After steamrolling the San Francisco 49ers 41-6 in the divisional round, the Seattle Seahawks are heading back to the NFC Championship Game - and this time, they’ll be hosting the Los Angeles Rams with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.
One of the biggest storylines heading into that matchup? Quarterback Sam Darnold.
Just last season, Darnold was wearing red and gold, backing up Brock Purdy in San Francisco. Now, he’s leading the charge for Seattle, looking to take down his former team’s division rival on the biggest stage of his career.
Darnold’s journey from the Bay to the Pacific Northwest is just the latest chapter in a long-running connection between these two NFC West foes. Over the years, several high-profile players have made the move from the 49ers to the Seahawks - and made a serious impact in the process. Let’s take a closer look at three of the most notable names who made that leap.
Ricky Watters - The All-Purpose Back Who Brought the Fire
Ricky Watters didn’t just play for the 49ers - he thrived. Drafted in the second round in 1991, Watters made an immediate impact, earning Pro Bowl honors in each of his first three seasons. His blend of power, agility, and pass-catching ability made him a nightmare for defenses and a perfect fit in San Francisco’s high-powered offense.
His time with the Niners peaked in 1994, when he helped lead the team to a dominant win in Super Bowl XXIX over the then-San Diego Chargers. But after that championship season, Watters took his talents to Philadelphia, where he continued to shine with two more Pro Bowl selections from 1995 to 1997.
In 1998, Watters landed in Seattle, and while the Seahawks were in the midst of a rebuild, he was anything but a placeholder. Over four seasons, he gave the team steady production and veteran leadership, capping off a career that spanned over a decade and included more than 10,000 rushing yards. Watters wasn’t just a former Niner - he was a tone-setter in Seattle.
Julian Peterson - The Disruptor on Both Sides of the Rivalry
Julian Peterson came into the league as a first-round pick for the 49ers in 2000, and it didn’t take long for him to make his presence felt. A versatile, athletic linebacker, Peterson earned back-to-back Pro Bowl nods in 2002 and 2003 and was named a first-team All-Pro in 2003 - a season where he was arguably the most dynamic defender on the field for San Francisco.
By 2006, Peterson hit the open market, and the Seahawks pounced. It turned out to be a savvy move.
In his first three seasons in Seattle, Peterson racked up three more Pro Bowl selections, anchoring a defense that was physical, fast, and opportunistic. He brought energy, leadership, and a knack for making game-changing plays - whether he was chasing down quarterbacks or dropping into coverage.
In 2009, Seattle traded Peterson to the Detroit Lions, where he finished out his 11-year NFL career. But his time in Seattle was a reminder of just how impactful a player can be when given the right role in the right system - even if it comes at the expense of his former team.
Jerry Rice - The GOAT’s Final Stop
No conversation about players who’ve crossed the 49ers-Seahawks divide is complete without the greatest wide receiver - and arguably the greatest player - in NFL history: Jerry Rice.
Rice’s résumé in San Francisco is the stuff of legend. Sixteen seasons.
Twelve Pro Bowls. Ten first-team All-Pro selections.
Three Super Bowl rings. And a mountain of records that still stand to this day, including 208 total touchdowns and 22,895 receiving yards - numbers that may never be touched.
After his iconic run with the Niners ended in 2001, Rice signed with the Oakland Raiders and continued to defy time, earning one more Pro Bowl nod and helping the Raiders reach Super Bowl XXXVII.
But in 2004, after six games with the Raiders, Rice was traded to the Seahawks - a quiet, almost poetic final act to a historic career. He played 11 games in Seattle, and while he wasn’t the game-breaking force he once was, his presence alone carried weight. For a young Seahawks team, having Rice in the locker room was like having a living legend in the huddle.
From Watters to Peterson to Rice - and now Darnold - the pipeline from San Francisco to Seattle has produced some fascinating NFL storylines. As the Seahawks prepare for the NFC title game, Darnold has a chance to add his name to that list in a big way. If he can lead Seattle past the Rams and into the Super Bowl, it won’t just be a personal redemption story - it’ll be another chapter in a rivalry that keeps finding new ways to surprise us.