San Francisco 49ers And The Montana Dynasty
National Football League fans are well aware of the sterling reputation of the San Francisco 49ers franchise. With five Super Bowl trophies to their credit, the team had one of the NFL’s greatest dynasties during the 1980s and early 1990s, thanks to an innovative style of offensive and great play from the quarterback position. And when we say dynasties, we mean dynasty of the highest order! Over the course of a sixteen year time frame beginning in 1984, the team won ten games or more during each season with such NFL greats as Steve Young, and Jerry Rice. For sheer star power, though, and four of those five Super Bowl wins, the great Joe Montana cannot be overlooked.
The legend under center
Joe Montana began his NFL career with the 49ers in 1979, and remained there through 14 seasons, before spending his last two seasons – which ended in 1994 – as quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs. He is perhaps best known for his ability to rally his team from the utter depths of defeat and lead them to victory with spectacular, breathtaking last quarter drives. Though he was always a highly composed field general, his legend has grown over time to the point where many whose memories have faded now think of the 49ers as having always been behind in their games. In truth, Montana had a total of 31 total comeback drives in the fourth quarter of games. It just seems like more in hindsight because so many of them were in high pressure championship matches.
Winning Super Bowls
Montana’s first shot at the Super Bowl will always stand out as a thing of beauty. It was in the 1981 campaign against the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Championship game. As seemed to happen so often in big games, the 49ers were behind and seemingly on the ropes, with little time left to spare. Joe was fearless, however, as he led his team down the field, and ultimately threw the pass to Dwight Clark that resulted in the game-winning touchdown score. That pass, now simply known in NFL Lore by the nickname “The Catch”, has become recognized as a truly great NFL moment. After defeating the Cowboys, the 49ers beat the Cincinnati Bengals for the Super Bowl crown – a game that saw Montana win MVP honors for his outstanding performance. Of course, that would not be the last that the Bowl would see of Montana, as he would lead San Francisco back to more victories in the Nineteenth, Twenty-Third, and Twenty-Fourth Super Bowls. At the end of it all, Montana had been named the Super Bowl’s MVP three times – the only player ever to accomplish that feat.
A part of history
Montana is not some mere relic of a bygone age. Some remember him as the aging quarterback who prevented Steve Young from enjoying a role as starter until he too had wasted much of his youth. Montana was none of that. He was a winner, through and through, whose four championship rings – matching Bradshaw’s – elevate him to a class with few members. There was no surprise in the league when Joe’s last two seasons of play, with the Chiefs, resulted in him leading Kansas City into the AFC title match. For him, even that was possible.
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