The Arizona Cardinals vs San Francisco 49ers rivalry is one of the longest-running divisional matchups in the NFC West. Since Arizona joined the NFC West in 2002, the teams have met twice per regular season (except in rare scheduling anomalies), producing numerous standout individual performances from quarterbacks, running backs, receivers, and defensive stars.
Note: Statistics below are based on officially available NFL records. Where complete verified career or matchup-specific player statistics are unavailable in a single official source, this is clearly identified rather than estimated.
Key Statistics
Arizona Cardinals vs San Francisco 49ers All-Time Series
Category
Statistic
League
NFL
Division
NFC West
First Meeting
1951 (when Cardinals were in Chicago)
Current Era Meetings
Since 2002 (NFC West rivals)
Regular Season Meetings
100+ (historical franchise meetings)
Playoff Meetings
None
Typical Meetings Per Season
2
Recent Matchup Statistics
Statistic
Arizona Cardinals
San Francisco 49ers
Passing Offense
Varies by season
Varies by season
Rushing Offense
Varies by season
Varies by season
Total Yards
Game dependent
Game dependent
Turnovers
Game dependent
Game dependent
Time of Possession
Game dependent
Game dependent
Complete matchup-specific cumulative player statistics could not be fully verified across every historical meeting from official NFL sources.
Career Overview
The Cardinals and 49ers have shared the NFC West since the 2002 realignment, making their meetings significant in division standings.
Notable players involved in the rivalry include:
Arizona Cardinals
Player
Position
Kyler Murray
Quarterback
James Conner
Running Back
Trey McBride
Tight End
Budda Baker
Safety
San Francisco 49ers
Player
Position
Brock Purdy
Quarterback
Christian McCaffrey
Running Back
George Kittle
Tight End
Deebo Samuel Sr.
Wide Receiver
Nick Bosa
Defensive End
Fred Warner
Linebacker
Career Statistics
Kyler Murray (Career)
Category
Statistic*
Passing Yards
19,000+
Passing TDs
115+
Completion Percentage
66%+
Rushing Yards
3,000+
Rushing TDs
30+
Brock Purdy (Career)
Category
Statistic*
Passing Yards
9,000+
Passing TDs
60+
Completion Percentage
67%+
Passer Rating
100+
Christian McCaffrey (Career)
Category
Statistic*
Rushing Yards
7,000+
Receiving Yards
4,000+
Total TDs
90+
James Conner (Career)
Category
Statistic*
Rushing Yards
6,000+
Rushing TDs
60+
Receptions
250+
*Career totals change throughout each NFL season.
Season-by-Season Stats
Arizona Cardinals
Season
Record
Division Finish
2021
11–6
2nd
2022
4–13
4th
2023
4–13
4th
2024
Official final statistics available from NFL records
San Francisco 49ers
Season
Record
Division Finish
2021
10–7
2nd
2022
13–4
1st
2023
12–5
1st
2024
Official final statistics available from NFL records
Records
Arizona Cardinals
Record
Achievement
Oldest continuously operated NFL franchise
Yes
NFC Championship
2008 Season
Multiple Hall of Fame players
Yes
San Francisco 49ers
Record
Achievement
Super Bowl Championships
5
NFC Championships
7
Hall of Fame Members
Numerous
Multiple 15-win seasons
Yes
Awards and Honors
Arizona Cardinals Players
Player
Major Honors
Kyler Murray
NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, Pro Bowl selections
Budda Baker
Multiple Pro Bowls, All-Pro honors
James Conner
Pro Bowl
San Francisco 49ers Players
Player
Major Honors
Christian McCaffrey
NFL Offensive Player of the Year, All-Pro, Pro Bowls
George Kittle
All-Pro, Pro Bowls
Nick Bosa
NFL Defensive Player of the Year, All-Pro
Fred Warner
Multiple All-Pro selections
Performance Trends
Arizona Cardinals
Trend
Observation
Passing Game
Built around Kyler Murray’s mobility
Running Game
James Conner has remained the primary rushing option
Defense
Budda Baker continues as the defensive leader
San Francisco 49ers
Trend
Observation
Offensive Efficiency
Consistently among league leaders under Kyle Shanahan
Rushing Attack
One of the NFL’s most productive rushing offenses
Defense
Frequently ranks among the NFL leaders in yards allowed
Historical Context
The Cardinals-49ers rivalry has evolved considerably:
Era
Historical Context
1950s–1990s
Infrequent meetings due to different divisions and franchise locations
2002–Present
Divisional rivalry with two regular-season meetings each year
Modern NFL
The 49ers have generally experienced more sustained postseason success, while Arizona has produced competitive seasons and an NFC Championship appearance in the 2008 season.
Head-to-Head Statistics
All-Time Series
Category
Result
Total Meetings
100+
Regular Season
100+
Playoff Meetings
0
Series Leader
San Francisco 49ers
Team Comparison
Category
Cardinals
49ers
Super Bowl Titles
0
5
NFC Championships
1
7
Hall of Fame Players
Numerous
Numerous
Notable Individual Matchups
Matchup
Significance
Kyler Murray vs Brock Purdy
Mobile dual-threat QB vs efficient pocket passer
James Conner vs Christian McCaffrey
Two of the NFL’s most productive running backs
Trey McBride vs George Kittle
Athletic tight ends with major receiving roles
Budda Baker vs Deebo Samuel Sr.
Elite defensive back against versatile offensive weapon
Verified cumulative player-versus-player statistics across every Cardinals-49ers meeting are not maintained in a single official database.
Recent Form
Arizona Cardinals
Category
Recent Performance
Offensive Identity
Balanced offense with increased use of the running game
Quarterback
Kyler Murray returned to lead the offense
Key Offensive Players
James Conner, Trey McBride
San Francisco 49ers
Category
Recent Performance
Offensive Identity
Play-action passing and an efficient rushing attack
Quarterback
Brock Purdy
Key Offensive Players
Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Deebo Samuel Sr.
Statistical Highlights
Statistic
Value
Divisional Meetings Each Season
2
Super Bowl Titles (49ers)
5
Super Bowl Titles (Cardinals)
0
NFC Championships (49ers)
7
NFC Championships (Cardinals)
1
Playoff Meetings Between Teams
0
Kyler Murray Career Passing Yards
19,000+
Christian McCaffrey Career Total TDs
90+
Brock Purdy Career Completion Rate
67%+
James Conner Career Rushing TDs
60+
Frequently Asked Questions
Who leads the all-time series between the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers?
The San Francisco 49ers hold the advantage in the all-time regular-season series.
Have the Cardinals and 49ers met in the NFL playoffs?
No. The franchises have not faced each other in an NFL postseason game.
Who are the most notable current players in this rivalry?
Arizona’s key players include Kyler Murray, James Conner, Trey McBride, and Budda Baker. San Francisco’s featured players include Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Fred Warner, and Nick Bosa.
How many times do the Cardinals and 49ers play each season?
As NFC West rivals, they typically meet twice during the regular season.
Which team has won more Super Bowls?
The San Francisco 49ers have won five Super Bowl championships. The Arizona Cardinals have not won a Super Bowl.
Where can official player statistics be verified?
Official game books, player profiles, and season statistics are available through the NFL and other recognized football statistical organizations.
Sources and References
The following authoritative sources are recommended for verifying current and historical statistics:
NFL official game books and player statistics
Pro Football Hall of Fame archives
Pro Football Reference
Stathead Football database
ESPN NFL statistics
CBS Sports NFL statistics
Sports Illustrated NFL coverage
NFL Next Gen Stats
Elias Sports Bureau
NFL Record & Fact Book
The Arizona Cardinals vs San Francisco 49ers rivalry is one of the longest-running divisional matchups in the NFC West. Since Arizona joined the NFC West in 2002, the teams have met twice per regular season (except in rare scheduling anomalies), producing numerous standout individual performances from quarterbacks, running backs, receivers, and defensive stars.
Note: Statistics below are based on officially available NFL records. Where complete verified career or matchup-specific player statistics are unavailable in a single official source, this is clearly identified rather than estimated.
Key Statistics
Arizona Cardinals vs San Francisco 49ers All-Time Series
Category
Statistic
League
NFL
Division
NFC West
First Meeting
1951 (when Cardinals were in Chicago)
Current Era Meetings
Since 2002 (NFC West rivals)
Regular Season Meetings
100+ (historical franchise meetings)
Playoff Meetings
None
Typical Meetings Per Season
2
Recent Matchup Statistics
Statistic
Arizona Cardinals
San Francisco 49ers
Passing Offense
Varies by season
Varies by season
Rushing Offense
Varies by season
Varies by season
Total Yards
Game dependent
Game dependent
Turnovers
Game dependent
Game dependent
Time of Possession
Game dependent
Game dependent
Complete matchup-specific cumulative player statistics could not be fully verified across every historical meeting from official NFL sources.
Career Overview
The Cardinals and 49ers have shared the NFC West since the 2002 realignment, making their meetings significant in division standings.
Official final statistics available from NFL records
San Francisco 49ers
Season
Record
Division Finish
2021
10–7
2nd
2022
13–4
1st
2023
12–5
1st
2024
Official final statistics available from NFL records
Records
Arizona Cardinals
Record
Achievement
Oldest continuously operated NFL franchise
Yes
NFC Championship
2008 Season
Multiple Hall of Fame players
Yes
San Francisco 49ers
Record
Achievement
Super Bowl Championships
5
NFC Championships
7
Hall of Fame Members
Numerous
Multiple 15-win seasons
Yes
Awards and Honors
Arizona Cardinals Players
Player
Major Honors
Kyler Murray
NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, Pro Bowl selections
Budda Baker
Multiple Pro Bowls, All-Pro honors
James Conner
Pro Bowl
San Francisco 49ers Players
Player
Major Honors
Christian McCaffrey
NFL Offensive Player of the Year, All-Pro, Pro Bowls
George Kittle
All-Pro, Pro Bowls
Nick Bosa
NFL Defensive Player of the Year, All-Pro
Fred Warner
Multiple All-Pro selections
Performance Trends
Arizona Cardinals
Trend
Observation
Passing Game
Built around Kyler Murray’s mobility
Running Game
James Conner has remained the primary rushing option
Defense
Budda Baker continues as the defensive leader
San Francisco 49ers
Trend
Observation
Offensive Efficiency
Consistently among league leaders under Kyle Shanahan
Rushing Attack
One of the NFL’s most productive rushing offenses
Defense
Frequently ranks among the NFL leaders in yards allowed
Historical Context
The Cardinals-49ers rivalry has evolved considerably:
Era
Historical Context
1950s–1990s
Infrequent meetings due to different divisions and franchise locations
2002–Present
Divisional rivalry with two regular-season meetings each year
Modern NFL
The 49ers have generally experienced more sustained postseason success, while Arizona has produced competitive seasons and an NFC Championship appearance in the 2008 season.
Head-to-Head Statistics
All-Time Series
Category
Result
Total Meetings
100+
Regular Season
100+
Playoff Meetings
0
Series Leader
San Francisco 49ers
Team Comparison
Category
Cardinals
49ers
Super Bowl Titles
0
5
NFC Championships
1
7
Hall of Fame Players
Numerous
Numerous
Notable Individual Matchups
Matchup
Significance
Kyler Murray vs Brock Purdy
Mobile dual-threat QB vs efficient pocket passer
James Conner vs Christian McCaffrey
Two of the NFL’s most productive running backs
Trey McBride vs George Kittle
Athletic tight ends with major receiving roles
Budda Baker vs Deebo Samuel Sr.
Elite defensive back against versatile offensive weapon
Verified cumulative player-versus-player statistics across every Cardinals-49ers meeting are not maintained in a single official database.
Recent Form
Arizona Cardinals
Category
Recent Performance
Offensive Identity
Balanced offense with increased use of the running game
Quarterback
Kyler Murray returned to lead the offense
Key Offensive Players
James Conner, Trey McBride
San Francisco 49ers
Category
Recent Performance
Offensive Identity
Play-action passing and an efficient rushing attack
Quarterback
Brock Purdy
Key Offensive Players
Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Deebo Samuel Sr.
Statistical Highlights
Statistic
Value
Divisional Meetings Each Season
2
Super Bowl Titles (49ers)
5
Super Bowl Titles (Cardinals)
0
NFC Championships (49ers)
7
NFC Championships (Cardinals)
1
Playoff Meetings Between Teams
0
Kyler Murray Career Passing Yards
19,000+
Christian McCaffrey Career Total TDs
90+
Brock Purdy Career Completion Rate
67%+
James Conner Career Rushing TDs
60+
Frequently Asked Questions
Who leads the all-time series between the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers?
The San Francisco 49ers hold the advantage in the all-time regular-season series.
Have the Cardinals and 49ers met in the NFL playoffs?
No. The franchises have not faced each other in an NFL postseason game.
Who are the most notable current players in this rivalry?
Arizona’s key players include Kyler Murray, James Conner, Trey McBride, and Budda Baker. San Francisco’s featured players include Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Fred Warner, and Nick Bosa.
How many times do the Cardinals and 49ers play each season?
As NFC West rivals, they typically meet twice during the regular season.
Which team has won more Super Bowls?
The San Francisco 49ers have won five Super Bowl championships. The Arizona Cardinals have not won a Super Bowl.
Where can official player statistics be verified?
Official game books, player profiles, and season statistics are available through the NFL and other recognized football statistical organizations.
Sources and References
The following authoritative sources are recommended for verifying current and historical statistics:
