  | |
| First meeting | November 11, 1951 Kezar Stadium San Francisco, California Cardinals 27, 49ers 21 |
|---|---|
| Latest meeting | January 5, 2025 State Farm Stadium Glendale, Arizona Cardinals 47, 49ers 24 |
| Next meeting: | 2025 |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 67 meetings (as of 2024) |
| All-time series | 36–31–0: 49ers lead |
| Postseason series | None |
| Largest victory | 49ers: won 50-14 on December 7, 2003 Cardinals: won 47-7 on September 27, 2015 |
| Current win streak | 49ers, 4 (2022–present) |
| Longest win streak: | 49ers: 5 wins (several times) Cardinals: 8 wins (2015–18) |
| Championship Success | |
| NFL Championships (7) | |
The 49ers–Cardinals rivalry is a professional American football rivalry 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 2024 season, the 49ers lead the series 36–31.[2]
History[]
The 49ers and Cardinals first met on November 18, 1951 at the former's home field, Kezar Stadium. Behind the performance of Charley Trippi, the then-Chicago Cardinals won the game 27–21.[3] The Cardinals would lead the series prior to the arrival of Bill Walsh, Joe Montana, and Jerry Rice to the 49ers.[3]
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]
Anquan Boldin had multiple 1,000 receiving yard seasons with both the 49ers and Cardinals
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]
To kick off their 2006 season, the Cardinals hosted the 49ers at the newly opened University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals won the game 34–27.[5]
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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1950s (Cardinals, 2–0)
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1960s (49ers, 2–1)
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1970s (Cardinals, 4–1)
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1980s (49ers, 5–1)
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1990s (49ers, 3–1)
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2000s (49ers, 10–7)
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2010s (Tie, 10–10)
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2020s (Tie, 5–5)
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Summary of Results
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See also[]
References[]
- ↑ Cox, Seth (November 21, 2022). Cardinals vs. 49ers rivalry has been fairly equal since NFC West realignment, except for one aspect. SB Nation. Retrieved on February 22, 2023.
- ↑ San Francisco 49ers vs. Chicago/St. Louis/Arizona Cardinals. Sports Reference. Retrieved on February 22, 2023.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Cardinals vs. 49ers: History between the two franchises goes back a ways to the bay. SB Nation (December 25, 2014). Retrieved on February 22, 2023.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Nordmeier, Andrew (July 12, 2013). An Arizona Cardinals Fan Guide to Hating the San Francisco 49ers. Bleacher Report. Retrieved on February 22, 2023.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Harner, Andrew (June 26, 2022). 10 Greatest Wins in Arizona Cardinals History. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved on February 22, 2023.
- ↑ 15 Lesser-known Facts about 49ers-Cardinals Rivalry. San Francisco 49ers (December 22, 2014). Retrieved on February 22, 2023.
- ↑ History to be made in Mexico City. National Football League (September 28, 2005).
- ↑ Weber, Brendan (November 21, 2022). What to Know: 49ers vs. Cardinals in Mexico City. NBC Bay Area. Retrieved on February 22, 2023.
- ↑ San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals share intense rivalry. East Bay Times (August 15, 2016). Retrieved on February 22, 2023.
- ↑ Gay, Nancy (September 12, 2007). 49ers, Cardinals turn competition to rivalry. Retrieved on February 22, 2023.
- ↑ Beanie Wells hates the 49ers. ProFootballTalk. NBC Sports (August 20, 2010). Retrieved on February 22, 2023.
- ↑ Branch, Eric (October 29, 2012). 49ers visit Arizona on Monday. Retrieved on February 22, 2023.
- ↑ Rosenthal, Gregg (May 19, 2010). Vernon Davis, Darnell Dockett do battle on Twitter. ProFootballTalk. NBC Sports. Retrieved on February 22, 2023.
- ↑ McCauley, Janie (September 12, 2015). Cardinals have lost 9 of 10 to 49ers; now they have a distraction to deal with, too. Associated Press. Fox News. Retrieved on February 22, 2023.
- ↑ Root, Jess (October 5, 2018). Cardinals have dominated 49ers in recent history. Cards Wire. USA Today. Retrieved on February 22, 2023.
- ↑ Dubow, Josh (October 30, 2019). 49ers look to end 8-game skid vs. NFC West rival Cardinals. Associated Press. Retrieved on February 22, 2023.
- ↑ Rodriguez, Tristi (November 16, 2022). Fiel a la Bahía: 49ers takeover appears likely in Mexico City. NBC Sports. Retrieved on February 22, 2023.
- ↑ Maiocco, Matt (November 21, 2022). What we learned as 49ers crush Cardinals, move up in NFC. NBC Sports. Retrieved on February 22, 2023.
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