known as

Lumen Field Lumen Field is a multi-purpose stadium in Seattle, Washington, United States. Located in the city's SoDo neighborhood, it is the home field for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL), Seattle Sounders FC of Major League ...

).
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 Matthew Michael Hasselbeck (born September 25, 1975) is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 18 seasons, primarily with the Seattle Seahawks. He played college football for t ...

threw for 427 passing yards, setting a franchise record for most passing yards in a game (broken later in the season). , - , , style=", , style=", Seahawks
24–17 , style=", Seahawks
20–19 , 49ers
6–4 , , - , , style=", , style=", Seahawks
42–27 , style=", 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. , - , , style=", , style=", Seahawks
27–25 , style=", 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 Super Bowl XL was an American football game between the National Football Conference (NFC) champion 2005 Seattle Seahawks season, Seattle Seahawks and the American Football Conference (AFC) champion 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers season, Pittsburgh S ...

. , - , , style=", , style=", 49ers
20–14 , style=", 49ers
24–14 , Tie
8–8 , , - , , style=", , style=", Seahawks
23–3 , style=", Seahawks
24–0 , Seahawks
10–8 , , - , , Tie 1–1 , style=", Seahawks
34–13 , style=", 49ers
33–30(OT) , Seahawks
11–9 , , - , , Tie 1–1 , style=", 49ers
23–10 , style=", Seahawks
20–17 , Seahawks
12–10 , , - , - , , Tie 1–1 , style=", 49ers
40–21 , style=", Seahawks
31–6 , Seahawks
13–11 , , - , , style=", , style=", 49ers
33–17 , style=", 49ers
19–17 , Tie
13–13 , , - , , Tie 1–1 , style=", 49ers
13–6 , style=", Seahawks
42–13 , Tie
14–14 , Seahawks

draft Draft, the draft, or draught may refer to: Watercraft dimensions * Draft (hull), the distance from waterline to keel of a vessel * Draft (sail), degree of curvature in a sail * Air draft, distance from waterline to the highest point on a v ...

quarterback

.
49ers lose

. , - , , Tie 1–1 , style=", 49ers
19–17 , style=", Seahawks
29–3 , Tie
15–15 , Last matchup at

, - , - style="background:#f2f2f2; font-weight:bold;" , 2013 Playoffs , style=", , , style=", 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

that gets intercepted by linebacker Malcolm Smith.
Seahawks go on to win

. , - , , style=", , style=", Seahawks
19–3 , style=", Seahawks
17–7 , Seahawks
18–15 , 49ers open Levi's Stadium.
Game in San Francisco was played on

Thanksgiving Day Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated on various dates in October and November in the United States, Canada, Saint Lucia, Liberia, and unofficially in countries like Brazil and Germany. It is also observed in the Australian territory ...

.
Seahawks lose

Super Bowl XLIX Super Bowl XLIX was an American football game played to determine the champion of the National Football League (NFL) for the 2014 NFL season, 2014 season. The American Football Conference (AFC) champion 2014 New England Patriots season, New Eng ...

. , - , , style=", , style=", Seahawks
20–3 , style=", Seahawks
29–13 , Seahawks
20–15 , , - , , style=", , style=", Seahawks
25–23 , style=", Seahawks
37–18 , Seahawks
22–15 , , - , , style=", , style=", Seahawks
24–13 , style=", Seahawks
12–9 , Seahawks
24–15 , , - , , Tie 1–1 , style=", 49ers
26–23(OT) , style=", 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). , - , , Tie 1–1 , style=", Seahawks
27–24(OT) , style=", 49ers
26–21 , Seahawks
26–17 , The 49ers clinched the NFC West and 1st seed of the NFC with their win.
49ers lose

. , - , - , , style=", , style=", Seahawks
26–23 , style=", Seahawks
37–27 , Seahawks
28–17 , Due to

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...

-related restrictions on contact sports in Santa Clara, the 49ers' home game is moved to State Farm Stadium in

Glendale, Arizona Glendale () is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. Located about nine miles northwest of the state capital Phoenix, Glendale is known for State Farm Stadium, which is the home of the Arizona Cardinals football team. The city al ...

. , - , , style=", , style=", Seahawks
28–21 , style=", Seahawks
30–23 , Seahawks
30–17 , Final start in the series for Seahawks' quarterback

. , - , , style=", , style=", 49ers
27–7 , style=", 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. , - style="background:#f2f2f2; font-weight:bold;" , 2022 Playoffs , style=", , style=", 49ers
41–23 , , Seahawks
30–20 , NFC Wild Card.
49ers score their most points in a game against the Seahawks. , - , , style=", , style=", 49ers
28–16 , style=", 49ers
31–13 , Seahawks
30–22 , Game in Seattle was played on

.
49ers lose

Super Bowl LVIII Super Bowl LVIII was an American football game played to determine the champion of the National Football League (NFL) for the 2023 NFL season, 2023 season. A rematch of Super Bowl LIV four years prior, the American Football Conference (AFC) 20 ...

. , - , , Tie 1–1 , style=", Seahawks
20–17 , style=", 49ers
36–24 , Seahawks
31–23 , , - , - , Regular season , style=", , Seahawks 14–11 , Seahawks 16–11 , Seahawks are 1–0 at State Farm Stadium in

(

2020 The year 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of even ...

), accounted for as a San Francisco 49ers home game. , - , Postseason , Tie 1–1 , 49ers 1–0 , Seahawks 1–0 , NFC Wild Card:

2022 The year began with another wave in the COVID-19 pandemic, with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, Omicron spreading rapidly and becoming the dominant variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus worldwide. Tracking a decrease in cases and deaths, 2022 saw ...

NFC Championship:

2013 2013 was the first year since 1987 to contain four unique digits (a span of 26 years). 2013 was designated as: *International Year of Water Cooperation *International Year of Quinoa Events January * January 5 – 2013 Craig, Alask ...

, - , Regular and postseason , style=", , Seahawks 14–12 , Seahawks 17–11 , , -

References

General

49ers vs Seahawks Results

Specific

{{DEFAULTSORT:49ers-Seahawks rivalry NFL rivalries San Francisco 49ers rivalries Seattle Seahawks rivalries

History

Season-by-season results

See also

References

General

Specific