The 49ers–Cardinals rivalry is a professional
American footballrivalry in the
National Football League (NFL) between the
San Francisco 49ers and the
Arizona Cardinals. The two teams met each other occasionally from
1951 to
2000. As part of the league's
2002 realignment, the Cardinals moved from the
NFC East to the
NFC West Division, of which the 49ers had been a part of since its inception as the Coastal Division in
1967. Since 2002, the teams have competed against each other as division rivals. The rivalry is a closely contested series, particularly after the 2002 realignment.[1] Through the
2023 season, the 49ers lead the series 36–29.[2]
Following the 1987 season, the Cardinals relocated to
Phoenix, Arizona. In the 49ers' first trip to Phoenix, they blundered a 23–0 lead. The Cardinals came back and won 24–23, scoring a touchdown in the final seconds of the game.[4][5]
During a
1999 game between the two teams, Cardinals cornerback
Aeneas Williams delivered a sack on 49ers quarterback
Steve Young. Young was concussed on the play, with his injury ultimately being a career-ending one.[4]
The two teams became division rivals when the Cardinals moved to the
NFC West, as part of the NFL's
2002 realignment. In
2004, the 49ers finished with a dismal 2–14 record; both of their 2 wins, however, came against the Cardinals.[4] The following season, the two teams played the first NFL regular season game held outside of the United States.[6] Dubbed Fútbol Americano, the game was played at
Estadio Azteca, in
Mexico City; the Cardinals won 31–14.[7][8]
During the late 2000s and early 2010s, the 49ers and Cardinals were common Monday Night Football (MNF) opponents, having played each other five times in six years (from 2007 to 2012).[9] In the 2007 matchup, quarterback
Alex Smith led the 49ers to a comeback victory over the Cardinals to kick off the season.[10] Also during this period, Cardinals and 49ers players were noted as often sharing hateful sentiments about the opposing side.[11][12] 49ers tight end
Vernon Davis and Cardinals defensive tackle
Darnell Dockett were also noted exchanging barbs on
Twitter.[13] The results between the two teams were lopsided during this period, with the Cardinals winning one of ten matchups from 2009 to 2013. Then-Cardinals head coach
Bruce Arians likened the rivalry to the
Browns–Steelers rivalry.[14] However, shifting into the mid-2010s, the Cardinals dominated the 49ers, winning eight straight games in the rivalry from
2015 to
2018.[15][16]
The two teams once again met in Mexico for another Monday Night Football matchup in
2022.[17] 49ers quarterback
Jimmy Garoppolo passed for 4 touchdowns in the game, leading his team to a 38–10 victory.[18]
Results
San Francisco 49ers vs. Chicago/St. Louis/Arizona Cardinals season-by-season results