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 2023 season, the 49ers lead the series 36–29.^[2]

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Locations of the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals

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]

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]

• National Football League rivalries