The most underappreciated rivalry in each NFL division
By John Buhler
NFC West: San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks
It’s a relatively new rivalry, as people forget that the Seattle Seahawks used to play in the AFC prior to 2002’s NFL realignment to include the expansion Houston Texans. However in the last 18 years, they have developed quite the rivalry with the San Francisco 49ers. Though it doesn’t top what the 49ers have historically with the Los Angeles Rams, it’s certainly one of great intrigue.
These rivals have met 43 times with the Seahawks hold the all-time series lead at 25-17. For the first decade of this rivalry, it was a bland one because the 49ers were so terrible. That all changed when Jim Harbaugh became the 49ers head coach in 2011. He would be reunited with another former Pac-10 rival coach in Pete Carroll of the Seahawks. Then, things got interesting.
In their one playoff game against each other, it was the 2013 NFC Championship, a game that sent Seattle to the Super Bowl and made cornerback Richard Sherman a superstar. He told Erin Andrews how sorry of a receiver Michael Crabtree was in an intense moment of passion immediately after the game ended. Sadly, Harbaugh only lasted four years in San Francisco.
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While the Seahawks have been a perennial playoff team under Carroll with Russell Wilson at quarterback, San Francisco only very recently has emerged as a threat again. The 49ers won the NFC last year with Kyle Shanahan as their head coach. Sherman, the former All-Pro in Seattle, was in his second year playing for the 49ers. This rivalry has given serious bite to the NFC West of late.