The NFL is known for long standing rivalries that stretch back decades. Matchups like Bears Packers and Steelers Ravens are part of league history. In more recent years, new rivalries have taken shape. One of the most intense has been between the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks.
The rivalry gained real momentum in the 2000s and exploded in the 2010s. Once Seattle returned to the NFC West in 2002, the two teams began meeting regularly. Geography helped. Competition did the rest.
The tension peaked when both teams became Super Bowl contenders at the same time. Seattle hired Pete Carroll in 2010. San Francisco followed by bringing in Jim Harbaugh in 2011. Both coaches arrived with winning pedigrees and strong personalities.
Carroll and Harbaugh already had history from college football. Harbaugh coached at Stanford. Carroll led USC. Their rivalry followed them to the NFL and quickly spilled onto the field.
Between 2011 and 2014, the teams played multiple high stakes games that shaped the NFC playoff picture. Division titles were often on the line. So were top seeds. The rivalry reached its peak in the 2013 NFC Championship Game, with a Super Bowl trip at stake.
Seattle won that game 23 to 17. Richard Sherman’s late pass deflection became one of the most famous plays in NFL history. His postgame interview only added fuel to the rivalry.
Overall, Seattle holds the edge in the series. The Seahawks lead 32 to 24 in all time meetings. The playoff record is even, with each team winning once.
The first meeting between the teams came in 1976. San Francisco won that game 37 to 21. At the time, the matchup carried little weight. That changed decades later.
Several games stand out on both sides. San Francisco’s 41 to 23 playoff win in January 2023 was its most recent statement. Brock Purdy threw for more than 300 yards as the 49ers dominated the second half.
Seattle’s blowout wins during the Legion of Boom era defined the rivalry from the other side. A 29 to 3 win in 2013 showcased the defense at its peak. Colin Kaepernick threw three interceptions in that game.
Regular season clashes have also delivered drama. A 2019 Monday night game went to overtime. A late Seahawks field goal sealed a 27 to 24 win. Both teams were battling for the division at the time.
Most recently, Seattle beat San Francisco 13 to 3 in the final week of the 2025 season. The win secured the NFC West title and the top seed. The result set up yet another playoff meeting between the two rivals.
While the rivalry does not date back to the league’s earliest days, its intensity is undeniable. Coaching clashes, playoff battles, and contrasting team identities turned it into one of the NFL’s defining matchups of the modern era.
