GLENDALE – For a rivalry to stay alive in the NFL, it needs more than history; it needs relevance and fan interaction. That’s where the tension between the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks gets interesting, as it has all of that and more. RotoWire’s recent analysis has the Seahawks as the most hated team in the entire state.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!@RotoWire has posted a fan survey for the most hated NFL team in every U.S. state, and guess who Arizona Cardinals fans voted for: pic.twitter.com/AcVlMaiYw0
— Ben Bliklen (@benbliklen) May 1, 2026
Sep 25, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Seattle Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas (42) tackles Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson (33) in the third quarter at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
RotoWire’s recent fan survey points to the Seattle Seahawks as the most hated team among Cardinals fans, citing sustained engagement spikes during matchup weeks and higher negative sentiment across digital platforms. The data checks out, but that alone doesn’t always capture emotion in real time; it captures habits. A decade ago, this rivalry was fueled by the stakes of playoff positioning and defensive slugfests. The Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson era Seahawks represented a ceiling that Arizona struggled to break. That frustration hardened into identity. The Cardinals didn’t just grow to dislike Seattle; they measured themselves against them.
Nov 9, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker (3) walks off the field after the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images
Today, the NFC West has evolved. The Los Angeles Rams delivered a Super Bowl blueprint Arizona hasn’t matched. The San Francisco 49ers have become the division’s physical standard. Yet ask a Cardinals fan who they have the most disdain for, and Seattle still lingers.
Fans cheer from the stands as the Arizona Cardinals play the Seahawks at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sept. 25, 2025. © Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
That’s not accidental, it’s psychological residue. Rivalries imprint through repeated high-stress moments, not just recent success. Seattle remains the emotional baseline. Fan sentiment data reinforces this. Even in seasons where Seattle isn’t dominant, Cardinals-Seahawks games outperform others in social traction and fan reaction intensity. Cardinals fans still feel that way. Deeply.
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Reporter Benjamin Bliklen covers the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals, and Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @BenBliklen
