1989 San Francisco 49ers season
Encyclopedia
The San Francisco 49ers
1989 season
was their 44th season in the National Football League. Joe Montana
and the 49ers franchise cemented their reputation as the best team of the decade. After going 14-2 in the regular season, the 49ers completed the season with the most dominant playoff performance in NFL history, outscoring opponents 126-26 and winning their fourth Super Bowl victory.
In 2007, ESPN.com
's Page 2 ranked the 1989 49ers as the greatest team in Super Bowl history.
threw for 3,512 yards, 26 touchdowns, and only 8 interceptions, giving him what was then the highest quarterback rating
in NFL history (112.4). Montana also rushed for 227 yards and 3 touchdowns, and earned both the NFL Most Valuable Player Award
and the NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award
. Wide receiver Jerry Rice
had another outstanding season, catching 82 passes for 1,483 yards and 17 touchdowns. Running back Roger Craig was the team's leading rusher with 1,054 yards and 6 touchdowns, and he recorded 49 receptions for 473 yards and another touchdown.
But other stars on the 49ers offense began to emerge, enabling the team to spread the ball around. After being used primarily as a punt returner during his first 2 seasons, wide receiver John Taylor
had a breakout season, catching 60 passes for 1,077 yards and 10 touchdowns, while also returning 36 punts for 417 yards. Tight End Brent Jones
recorded 40 receptions for 500 yards. Fullback Tom Rathman
had the best season of his career, rushing for 305 yards and catching 73 passes for 616 yards. Even Montana's backup, quarterback Steve Young had a great year, throwing for 1,001 yards and 8 touchdowns with only 3 interceptions, while also rushing for 126 yards and 2 touchdowns. With all of these weapons, San Francisco's offense led the league in total yards from scrimmage (6,268) and scoring (442 points). The 49ers
Defense was ranked #3 in the NFL. Three starters from the Defense made the 1989 All-Pro
Team: (Ronnie Lott
, Don Griffin
, and Michael Walter
)
1st Quarter
MIN- Rich Karlis
38 yard field goal MIN 3-0
SF- Jerry Rice
72 yard pass from Joe Montana
(Mike Cofer kick) SF 7-3
2nd Quarter
SF- Brent Jones
8 yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick)SF 14-3
SF- John Taylor 8 yard pass from Joe Montana (kick failed)SF 20-3
SF- Jerry Rice 13 yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick)SF 27-3
3rd Quarter
MIN- Rich Karlis 44 yard field goal SF 27-6
4th Quarter
SF- Ronnie Lott
58 yard interception return (Mike Cofer kick)SF 34-6
SF- Roger Craig 4 yard rush (Mike Cofer kick)SF 41-6
MIN- Rick Fenney
3 yard rush (Rich Karlis kick)SF 41-13
1st Quarter
LA- Mike Lansford
23 yard field goal LA 3-0
2nd Quarter
SF- Brent Jones 20 yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick)SF 7-3
SF- Roger Craig 1 yard rush (Mike Cofer kick)SF 14-3
SF- John Taylor 18 yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick)SF 21-3
3rd Quarter
SF- Mike Cofer 28 yard field goal SF 24-3
4th Quarter
SF- Mike Cofer 36 yard field goal SF 27-3
SF- Mike Cofer 25 yard field goal SF 30-3
1st Quarter
2nd Quarter
3rd Quarter
4th Quarter
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
1989 season
1989 NFL season
The 1989 NFL season was the 70th regular season of the National Football League. Before the season, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle announced his retirement...
was their 44th season in the National Football League. Joe Montana
Joe Montana
Joseph Clifford "Joe" Montana, Jr. , nicknamed Joe Cool, Golden Joe, The Golden Great and Comeback Joe, is a retired American football player. Montana started his NFL career in 1979 with the San Francisco 49ers, where he played quarterback for the next 14 seasons...
and the 49ers franchise cemented their reputation as the best team of the decade. After going 14-2 in the regular season, the 49ers completed the season with the most dominant playoff performance in NFL history, outscoring opponents 126-26 and winning their fourth Super Bowl victory.
In 2007, ESPN.com
ESPN.com
ESPN.com is the official website of ESPN and a division of ESPN Inc. Since launching in 1995 as ESPNet.SportsZone.com, the website has developed numerous sections including: Page 2, SportsNation, ESPN 3.com, ESPN Motion, My ESPN, ESPN Sports Travel, ESPN Video Games, ESPN Insider, ESPN.com's...
's Page 2 ranked the 1989 49ers as the greatest team in Super Bowl history.
NFL Draft
| Round # | |Player | |College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | San Francisco 49ers San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and... |
Keith DeLong Keith DeLong Keith De long is a former linebacker in the NFL who played for the San Francisco 49ers from 1989-1993.... |
Inside Linebacker Linebacker A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen... |
Tennessee University of Tennessee The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States... |
Staff
Roster
Regular season
The 49ers offense was just as dominating as it was during the previous regular season. Quarterback Joe MontanaJoe Montana
Joseph Clifford "Joe" Montana, Jr. , nicknamed Joe Cool, Golden Joe, The Golden Great and Comeback Joe, is a retired American football player. Montana started his NFL career in 1979 with the San Francisco 49ers, where he played quarterback for the next 14 seasons...
threw for 3,512 yards, 26 touchdowns, and only 8 interceptions, giving him what was then the highest quarterback rating
Passer rating
Passer rating is a measure of the performance of quarterbacks or any other passers in American football and Canadian football. There are at least two formulae currently in use: one officially used by the National Football League and the Canadian Football League, and one used in college football...
in NFL history (112.4). Montana also rushed for 227 yards and 3 touchdowns, and earned both the NFL Most Valuable Player Award
NFL Most Valuable Player Award
The National Football League Most Valuable Player Award is given by various entities, most notably the Associated Press , to the player who is considered most valuable in the league. When the award is referred to without mentioning the organization, it generally means the AP award. The AP NFL MVP...
and the NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award
NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award
The NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award is given annually by the Associated Press to the offensive player of the National Football League believed to have had the most outstanding season...
. Wide receiver Jerry Rice
Jerry Rice
Jerry Lee Rice is a retired American football wide receiver. He is generally regarded as the greatest wide receiver of all time and one of the greatest players in National Football League history...
had another outstanding season, catching 82 passes for 1,483 yards and 17 touchdowns. Running back Roger Craig was the team's leading rusher with 1,054 yards and 6 touchdowns, and he recorded 49 receptions for 473 yards and another touchdown.
But other stars on the 49ers offense began to emerge, enabling the team to spread the ball around. After being used primarily as a punt returner during his first 2 seasons, wide receiver John Taylor
John Taylor (American football player)
John Gregory Taylor is a former American football wide receiver with the San Francisco 49ers. Taylor attended Pennsauken High School and was one of six NFL players to come from PHS during the 1980s. Taylor attended Delaware State College and was a member of their football team, the Hornets...
had a breakout season, catching 60 passes for 1,077 yards and 10 touchdowns, while also returning 36 punts for 417 yards. Tight End Brent Jones
Brent Jones
Brent Michael Jones is a former American Football tight end who played almost his entire career with the San Francisco 49ers from 1987 to 1997. He was selected in the 5th round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1986 NFL Draft...
recorded 40 receptions for 500 yards. Fullback Tom Rathman
Tom Rathman
Thomas Dean Rathman is a former American football fullback who played for the San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland Raiders . He is currently the running backs coach for the 49ers.-High school:...
had the best season of his career, rushing for 305 yards and catching 73 passes for 616 yards. Even Montana's backup, quarterback Steve Young had a great year, throwing for 1,001 yards and 8 touchdowns with only 3 interceptions, while also rushing for 126 yards and 2 touchdowns. With all of these weapons, San Francisco's offense led the league in total yards from scrimmage (6,268) and scoring (442 points). The 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
Defense was ranked #3 in the NFL. Three starters from the Defense made the 1989 All-Pro
All-Pro
All-Pro is a term mostly used in the NFL for the best players of each position during that season. It began as polls of sportswriters in the early 1920s...
Team: (Ronnie Lott
Ronnie Lott
Ronald Mandel "Ronnie" Lott is a former American football player who starred as a cornerback, free safety, and strong safety in college football and the NFL. He is most well known for his crushing hits on opposing players...
, Don Griffin
Don Griffin
Donald Frederick Griffin is a former professional American football player who was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round of the 1986 NFL Draft. A 6'0", 176-lb. cornerback from Middle Tennessee State University.-Career:Griffin played in 11 NFL seasons from 1986 to 1996...
, and Michael Walter
Michael Walter (American football)
Michael David Walter is a former professional American football linebacker in the National Football League for eleven seasons for the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys....
)
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | TV Time | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 10, 1989 | at Indianapolis Colts Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League .... |
W 30-24 | CBS 10:00am | |
| 2 | September 17, 1989 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West... |
W 20-16 | CBS 1:00pm | |
| 3 | September 24, 1989 | at Philadelphia Eagles Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 38-28 | CBS 10:00am | |
| 4 | October 1, 1989 | Los Angeles Rams St. Louis Rams The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,... |
L 13-12 | CBS 1:00pm | |
| 5 | October 8, 1989 | at New Orleans Saints New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League .... |
W 24-20 | CBS 10:00am | |
| 6 | October 15, 1989 | at Dallas Cowboys Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas... |
W 31-14 | CBS 10:00am | |
| 7 | October 22, 1989 | New England Patriots New England Patriots The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National... (at Stanford) |
W 37-20 | NBC 1:00pm | |
| 8 | October 29, 1989 | at New York Jets New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 23-10 | CBS 1:00pm | |
| 9 | November 6, 1989 (Mon) | New Orleans Saints New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League .... |
W 31-13 | ABC 6:00pm | |
| 10 | November 12, 1989 | Atlanta Falcons Atlanta Falcons The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 45-3 | CBS 1:00pm | |
| 11 | November 19, 1989 | Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions... |
L 21-17 | CBS 1:00pm | |
| 12 | November 27, 1989 (Mon) | New York Giants New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 34-24 | ABC 6:00pm | |
| 13 | December 3, 1989 | at Atlanta Falcons Atlanta Falcons The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 23-10 | CBS 10:00am | |
| 14 | December 11, 1989 (Mon) | at Los Angeles Rams St. Louis Rams The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,... |
W 30-27 | ABC 6:00pm | |
| 15 | December 17, 1989 | Buffalo Bills Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 23-10 | NBC 1:00pm | |
| 16 | December 24, 1989 | Chicago Bears Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 26-0 | CBS 1:00pm | |
- September 24, 1989 - In a game versus the Philadelphia Eagles, Joe Montana threw for 428 yards and 5 Touchdown passes.
- December 11, 1989 – Joe Montana set a Monday Night FootballMonday Night FootballMonday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
record with 458 yards thrown in one game and also threw three touchdown passes. Montana achieved this versus the Los Angeles Rams.
NFC Divisional Playoff
Scoring Summary1st Quarter
MIN- Rich Karlis
Rich Karlis
Richard John Karlis is a former American Football placekicker who played nine seasons for the Denver Broncos, the Minnesota Vikings, and the Detroit Lions in the National Football League from 1982 to 1990...
38 yard field goal MIN 3-0
SF- Jerry Rice
Jerry Rice
Jerry Lee Rice is a retired American football wide receiver. He is generally regarded as the greatest wide receiver of all time and one of the greatest players in National Football League history...
72 yard pass from Joe Montana
Joe Montana
Joseph Clifford "Joe" Montana, Jr. , nicknamed Joe Cool, Golden Joe, The Golden Great and Comeback Joe, is a retired American football player. Montana started his NFL career in 1979 with the San Francisco 49ers, where he played quarterback for the next 14 seasons...
(Mike Cofer kick) SF 7-3
2nd Quarter
SF- Brent Jones
Brent Jones
Brent Michael Jones is a former American Football tight end who played almost his entire career with the San Francisco 49ers from 1987 to 1997. He was selected in the 5th round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1986 NFL Draft...
8 yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick)SF 14-3
SF- John Taylor 8 yard pass from Joe Montana (kick failed)SF 20-3
SF- Jerry Rice 13 yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick)SF 27-3
3rd Quarter
MIN- Rich Karlis 44 yard field goal SF 27-6
4th Quarter
SF- Ronnie Lott
Ronnie Lott
Ronald Mandel "Ronnie" Lott is a former American football player who starred as a cornerback, free safety, and strong safety in college football and the NFL. He is most well known for his crushing hits on opposing players...
58 yard interception return (Mike Cofer kick)SF 34-6
SF- Roger Craig 4 yard rush (Mike Cofer kick)SF 41-6
MIN- Rick Fenney
Rick Fenney
Richard Dale Fenney is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League. He played five seasons for the Minnesota Vikings ....
3 yard rush (Rich Karlis kick)SF 41-13
NFC Championship
Scoring Summary1st Quarter
LA- Mike Lansford
Mike Lansford
Mike Lansford is a former National Football League placekicker from 1982-1990 for the Los Angeles Rams. In 1989, he led the league with 51 extra points. He is one of seven barefooted kickers in NFL history...
23 yard field goal LA 3-0
2nd Quarter
SF- Brent Jones 20 yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick)SF 7-3
SF- Roger Craig 1 yard rush (Mike Cofer kick)SF 14-3
SF- John Taylor 18 yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick)SF 21-3
3rd Quarter
SF- Mike Cofer 28 yard field goal SF 24-3
4th Quarter
SF- Mike Cofer 36 yard field goal SF 27-3
SF- Mike Cofer 25 yard field goal SF 30-3
Super Bowl XXIV
Scoring summary1st Quarter
- SF - Jerry Rice 20 yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick) 7-0 SF
- DEN - David TreadwellDavid TreadwellDavid Mark Treadwell is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League for the Denver Broncos and the New York Giants . He played college football for the Clemson Tigers from 1984 to 1987, where he graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering...
42 yard field Goal 7-3 SF - SF - Brent Jones 7 yard pass from Joe Montana (kick failed) 13-3 SF
2nd Quarter
- SF - Tom Rathman 1 yard run (Mike Cofer kick) 20-3 SF
- SF - Jerry Rice 38 yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick) 27-3 SF
3rd Quarter
- SF - Jerry Rice 28 yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick) 34-3 SF
- SF - John Taylor 35 yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick) 41-3 SF
- DEN - John ElwayJohn ElwayJohn Albert Elway, Jr. is a former American football quarterback and currently is the executive vice president of football operations for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League . He played college football at Stanford and his entire professional career with the Denver Broncos...
3 yard run (David Treadwell kick) 41-10 SF
4th Quarter
- SF - Tom Rathman 3 yard run (Mike Cofer kick) 48-10 SF
- SF - Roger Craig 1 yard run (Mike Cofer kick) 55-10 SF
Awards and records
- Led NFC with 442 points scored
- Led NFL, 27.6 points per game
- Mike Cofer, Led NFL, 136 Points
- Roger Craig, NFC Pro Bowl
- Ronnie Lott, NFC Pro Bowl
- Guy McIntyre, NFC Pro Bowl
- Joe Montana, Most Valuable Player, Super Bowl XXIVSuper Bowl XXIVSuper Bowl XXIV was an American football game played on January 28, 1990 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1989 regular season...
- Joe Montana, NFL Most Valuable Player AwardNFL Most Valuable Player AwardThe National Football League Most Valuable Player Award is given by various entities, most notably the Associated Press , to the player who is considered most valuable in the league. When the award is referred to without mentioning the organization, it generally means the AP award. The AP NFL MVP...
- Joe Montana, PFWA NFL MVP
- Joe Montana, NEA NFL MVP
- Joe Montana, NFL Offensive Player of the Year AwardNFL Offensive Player of the Year AwardThe NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award is given annually by the Associated Press to the offensive player of the National Football League believed to have had the most outstanding season...
- Joe Montana, Offense, UPI NFC Player of the YearUPI NFC Player of the YearFrom 1970 to 1996, the United Press International awarded the NFC Player of the Year to players from the NFL's National Football Conference .-NFC Offensive Player of the Year:-See also:*UPI AFL-AFC Player of the Year...
- Joe Montana, Bert Bell AwardBert Bell AwardThe Bert Bell Award for the Professional American football Player of the Year is presented by the Maxwell Football Club. This award is named in honor of Bert Bell , Commissioner of the National Football League and founder of the Maxwell Club...
- Joe Montana, NFL Passing Leader
- Joe Montana, NFC Pro Bowl
- Joe Montana, Associated Press Athlete of the YearAssociated Press Athlete of the YearThe first Athlete of the Year award in the United States was initiated by the Associated Press in 1931. At a time when women in sports were never given the same recognition as men, the AP offered a male and a female athlete of the year award to either a professional or amateur athlete...
- Jerry Rice, NFL Leader, Receiving Yards
- Jerry Rice, NFL Leader, Receiving Touchdowns
- Jerry Rice, NFC Pro Bowl
- John Taylor, NFC Pro Bowl