Editing San Francisco 49ers (section)

==Rivalries==
===Divisional===
====Los Angeles Rams====
{{Main|49ers–Rams rivalry}}

The rivalry between the [[Los Angeles Rams]] and the San Francisco 49ers is considered by many to be one of the greatest NFL rivalries ever, placing No. 8 on ''Sports Illustrated'''s "Top 10 NFL Rivalries of All Time" list, compiled in 2008.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/2005/12/15/gallery.oldrivals/content.3.html|title=Top 10 NFL Rivalries of All Time|access-date=January 30, 2008|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090129203450/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/2005/12/15/gallery.oldrivals/content.3.html|archive-date=January 29, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> After the Rams moved to St. Louis, [[Roger Craig (American football)|Roger Craig]] stated in ''Tales from the San Francisco 49ers Sideline'' that the Rams would always remain the team's arch-rival, regardless of location.<ref>Craig (2004) 37</ref> The Rams are the only team to have played the 49ers twice every season for the last 58 seasons<ref name="Knapp 1">{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/10/03/SPA51A0S03.DTL|title=49ers must beat Rams|work=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=October 4, 2009|first=Gwen|last=Knapp|date=October 4, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091007011528/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2009%2F10%2F03%2FSPA51A0S03.DTL|archive-date=October 7, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> to combine for more than 100 regular season games; the all-time regular season lead is held by the 49ers 72–67–3.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Matchups, San Francisco 49ers vs. Cleveland/St. Louis/LA Rams |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_query.cgi?tm1=sfo&tm2=ram&yr=all |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> The rivalry regained geographic animosity following their return to Los Angeles in 2016. The rivalry has also regrown a fierce element of animosity between fans,<ref>{{cite web|url= https://bettingsports.com/news/theory-the-49ers-are-terrible-because-their-fans-are-the-worst-people-on-earth|title= 49ers fans are terrible because their fans are the worst people on earth|access-date= November 18, 2023|archive-date= May 9, 2023|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230509182207/https://bettingsports.com/news/theory-the-49ers-are-terrible-because-their-fans-are-the-worst-people-on-earth|url-status= dead}}</ref><ref name="a401">{{cite web | last=Taibi | first=Milo | title=Look: Football Fans Feel Awful For The San Francisco 49ers | website=Athlon Sports | date=2023-01-29 | url=https://athlonsports.com/nfl/look-football-fans-feel-awful-for-the-san-francisco-49ers | access-date=2024-08-30}}</ref> coaches,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7LX1MuQdqQ|title=Robert Saleh is the Hype Man We All Need : 49ers|website=[[YouTube]] |date=October 14, 2019 }}</ref> and players alike.<ref name="n666">{{cite web | last=Jackson | first=Cliff | title=Random Ramsdom: Aaron Donald seemed to be enjoying the 49ers loss | website=Turf Show Times | date=2023-01-31 | url=https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2023/1/31/23578653/rams-news-aaron-donald-seemed-enjoying-49ers-loss-playoffs | access-date=2024-08-30}}</ref><ref name="g513">{{cite web | last=Taranto | first=Steven | title=Kelly Stafford, Rams QB Matthew Stafford's wife, apologizes for throwing pretzel at 49ers fan | website=CBSSports.com | date=2019-05-08 | url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/kelly-stafford-rams-qb-matthew-staffords-wife-apologizes-for-throwing-pretzel-at-49ers-fan/ | access-date=2024-08-30}}</ref><ref name="z472">{{cite web | last=Polacek | first=Scott | title=Aaron Donald Ejected for Making Contact with Official in Week 1 vs. 49ers | website=Bleacher Report | date=2016-09-13 | url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2663319-aaron-donald-ejected-for-making-contact-with-official-in-week-1-vs-49ers | access-date=2024-07-30}}</ref><ref name="q466">{{cite web | last=Wagner-McGough | first=Sean | title=LOOK: Aaron Donald's ejection is the most exciting play from Rams-49ers | website=CBSSports.com | date=2016-09-13 | url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/look-aaron-donalds-ejection-is-the-most-exciting-play-from-rams-49ers/ | access-date=2024-08-30}}</ref> The two teams have met twice in the postseason; in the [[NFC Championship Game]]. The first meeting came on January 14, 1990, when the 49ers crushed the Rams 30–3 at [[Candlestick Park]] to advance to the team's historic victory in [[Super Bowl XXIV]].<ref name="pfrninersplayoffs"/> Both teams later met again on January 30, 2022, when the Rams rallied from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the 49ers 20–17 at [[SoFi Stadium]], ending a 6-game loss-streak to the 49ers and ultimately proceeding to win [[Super Bowl LVI]].<ref>{{cite web |title=San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams – 2021 NFC Championship Game |url=https://www.nfl.com/games/49ers-at-rams-2021-post-3 |website=NFL.com |access-date=February 2, 2022 |date=January 30, 2022 |archive-date=February 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210030946/https://www.nfl.com/games/49ers-at-rams-2021-post-3 |url-status=live }}</ref> As of 2024, the 49ers lead the all-time series 78-71-3.

====Seattle Seahawks====
{{Main|49ers–Seahawks rivalry}}
During the 2010s, the [[Seattle Seahawks]] quickly grew an intense rivalry with 49ers. The two teams began an exchange of heated regular season matchups following the NFL's realignment in 2002 that relocated both teams into the same division. Prior to 2002, the teams played each other almost every season during the pre-season, but only every three years during the regular season as part of the league scheduling algorithm. The rivalry began to intensify after the 49ers hired [[Jim Harbaugh]] out of [[Stanford University|Stanford]] in 2011, as he and Seahawks and former [[University of Southern California|USC]] head coach [[Pete Carroll]] had been involved in a lengthy feud. The matchups regularly grew in intensity through the 2010s, culminating in the two teams meeting in the 2013 NFC Championship which saw Seattle advance and ultimately on to win [[Super Bowl XLVIII]].<ref name="s703">{{cite web | title=Richard Sherman reflects on 10th anniversary of iconic 'Crabtree' postgame interview | work=FOX Sports | date=2024-01-25 | url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/richard-sherman-reflects-on-10th-anniversary-of-iconic-crabtree-postgame-interview | access-date=2024-08-30}}</ref> As of the 2023 season, the Seahawks lead the all-time series 31–23.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Matchups, San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_query.cgi?tm1=sfo&tm2=sea&yr=all |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

====Arizona Cardinals====
{{Main|49ers–Cardinals rivalry}}
Though the 49ers and [[Arizona Cardinals|Cardinals]] initially met in 1951 and would meet occasionally until 2000, this would not develop into a full-fledged rivalry until both teams were placed in the NFC West division in 2002. Longtime-Quarterback Steve Young suffered a career-ending concussion in a game against the Cardinals on September 27, 1999, after taking a brutal hit from Arizona cornerback [[Aeneas Williams]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4191/is_20000429/ai_n9970931/ | title=FindArticles.com – CBSi|website=findarticles.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/12968406/use-your-head-brian-be-smart-and-walk-away-now?tag=globalNavNFL;headlines | title=Use Your Head, Brian: Be Smart and Walk Away Now | first=Clark | last=Judge | date=February 23, 2010 | work=CBS Sports}}</ref> While still a close rivalry in wins; it is often lopsided on both ends. After the 49ers won nine of ten meetings between 2009 and 2013, the Cardinals won eight straight meetings between 2014 and 2018. San Francisco currently leads the series 36–31.<ref>{{cite web |title=San Francisco 49ers Head To Head Records |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sfo/head-to-head.htm |website=Pro Football Reference |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=November 24, 2023}}</ref>

The two teams have yet to meet in the playoffs.

===Conference===
====Green Bay Packers====
{{main|49ers–Packers rivalry}}
The [[Green Bay Packers]] rivalry emerged in the mid-1990s when the Packers upset the 49ers in the 1995 NFC Divisional game at Candlestick Park, ending any chance of a Super Bowl repeat. From that point, the Packers beat the 49ers four more times including two post-season games. San Francisco was finally able to exact revenge in the 1998 NFC Wild Card round, a game that is remembered for a 25-yard game-winning touchdown reception by [[Terrell Owens]] off a [[Steve Young]] pass (referred to by some as "[[The Catch II]]"), lifting the 49ers over the Packers 30–27. Since that game, the Packers had beaten the 49ers eight straight times including once in the 2001 post-season, a streak that came to an end in the 2012 season when the 49ers beat the Packers in [[Lambeau Field]] week 1 for the first time since 1990, and again in the NFC Divisional game that same season. In the 2019 season the 49ers and Packers met in the 2020 NFC Championship game at Levi's Stadium where the 49ers won 37–20, but went on to lose [[Super Bowl LIV]] to the [[Kansas City Chiefs]]. The Packers also proceeded to lose to the 49ers in the Divisional Round in the 2021–2022 season. The 49ers trail the all-time series with a record of 34–39–1, though San Francisco holds a 6–4 lead in the postseason, winning the last five meetings.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Matchups, San Francisco 49ers vs. Green Bay Packers |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_query.cgi?tm1=sfo&tm2=gnb&yr=all |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

====Dallas Cowboys====
{{main|49ers–Cowboys rivalry}}
The rivalry between the [[Dallas Cowboys]] and the 49ers has lasted since the 1970s. The [[NFL Top 10]] ranked this rivalry to be the tenth best in NFL history. San Francisco has played Dallas in nine postseason games. The Cowboys defeated the 49ers in the 1970 and 1971 NFC championship games, and again in the 1972 Divisional Playoff Game. The 1981 NFC championship game in San Francisco, which saw the 49ers' [[Joe Montana]] complete a game-winning pass to [[Dwight Clark]] in the final minute (now known as '''The Catch'''), is one of the most famous games in NFL history. The rivalry became even more intense during the 1992–1994 seasons. San Francisco and Dallas faced each other in the NFC championship game three separate times. Dallas won the first two match-ups, and San Francisco won the third. In each of these pivotal match-ups, the game's victor went on to win the Super Bowl. Both the Cowboys and the 49ers are third all-time in [[Super Bowl]] victories to the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] and [[New England Patriots]] with five each. The 49ers–Cowboys rivalry is also part of the larger cultural rivalry between California and Texas. In recent years, this once-great rivalry has greatly softened, with the struggles of both the Cowboys and 49ers. However, in its prime especially in the 1990s, this rivalry was a very bitter one as both teams were the class of the NFL during this time. In what was believed to be the greatest upset in the team's rivalry in the modern era, the 49ers upset the Cowboys in the 2021 Wild Card Round.
The 2022 49ers would go on to continue their winning streak against the Cowboys winning the divisional round game 19–12. The Cowboys' loss to the 49ers was their seventh straight in the divisional round, which is the longest streak in the second round of the NFL playoffs. In Week 5 of 2023–24 season, the 49ers beat the Cowboys 42–10, making it the largest win margin for the 49ers in the history of the rivalry. The 49ers lead the all-time series at 21-19-1, although they trail the Cowboys 4–5 in the playoffs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Matchups, San Francisco 49ers vs. Dallas Cowboys |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_query.cgi?tm1=sfo&tm2=dal&yr=all |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

====New York Giants====
{{main|49ers–Giants rivalry}}

The [[New York Giants]] have the most playoff meetings versus the 49ers (eight). The playoff series is currently tied at four wins a piece, and in five of their eight meetings, the winning team has gone on to win the Super Bowl. This rivalry is rooted in the 1980s when both teams were on the rise. In the first two playoff meetings between these two teams, the [[Joe Montana]]-led 49ers won both meetings, 38–24 in [[1981 NFL season|1981]] and 21–10 in [[1984 NFL season|1984]] both in the divisional round at [[Candlestick Park]]; the 49ers went on to win their first two Super Bowl championships both seasons. The Giants won the next three playoff meetings, which included a 49–3 rout at [[Giants Stadium]] in [[1986 NFL season|1986]], and the [[1990 NFL season|1990 NFC championship]], where they upset the 49ers 15–13, ruining the 49ers hopes of a Super Bowl three-peat after [[Roger Craig (American football)|Roger Craig]] lost a fumble late in the fourth quarter and let the Giants score on a last-second field goal. Giants also went on to win their first two Super Bowl championships both seasons. The 49ers defeated the Giants 44–3 in [[1993 NFL season|1993]] in the divisional round.<ref name="h063">{{cite web | last=Simers | first=T.J. | title=Giants Needed a Dam to Stop 49ers' Watters : NFC: San Francisco back runs for NFL-record five touchdowns in 44-3 victory. Taylor announces retirement. | website=Los Angeles Times | date=1994-01-16 | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-01-16-sp-12482-story.html | access-date=2024-08-30}}</ref>  In the [[2002 NFL season|2002 NFC wildcard]] game, the Giants were ahead 38–14 late in the third quarter; however, the 49ers came back from the 24-point deficit to beat the Giants with a 39–38 victory. The teams met again in the [[2011 NFL season|2011 NFC championship]] at Candlestick Park, and just like the 1990 NFC championship, it was a low-scoring game; the Giants won the game on a [[Lawrence Tynes]] 31-yard field goal in overtime, 20–17. In an eerie similarity to Roger Craig's fumble 21 years earlier, [[Kyle Williams (wide receiver, born 1988)|Kyle Williams]] fumbled a punt in the crucial minutes of the game, and just like the last two times, the Giants beat the 49ers in the playoffs, they went on to win the Super Bowl.  San Francisco leads the all-time series 22–21.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Matchups, San Francisco 49ers vs. New York Giants |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_query.cgi?tm1=sfo&tm2=nyg&yr=all |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

===Historic===
{{original research section|date=January 2013}}

====Atlanta Falcons====
The [[Atlanta Falcons]] were also division rivals with the 49ers until the Falcons moved to the NFC South in 2002 after the realignment.<ref name="u551" /> Just like the Saints, the 49ers had dominated the Falcons when they played in the NFC West, but the Falcons won their first four games (spanning nine seasons) against the 49ers since moving to the NFC South. Both teams met in the divisional round of the [[1998–99 NFL playoffs|1998 playoffs]]. [[Garrison Hearst]] suffered an ankle break after his foot was caught in the [[Georgia Dome]] turf and twisted severely as he tried to spin away from Falcons' defensive end [[Chuck Smith (defensive end)|Chuck Smith]] on the first play from [[Line of scrimmage|scrimmage]]; the 49ers lost that game 20–18. They met in the [[2012–13 NFL playoffs|2012 NFC championship]], in which the 49ers, led by quarterback Colin Kaepernick, defeated the top-seeded Falcons in Atlanta by a score of 28–24. The next year, the Falcons played against the 49ers in the final home game at Candlestick Park ever. The game ended in a dramatic interception return for a touchdown by 49ers linebacker [[NaVorro Bowman]], known as "The Pick at the 'Stick".<ref>{{cite news|last=Fann|first=Joe|title=NaVorro Bowman Retires from NFL as a Member of the 49ers|url=https://www.49ers.com/news/navorro-bowman-retires-from-nfl-as-a-member-of-the-49ers|publisher=NFL Enterprises, LLC|website=49ers.com|date=June 4, 2019|access-date=July 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629081852/https://www.49ers.com/news/navorro-bowman-retires-from-nfl-as-a-member-of-the-49ers|archive-date=June 29, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.levisstadium.com/2015/04/49ers-announce-2015-schedule/|title=49ers Announce 2015 Schedule|date=April 21, 2015|access-date=August 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525153719/http://www.levisstadium.com/2015/04/49ers-announce-2015-schedule/|archive-date=May 25, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The 49ers maintain an overall 48–33–1 against the Falcons, but are tied 1–1 in the postseason.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Matchups, San Francisco 49ers vs. Atlanta Falcons |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_query.cgi?tm1=sfo&tm2=atl&yr=all |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

====Oakland Raiders====
{{Main|49ers–Raiders rivalry}}
The [[Las Vegas Raiders|Oakland Raiders]] were the 49ers' geographic rivals when the Raiders were located in [[History of the Oakland Raiders|Oakland]]. As a result, games between the two were referred to as the "Battle of the Bay".<ref name="battletwo">{{cite news|title=49ers And Raiders Stagger Into Battle|url=http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=49ers&id=4638285|agency=Associated Press|publisher=KGO-TV|date=October 7, 2006|access-date=February 4, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070219105318/http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=49ers&id=4638285|archive-date=February 19, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> The first exhibition game played in 1967, ended with the NFL 49ers defeating the AFL Raiders 13–10. After the 1970 merger, the 49ers won in Oakland 38–7. The rivalry still remained heated when [[History of the Los Angeles Raiders|the Raiders moved to Los Angeles]], leaving many Raider fans in Northern California bitter over the move, and some of them becoming 49er fans, added with the antagonism between Northern and Southern California. The Raiders notably upset the defending Super Bowl champion 49ers in San Francisco in 1982, winning 23–17.  In addition, both teams have shared a number of players, most notably [[Jim Plunkett]], [[Jerry Rice]], [[Ronnie Lott]], [[Michael Crabtree]], [[Tom Rathman]], and [[Charlie Garner]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Players who played for Las Vegas Raiders and San Francisco 49ers |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/friv/players-who-played-for-multiple-teams-franchises.fcgi?level=franch&t1=rai&t2=sfo&t3=--&t4=-- |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

On August 20, 2011, in the third week of the pre-season, the pre-season game between the rivals was marked by fights in restrooms and stands at [[Candlestick Park]] including a shooting outside the stadium in which several were injured. The NFL decided to cancel all future pre-season games between the Raiders and 49ers. The final regular season matchup of the "Battle of the Bay" was won by San Francisco by a score of 34–3 on November 1, 2018, leaving the series tied 7–7. In 2020, the Raiders began playing their home games at [[Allegiant Stadium]] in Las Vegas, effectively ending the geographic rivalry. The San Francisco 49ers would meet with the Raiders for the first time in Las Vegas on January 1, 2023. The 49ers would take a slim overtime win in with a field goal ending the game 37–34. The 49ers lead the all-time series 8–7.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Matchups, San Francisco 49ers vs. Las Vegas/LA/Oakland Raiders |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_query.cgi?tm1=sfo&tm2=rai&yr=all |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

====Cleveland Browns====
In the AAFC, the only other competitive team other than the 49ers was the [[Cleveland Browns]], who they played twice each of the four years the league was in service; Cleveland lost four games in the AAFC, and San Francisco was responsible for two of them, including the one that broke a 29-game streak where Cleveland did not lose a game. The final game in AAFC history matched the two for the [[All-America Football Conference playoffs#1949|AAFC Championship]], which Cleveland won 21–7. The rivalry did not last into the NFL years, particularly after the teams were placed in opposite conferences in {{nfly|1970}}.  The rivalry has turned into a friendly relationship as many 49ers personnel helped the Browns relaunch in 1999, specifically former 49ers president and CEO [[Carmen Policy]] and vice president/director of football operations [[Dwight Clark]], who were hired by the expansion Browns in the same roles.  In addition, 49ers owners [[John York]] and [[Denise DeBartolo York]] reside in [[Youngstown, Ohio|Youngstown]], {{convert|60|mi}} southeast of Cleveland. Long-time Browns placekicker and fan favorite [[Phil Dawson]] and backup quarterback [[Colt McCoy]] signed with the 49ers in 2014. The Browns currently lead the all-time series 20–10.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Matchups, San Francisco 49ers vs. Cleveland Browns |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_query.cgi?tm1=sfo&tm2=cle&yr=all |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>