# 49ers–Seahawks rivalry

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

## History

Since the teams became NFC West 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.
   "It don't get much better than the 49ers...it felt like a Super Bowl when we were playing during that time."
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. 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". Seattle went on to defeat the Denver Broncos 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 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

San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks Season-by-Season Results :
1970s–1990s (49ers, 4–2)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
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)
SeasonSeason seriesat San Francisco 49ersat Seattle SeahawksOverall seriesNotes
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)
SeasonSeason seriesat San Francisco 49ersat Seattle SeahawksOverall seriesNotes
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)
SeasonSeason seriesat San Francisco 49ersat Seattle SeahawksOverall seriesNotes
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
SeasonSeason seriesat San Francisco 49ersat Seattle SeahawksNotes
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 :