The Seattle Seahawks already knew their opponent and date for the team’s opening NFL playoff game but were awaiting the kickoff time against the San Francisco 49ers. It appears the Seahawks will get a familiar Saturday night matchup against the Niners.
Following the Houston Texans win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, the NFL announced that the 49ers-Seahawks will get the primetime slot for the Saturday, January 17, 2026, playoff game. Seattle hosts San Francisco on Saturday at 8 p.m. Eastern on Fox.
Prior to the news, the Seahawks were either going to play at 4:30 p.m. or 8 p.m. Eastern on Saturday, January 17. The 49ers-Seahawks were battling the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos for the primetime window.
With the Seahawks landing the primetime slot, it will be the Bills-Broncos game opening up the divisional round playoff schedule at 4:30 p.m. Eastern on CBS on Saturday, January 17.
Here’s what you need to know about the 49ers-Seahawks playoff clash.
49ers Get Rematch vs. Seahawks in Another Saturday Night Primetime Game on January 17
It will be a familiar setting as the Seahawks and Niners are less than two weeks removed from their Week 18 clash getting flexed into the Saturday primetime window instead of the originally scheduled Sunday game.
The third installment of the rivalry matchup will be played in front of the 12s in Seattle as opposed to the Week 18 game in San Francisco. Instead of the No. 1 seed and the NFC West title being on the line, this will be an elimination game with the winner advancing to the NFC Championship.
NFL Playoff Schedule 2026: The 49ers-Seahawks Game Kicks Off on Saturday, January 17, at 8 p.m. ET on Fox
Here’s a look at the upcoming NFL playoff schedule for the divisional round. The Seahawks host the 49ers on Saturday, January 17, at 8 p.m. ET on Fox. All times listed below are in Eastern.
| DATE | GAME | TIME (ET) | TV CHANNEL |
| January 17 | Bills vs. Broncos | 4:30 p.m. | CBS |
| January 17 | 49ers vs. Seahawks | 8 p.m. | FOX |
| January 18 | Texans vs. Patriots | 3 p.m. | ABC/ESPN |
| January 18 | Rams vs. Bears | 6:30 p.m. | NBC |
| January 25 | AFC Championship | 3 p.m. | CBS |
| January 25 | NFC Championship | 6:30 p.m. | FOX |
| February 8 | Super Bowl 2026 | 6:30 p.m. | NBC |
Tom Brady Will Call the 49ers-Seahawks Game for Fox on January 17
Not only will the 49ers-Seahawks game get the primetime slot, but the NFC West rivalry clash is getting Fox’s top broadcast team. The news means that Tom Brady and Kevin Burkhardt will call the game on Fox.
Additionally, Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi are expected to serve as the sideline reporters for the 49ers-Seahawks game. The NFC West is making NFL history as only the fourth division to ever have three teams in the divisional round, per ESPN.
“We got a great division,” Macdonald said of the 49ers, Rams and Seahawks all advancing to the divisional round, per Seahawks.com. “Those guys, they’ve earned, I think all three of us, we’ve earned to be in this position. So I think it’s pretty cool actually.”
Like Week 18, it is another short week for the 49ers after playing on Sunday. This time, San Francisco will have to travel to Seattle as well, just days after returning from Philadelphia.
NFL Announces Major News on 49ers-Seahawks Days Before Playoff Game