Fansided

Ranking the 25 biggest NFL rivalries of all time

By Mike Phillips

PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 26: Jackson Carman #79 of the Cincinnati Bengals in action against the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 26, 2021 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 26: Jackson Carman #79 of the Cincinnati Bengals in action against the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 26, 2021 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – DECEMBER 23: NaVorro Bowman #53 of the San Francisco 49ers tackles Marshawn Lynch #24 of the Seattle Seahawks during the game at CenturyLink Field on December 23, 2012, in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers 42-13. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – DECEMBER 23: NaVorro Bowman #53 of the San Francisco 49ers tackles Marshawn Lynch #24 of the Seattle Seahawks during the game at CenturyLink Field on December 23, 2012, in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers 42-13. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images) /

20. Top NFL Rivalries – Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers

  • All-Time History: Seahawks lead 29-17
  • First Meeting: Sept. 26, 1976 (49ers 37, Seahawks 21)
  • Last Meeting: Oct. 3, 2021 (Seahawks 28, 49ers 21)
  • Postseason History: Seahawks lead 1-0

This rivalry has gained a lot of ground in recent years thanks to the NFL’s re-alignment in 2002 after the Houston Texans joined the league. The move to four divisions in each conference based on geography required one team to shift from the AFC West to the NFC West and Seattle was chosen since they don’t have as long a history together with the rest of the teams in their original division.

The move helped ignite a fierce rivalry with the 49ers that gained steam in the 2010s when coaching rivals Jim Harbaugh and Pete Carroll took over each team. The pair had a rivalry dating back to their Pac-12 days, with Harbaugh coaching Stanford and Carroll guiding USC, and the fact each coach was able to transform their team into an NFC superpower made things very interesting.

Since then, each contest has become must-see TV, including some epic showdowns with NFC West crowns on the line. The lone playoff meeting between the Seahawks and 49ers came in 2014, with Seattle’s Richard Sherman breaking up a potential go-ahead touchdown pass from Colin Kaepernick with seconds to go, the ball landing in the hands of Malcolm Smith to send Seattle to the Super Bowl.

This bitter rivalry has been one-sided of late since Russell Wilson has cemented himself as one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks, going 16-4 in 20 meetings against the 49ers since he was drafted by the Seahawks in 2012. Time will tell if Trey Lance will develop into a worthy adversary for Wilson to help San Francisco even up this fierce rivalry.

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