The Seahawks and the 49ers have been divisional rivals since 2002, and have frequently contested for the NFC West title and playoff berths. The rivalry intensified in the 2010s, when both teams became dominant forces in the NFC and faced each other in the 2013 NFC Championship Game, which the Seahawks won en route to their first Super Bowl title. The rivalry also featured a personal feud between head coaches Pete Carroll and Jim Harbaugh, who had previously clashed in college football.
The Cowboys and the 49ers have a long-standing rivalry that dates back to the 1970s, when they met in three consecutive NFC Championship Games, with the Cowboys winning two of them. The rivalry reached its peak in the 1990s, when they met in four more NFC Championship Games, with the 49ers winning three of them. The rivalry also featured some of the most iconic players and coaches in NFL history, such as Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Steve Young, Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin, Bill Walsh, and Jimmy Johnson.
The Packers and the 49ers have a storied rivalry that spans across several decades and eras. The rivalry began in the 1960s, when the Packers, led by Vince Lombardi, defeated the 49ers, led by John Brodie, in three playoff games. The rivalry resumed in the 1990s, when the Packers, led by Brett Favre, defeated the 49ers, led by Steve Young, in four playoff games, including the famous 1998 Wild Card Game that ended with a touchdown catch by Terrell Owens. The rivalry continued in the 2010s, when the 49ers, led by Colin Kaepernick, defeated the Packers, led by Aaron Rodgers, in three playoff games, including the 2012 Divisional Round that featured Kaepernick's record-breaking rushing performance.
The Rams and the 49ers have been divisional rivals since 1950, and have played each other more than any other two teams in NFL history. The rivalry has had several memorable moments, such as the 1989 NFC Championship Game that the 49ers won by a score of 30-3, the 1994 Monday Night Football game that featured a comeback by the 49ers from a 17-point deficit, and the 2018 Week 17 game that decided the NFC West title and the first seed in the NFC playoffs.
The Raiders were fierce rivals of the 49ers during their time in Oakland. Although the intensity has waned since the Raiders’ move to Las Vegas, the memories of their heated battles persist.