The 49ers–Cowboys rivalry is a
National Football League (NFL)
rivalry between the
San Francisco 49ers and the
Dallas Cowboys. The 49ers lead the series 20–19–1. It is one of the great inter-division rivalry games in the NFL.[1][2] As the Cowboys play in
NFC East and the 49ers in the
NFC West, they do not play every year; instead, they play at least once every three years and at least once every six seasons at each team's home stadium due to the NFL's rotating division schedules when their respective divisions are paired up. Additionally, not only both teams could meet in the playoffs, but also if they finish in the same place in their respective divisions, they would play the ensuing season.[3][4][5][6][7][8]Sports Illustrated ranked it as the eighth best rivalry[9] while the
NFL Top 10 ranked this rivalry to be the tenth best in the NFL.[10] In 2020, CBS ranked it as the No. 1 NFL rivalry of the 1990s.[11][12] The rivalry was also the subject of two 2015 episodes of
NFL Network's The Timeline entitled "A Tale of Two Cities" with actors
Sam Elliott (Cowboys) and
Jeremy Renner (49ers) as narrators.[13][14][15]
The Cowboys and 49ers have faced each other in the postseason nine times, the most between any two NFL teams. The rivalry between the Cowboys and 49ers started gaining traction in the 1970s. 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.[16][17][18]
The rivalry became even more intense from 1992 to 1994 when the two teams faced each other in the NFC Championship Game during all three seasons. Dallas won the first two match-ups while San Francisco won the third, and in each of these pivotal match-ups, the game's victor went on to win the Super Bowl. With the Cowboys winning the Super Bowl following the 1995 season, from 1992 to 1995, either the Cowboys or the 49ers were Super Bowl champions, giving both teams five each – which, at the time, was tied for the most by any NFL team and later NFC team (currently, both teams are tied for third behind the
Pittsburgh Steelers and the
New England Patriots with six each).[19][20][21]
The rivalry went cold for many years due to the two teams’ inability to make the postseason in the same year after
1998 and until
2021, when both teams made the playoffs and were matched against each other in the Wild Card Round in Dallas.[22] The 49ers won that game 23–17. The two teams would meet each other in the 2022 playoff divisional round, which saw the 49ers take a 19–12 win.[23][24] Both teams qualified for the 2023 postseason. However, the teams' fellow rival, the
Green Bay Packers, defeated the Cowboys, becoming the first 7 seed to win a playoff game against the 2 seed. The loss not only prevented a third straight matchup with the 49ers, but also allowed
the Packers and 49ers to play in a record 10th playoff game.[25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32]
Game played on
Thanksgiving Day.
Most recent tied game in Cowboys history as of 2024. First game in this series for former Cowboys defensive back and assistant coach
Dick Nolan as 49ers head coach.
NFC Divisional playoffs. First meeting at Candlestick Park. With Roger Staubach (who had been injured for much of the season) coming off the bench to replace an ineffective
Craig Morton; Cowboys overcome 21–3 deficit and a 28–13 deficit in the fourth quarter to win. Last 49ers post-season game until
1981.
First start in the series for
Joe Montana. This game also marked the first game as a 49er for defensive end
Fred Dean after Dean was acquired in a trade with the
San Diego Chargers.
NFC Championship Game. First postseason win for the 49ers over the Cowboys. Wide receiver
Dwight Clark makes a leaping catch in the back of the end zone on a pass from
Joe Montana with 51 seconds left, best referred to as "
The Catch". 49ers win
Super Bowl XVI.
NFC Championship Game. Cowboys win
Super Bowl XXVII. After the game, Cowboys' head coach
Jimmy Johnson was caught saying "How Bout Them Cowboys" in their postgame locker room.
Second straight NFC Championship Game meeting. Cowboys win
Super Bowl XXVIII. Troy Aikman was knocked out of the game with a concussion after the knee of rookie 49er defensive tackle
Dana Stubblefield struck his head.
Last start in the series for
Troy Aikman. This game was remembered for 49ers wide receiver (and future Cowboy)
Terrell Owens spiking the ball on the Cowboys star at midfield following a touchdown and subsequently being hit by Cowboys safety
George Teague.
Limited fans in attendance due to ongoing
COVID-19 pandemic. 49ers were eliminated from postseason contention with this loss, coupled with a win by the
Cardinals.