Joe montana biography notre dame stats

American football player (born )

This article is about the American football player. For the Panamanian singer, see Joey Montana.

American football player

Montana in
Position:	Quarterback
Born:	() June 11, (age&#;68) New Eagle, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height:	6&#;ft 2&#;in (&#;m)
Weight:	&#;lb (91&#;kg)
High school:	Ringgold (Carroll, Pennsylvania)
College:	Notre Dame (–)
NFL draft:	&#;/ round:&#;3&#;/ pick:&#;82
4× Super Bowl champion (XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV) 3× Super Bowl MVP (XVI, XIX, XXIV) 2× NFL Most Valuable Player (, ) NFL Offensive Player of the Year () NFL Co-Comeback Player of the Year () 3× First-team All-Pro (, , ) 2× Second-team All-Pro (, ) 8× Pro Bowl (, –, , , , ) 2× NFL passing touchdowns commander (, ) 2× NFL passer rating leader (, ) 5× NFL completion percentage leader (, , , , ) NFL s All-Decade Team NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team NFL th Anniversary All-Time Team SI Sportsman of the Year () 2× AP Sportsman of the Year (, ) 2× George Halas Award (, ) Bert Bell Award () San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame San Francisco 49ers No. 16 retired National champion ()
Pro Football Hall of Fame

Joseph Clifford Montana Jr. (born June 11, ) is an American former professional footballquarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 16 seasons, primarily with the San Francisco 49ers.

Nicknamed "Joe Cool" and "the Comeback Kid", Montana is widely regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]} After winning a national championship with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Montana began his NFL career in at San Francisco, where he played for the next 14 seasons.^[7] With the 49ers, Montana started and won four Super Bowls and was the first player to be named the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player (MVP) three times.

He also holds Super Bowl career records for most passes without an interception ( in four games) and the all-time highest passer rating of In , Montana was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs, where he played for his last two seasons and led the franchise to its first AFC Championship Game.

Montana was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in ^[8]

In , Montana won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award.^[9] In and again in , Montana was named the NFL Most Valuable Player.^[10] Montana was elected to eight Pro Bowls as well as being voted first-team All-Pro in , , and Montana had the extreme passer rating in the National Football Conference (NFC) five times (, , , , and ), and in both and , Montana had the extreme passer rating in the NFL.^[11]

Among his career highlights, "the Catch" (the game-winning touchdown pass to Dwight Clark vs.

Dallas in the NFC Championship Game) and a Super Bowl-winning yard cruise against the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII are staples of NFL highlight films.

The 49ers retired Montana's No. 16 jersey number after the final word of his playing career.

Joseph Clifford Montana Jr. Nicknamed " Joe Cool " and " the Comeback Kid ", Montana is widely regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. He also holds Super Bowl career records for most passes without an interception in four games and the all-time highest passer rating of Montana was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in

In , Montana earned a spot on the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team; he is also a member of the NFL s All-Decade Team. In , editors at The Sporting News ranked Montana third on their list of Football's Greatest Players.

Also in , ESPN named Montana the 25th greatest athlete of the 20th century. In , Sports Illustrated rated him the number-one clutch quarterback of all time.^[12]

Early life

Montana was born in New Eagle, Pennsylvania,^[13] a borough of Washington County located in the western portion of the state.

He grew up in the municipality of Monongahela, a coal mining town 25 miles (40&#;km) south of Pittsburgh.^[14]

Montana's family were Italian-American, the name Montana being an Americanized form of the surname Montani, which comes from Camonica Valley in northern Italy.^[15]

Montana expressed an early interest in sports, and his father first taught him the game of football.

Montana started to play youth football when he was eight years old, aided in part by his father. Montana Sr. listed his son as a nine-year-old so that Montana could meet the league's minimum age requirement.^[16]

During his formative years, Montana took an interest in baseball and basketball, in addition to football, with basketball being his favorite sport.^[17] Montana Sr.

started a local basketball team that his son played on. The team practiced and played at the local armory and played their games in various regional tournaments.

Montana received his principal education at Waverly Elementary and his secondary education at Finleyville Junior High (now known as Finleyville Middle School) and Ringgold High School.^[17] While at Ringgold, Montana played football, baseball, and basketball.^[14] Montana showed potential as a basketball player and helped Ringgold win the WPIAL Class AAA boys' basketball championship while being named an all-state player.^[18] He was so good that during his senior year, North Carolina State offered Montana a basketball scholarship.^[7] Although Montana turned down the scholarship, he seriously considered NCSU because of a promise that he could participate both basketball and football for the university.

Montana spent his first two years on the high school football team as a backup. As a junior, Montana earned the job as the Ringgold Rams' starting quarterback.^[14] Montana held the role for the final two years of his high school career; after his senior year, Parade named him to their All-American team.^[7]

During his junior year, in a game against Monessen High University, Montana completed 12 passes in 22 attempts, threw for yards, and scored three passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown.^[17] His performance garnered attention from college recruiters, particularly those from Notre Dame.^[14]

Notre Dame eventually offered Montana a scholarship, and he approved it.

One contributing factor in Montana's choice of colleges was that Terry Hanratty, his boyhood idol, attended Notre Dame.^[7]

In , 32 years after Montana graduated, Ringgold High School renamed their football stadium "Joe Montana Stadium".^[18]

College career

When Montana arrived at Notre Dame in the fall of , the football program was coached by Ara Parseghian.

During Parseghian's tenure, Notre Dame won the NCAA national championship in and Parseghian's success as a coach helped him recruit highly talented players. Though Montana was a top prospect, under Notre Dame policy in freshmen were not permitted to practice with or play on the varsity team, and consequently Montana appeared only in a few freshman team games.^[17] Montana's first significant contributions to the Notre Dame football team came during his sophomore year.

The name alone carries a tinge of something mystical … a Western production hero, perhaps. Everybody else was good, and really big—especially the defensive guys. Ara Parseghian had recruited Montana out of western Pennsylvania quarterback country. And it did—as a sophomore inhe directed the Irish to comeback victories over North Carolina and Gas Force.

On December 15, , Parseghian resigned due to health problems.^[17] The university hired Dan Devine to replace Parseghian. Despite his limited playing time the previous year, Montana performed adv during the spring practice. Devine was so impressed that he later told his wife: "I'm gonna start Joe Montana in the final spring game." When she replied, "Who's Joe Montana?", Devine said: "He's the guy who's going to feed our family for the next scant years."^[17]

Devine did not feel Montana was ready to be the full-time starter in ;^[17] however, Montana played a key role in Notre Dame's victory over North Carolina.^[17] During the game, played in Chapel Hill, Montana came in with left to play.

At the time, North Carolina led by a score of 14–6. Montana spent one minute and two seconds of game time on the field. In that time, he had passing yards and Notre Dame won the game, 21–^[17]

Against Wind Force, Notre Dame's next opponent, Montana again entered the game in the fourth quarter.

Although Air Force led 30–10, Notre Dame won the game, 31–^[17] After the win against North Carolina, Devine said that Moose Krause, the Notre Dame athletic director, said that the game was the "greatest comeback I've ever seen".^[17] After the game against Air Force, Krause was quoted as saying: "This one's better than last week."^[17] In those two games, Montana demonstrated his ability to perform adequately in high-pressure circumstances.

That inherent would prove valuable, and Montana relied on it throughout his football career.^[17]

Before the start of the season, Montana separated his shoulder^[17] and was unable to compete that year.

He applied for and was granted a medical redshirt waiver, earning him one more year of eligibility than other members of his scholarship class.

When the season began, Montana was the third quarterback listed on the team's depth chart, behind Rusty Lisch and Gary Forystek.^[7] Notre Dame won their season opener and then lost to Ole Suffer from by a score of 20– Montana did not appear in either of those games.^[19] In their third game of the season, Notre Dame played Purdue.

Lisch started and was then replaced by Forystek. On one play, Forystek suffered a broken vertebra, a broken clavicle, and a severe concussion. It was the last play of Forystek's sports career.^[17]

Devine re-inserted Lisch into the game before Montana finally had the opportunity to participate.

Montana entered with approximately 11 minutes remaining and Purdue primary 24–14; he threw for yards and one touchdown, and Notre Dame won the game, 31–^[17]

After the game, Devine made Montana the first quarterback on the depth chart^[7] and the team won their remaining nine games.

In their final game of the season, Notre Dame conquered top-ranked Texas by a score of 38–10 in the Cotton Bowl.^[20] Notre Dame's record of eleven wins and one impairment earned them the AP/Coaches national title, the only title the school won while Devine was head coach.

As a fifth-year senior in , Montana helped Notre Dame to a come-from-behind win against the Pitt Panthers and nearly repeated the feat against USC, Notre Dame's central rival. The Fighting Irish were trailing 24–6 in the second half when Montana led a fourth-quarter rally to put Notre Dame ahead 25–24 with 45 seconds remaining, only to notice the Trojans win on a last-second field goal.

On January 1, , Notre Dame returned to the Cotton Bowl, this time against Houston. Montana's act in what came to be known as the "Chicken Soup Game" is one of the most celebrated of his entire football career.^[17][21] In frigid, blustery conditions in the second quarter, Montana had to fight off hypothermia as his body temperature dropped to 96&#;°F (&#;°C).

When the second half began with Houston up 20–12, Montana stayed in the locker room, where Notre Dame medical staff gave him warmed intravenous fluids, covered him in blankets, and fed him chicken soup.^[22] Montana returned to the field late in the third quarter with Houston leading 34–^[22] Montana led the Irish to three touchdowns in the last eight minutes of the game, the final one coming as time expired, and Notre Dame won the game 35–^[23][24] To commemorate the game, Notre Dame produced a promotional film titled Seven and a Half Minutes to Destiny, which Coach Devine later referred to as a "Joe Montana film".^[17]

Graduation and the NFL draft

Montana graduated from Notre Dame with a degree in business administration and marketing.

Although the NFL Combine was not formed until , NFL scouts still evaluated potential draftees through the use of combines in Candidates were rated in a number of categories on a scale of one to nine, with one creature the worst mark and nine being the best mark.^[17] The categories they used were contingent on the position that the athlete played.^[25]

Despite his performance on the field, Montana was not rated highly by most scouts.

At one combine, Montana rated out as six-and-a-half overall with a six in arm ability, used to judge how tough and how far a prospect could throw the ball. By comparison, Jack Thompson of Washington State rated an eight, the highest grade among eligible quarterbacks.^[17]

In the NFL draft, the San Francisco 49ers selected Montana at the end of the third round with the 82nd overall pick.^[26] Montana was the fourth quarterback taken, behind Thompson, Phil Simms, and Steve Fuller, all selected in the first circular.

College statistics

Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Season	GP	Passing								Rushing
		Cmp	Att	Pct	Yds	Avg	TD	Int	Rtg	Att	Yds	Avg	TD
	7	28	66				4	8		7	−5	−	2
	did not play due to injury
	9	99			1,		11	8		9	32		6
	11				2,		10	9		72			6
Career	27				4,		25	25		88			14

Professional career

San Francisco 49ers

–

Although Montana appeared in all 16 regular season games during the season, he only threw 23 passes.^[27] He spent most of the season as the backup on the San Francisco depth chart behind starter Steve DeBerg.^[28] Montana became the starting quarterback midway through the season.^[29]

On December 7, , San Francisco hosted the winless New Orleans Saints.

The Saints took a 35–7 lead at halftime. At the start of the fourth quarter, New Orleans still led by a score of 35–21, but San Francisco tied the game by the end of law play. In overtime, Ray Wersching kicked a field goal to win the game for San Francisco, 38–^[30] This marked the first fourth quarter comeback victory in Montana's NFL career.

During his sixteen seasons in the NFL, this happened a total of 31 times with Montana at quarterback, 26 of those coming as a 49er.^[31]

Though San Francisco finished with a register of 6–10, Montana passed for 1, yards and 15 touchdown passes against nine interceptions.

He also completed percent of his passes, which led the league.^[32]

–

Montana began the season as San Francisco's starting quarterback. The season ended up as one of the franchise's most successful to that point.

Backed in part by Montana's strong performance, the team finished the regular season with a 13–3 record.^[33] Montana helped San Francisco win two of those games with fourth-quarter comebacks. The season was a precursor to one of Montana's most memorable moments as a professional.^[34]

Main article: The Catch (American football)

On January 10, , San Francisco faced the Dallas Cowboys as three-point home underdogs at Candlestick Park in the NFC Championship Game.

Dallas led 27–21 when San Francisco took possession with left in regulation. The drive began on San Francisco's yard line. Behind six achieving Montana completions and four running plays, San Francisco moved the ball to the Dallas yard line.

After one unsuccessful transfer and then a seven-yard earn, San Francisco faced third down from the Dallas 6-yard line. Montana took the snap and ran to his right. He then made an off-balance hand over toward the back of the end zone, and San Francisco wide receiver Dwight Clark made a leaping catch for the game-tying touchdown.

With just 51 seconds left on the game clock, Wersching kicked the extra point and San Francisco won the game 28–^[35] The reception by Clark was coined simply The Catch, and it position San Francisco into Super Bowl XVI.

San Francisco faced the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XVI. Montana completed 14 of 22 passes for yards with one touchdown passing and one rushing touchdown. San Francisco won the game 26–21, and in recognition of his performance, Montana won the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award, which he accomplished two more times before he retired.^[36] The Super Bowl win also made Montana one of only two quarterbacks – along with his idol Joe Namath – to win a college national championship and a Super Bowl.

Montana, at 25 years, days, was one time older than Namath was at the time of his first Super Bowl, making him the second-youngest quarterback to start a Super Bowl up to that time.

Montana had a prolific season in However, the regular season was shortened to nine games when members of the Player's Association went on strike.

Although San Francisco failed to make the playoffs, Montana threw for 2, yards and 17 touchdowns during the year.^[37] He also set what was then an NFL record with five consecutive yard passing games. Because the 49ers missed the playoffs, the team seriously considered trading him to the Baltimore Colts for the rights to the first overall pick in the NFL draft (and thus, the right to draft Stanford quarterback John Elway), but the 49ers reconsidered and ultimately traded their first round pick to the San Diego Chargers (used on Billy Ray Smith Jr.) weeks before the draft.^[38]

In , Montana threw for 3, yards and 26 touchdowns in 16 regular season games.^[39] The team ended the regular season with a 10–6 record and finished first in the NFC West.^[40] In the divisional playoff game, they faced the Detroit Lions.

Yet again, Montana demonstrated his ability to perform well in high-pressure situations. Despite being out-played in terms of total yardage, the 49ers trailed by just six points as the game neared its conclusion.

With remaining in regulation, the 49ers offense had the ball at the Lions yard line and Montana completed a touchdown pass to broad receiver Freddie Solomon, giving San Francisco the lead on the ensuing extra-point.^[41][42]

The victory placed the 49ers in the NFC Championship game against the Washington Redskins.

Checkout the latest stats for Joe Montana. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, college, draft, and more on

As he had done before, Montana asserted himself slow in the game. The Redskins led 21–0 at the launch of the fourth quarter, but Montana helped lead the 49ers back. Aided by three fourth-quarter Montana touchdown passes, the 49ers tied the game at However, Redskins placekickerMark Moseley kicked a yard field goal in the waning moments of the game.

Despite Montana's efforts, the team lost, 24–^[43]

Though the Miami Dolphins finished the NFL season with no losses, the regular season at the time comprised only 14 games. Thus, when the 49ers finished the NFL season with a 15–1 record, they became the first team to win 15 games in a single regular season.^[44][45]

Montana again had an excellent season and earned his second consecutive trip to the Pro Bowl.

In their first two playoff games, the 49ers defeated the New York Giants and the Chicago Bears by a combined score of 44–^[46][47] In Super Bowl XIX, the 49ers faced the Miami Dolphins and their quarterback, Dan Marino.

In the game, Montana threw for three touchdowns and completed 24 of 35 passes.

The Untold Truth Of Joe Montana - Grunge: Joe Montana. School: Notre Dame. Position: QB Draft: 3rd round, 82nd overall of the NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers. More bio, uniform, draft info.

He established the Super Bowl document for most yards passing in a single game () and supplemented his passing with 59 yards rushing. The 49ers conquered the Dolphins 38–16 and Montana earned his second Super Bowl MVP award.^[48] After the game, 49ers head coachBill Walsh said: "Joe Montana is the greatest quarterback today, maybe the greatest quarterback of all time."^[29]

–

Aided in part by Montana's performance at quarterback, the 49ers advanced to the NFL Playoffs again in ; however, they lost in the NFC Wild card game to the New York Giants.^[49][50]

In the season, Montana suffered a severe back injury during week one of the season.

The injury was to a spinal disc in Montana's lower advocate and required immediate surgery. The injury was so severe that Montana's doctors suggested that Montana retire.^[51][52] On September 15, , the 49ers placed Montana on the injured reserve list; however, he returned to the team on November 6 of that year.^[53] In his first game back from injury Montana passed for yards and three touchdown passes in a 43–17 49ers victory against the St.

Louis Cardinals. Montana appeared in just eight games that season, and threw more interceptions than touchdown passes for the only moment in his career.^[53] The 49ers finished the season with a record of 10–5–1.^[54] Montana was co-recipient (with Minnesota Vikings quarterback Tommy Kramer) of the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award.^[55]

In , Montana had 31 touchdown passes, a career-high, in just 13 games.^[56] Montana crossed the picket line during the NFLPA strike and threw five touchdowns against replacement players.

In , he also set the NFL record for most consecutive pass attempts without an incomplete pass (22),^[57] passed for 3, yards, and had a passer rating of ^[58] Though the 49ers finished with the foremost record in the NFL, they lost in the Divisional Curved of the playoffs to the Minnesota Vikings.^[59]

Prior to the season, Bill Walsh completed a trade for Steve Young, then a quarterback with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.^[60] Young went on to appear in eight regular season games for the team and finished the year with a passer rating of ^[61]

Young's act in was strong enough that by the time the season began, a controversy was in place as to who should get more playing time as quarterback.

Young appeared in 11 games that year and rumors surfaced claiming that Montana might be traded.^{[citation needed]}

Despite the match for playing time, Montana received most of the playing period during the season.

After a home loss to the Los Angeles Raiders that left the 49ers with a 6–5 log, the 49ers were in threat of missing the playoffs.

In their final game of the season, Notre Dame defeated top-ranked Texas by a score of 38–10 in the Cotton Bowl. [20] Notre Dame's record of eleven wins and one decline earned them the AP/Coaches national title, the only title the school won while Devine was head coach.

Montana regained the starting position and led the 49ers to a 10–6 write down and the NFC West division title.^[62]

The 49ers earned a trip to Super Bowl XXIII when they defeated the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears in the playoffs.^[63][64] In the NFC Divisional Playoffs, the 49ers faced Minnesota, who had eliminated them from the playoffs the year before.

Montana threw three first-half touchdowns as the 49ers won, 34–9. The victory over the Bears in the NFC Championship game is of particular write down . Played at Soldier Field in Chicago, with temperatures of 17&#;°F (-8&#;°C)^[65] and a strong wind, Montana threw for yards and 3 touchdowns.

His first touchdown pass came on a 3rd-down play late in the first quarter in which Montana threw a perfect sideline pass to Jerry Rice and Rice outran two Bears defenders for a yard score. The 49ers won 28–3 to advance to Super Bowl XXIII.^[62]

In January , the 49ers again faced the Cincinnati Bengals in the Super Bowl.

Of his third trip to the Super Bowl, Montana told the San Jose Mercury News: "This trip to the Super Bowl is more gratifying than the others because the highway has been harder." Then, in Super Bowl XXIII, Montana had one of the best performances of his career.

He completed 23 of 36 passes for a then-Super Bowl record yards and two touchdowns. Despite his great performance, the 49ers create themselves trailing the Bengals 16–13 with only left in the game and the ball on their own 8-yard line.

But Montana calmly drove them down the field, completing 8 of 9 passes for 92 yards and throwing the game-winning touchdown pass to John Taylor with only 34 seconds left.^[66][67]

proved to be successful for Montana and the 49ers.

The team finished the regular season with an NFL-best 14–2 record,^[68] and their two losses were by a total of only five points.^[69] Montana threw for 3, yards and 26 touchdowns with only 8 interceptions, giving him what was then the utmost single-season passer rating in NFL history, a mark subsequently broken by Young in , and later broken again by Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts in and Aaron Rodgers in with the Packers.^[70] He also rushed for yards and three touchdowns on the ground and earned the NFL Most Valuable Player Award.

In a unforgettable comeback win in Week 4 against the Philadelphia Eagles, Montana threw four touchdown passes in the 4th quarter. He finished with yards passing and five touchdown passes in the victory.^[71] The 49ers were successful in the playoffs, easily beating the Minnesota Vikings 41–13 in the divisional round and the Los Angeles Rams 30–3 in the NFC Championship game.^[72][73] Montana threw for a total of yards and 6 touchdowns in those 2 games without a unpartnered interception.

Then in Super Bowl XXIV, Montana became the first player ever to win Super Bowl MVP honors for a third time, throwing for yards and a then-Super Bowl write down five touchdowns while also rushing for 15 yards as the 49ers defeated the Denver Broncos 55–10,^[74] the highest single-team and most lopsided score in Super Bowl history.^[75] His postseason passer rating of was at the time the highest ever in a single postseason.

This document was later broken by Josh Allen during his season with the Bills.^[76]

In , Montana once again led the 49ers to the best regular season write down (14–2) in the NFL.^[77] He was named by Sports Illustrated as Sportsman of the Year.

A highlight from the season was a rematch with the Atlanta Falcons. Intent on blitzing Montana most of the game, Atlanta's defense allowed Montana to throw for a career-best yards (49ers single-game record) and six touchdown passes, five of them to Jerry Rice.

High Educational facility : Ringgold PA. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Subscribe to our Free Email Newsletter. Undertake you have a sports website?

He would end up throwing for 3, yards and 26 touchdowns, albeit while also throwing a career-high 16 interceptions.^[78] Three of those interceptions came in a November 25 home decrease to the Los Angeles Rams, which ended the 49ers' game winning streak (dating back to a home loss to the Green Bay Packers in November ).^[79]

The 49ers run game struggled in the team averaged yards a carry, only good enough for 19th in the league.^[80] No 49er exceeded yards rushing for the entire year.

Fullback Tom Rathman scored the most touchdowns (7) on the earth while gaining yards. Roger Craig ( yards, 1 TD) was slowed by a knee injury suffered in week 5 against the Houston Oilers. Rookie running back Dexter Carter ( yards, 1 TD) did not support much.

Carter's only touchdown came on December 17 at the Rams; his yard touchdown race that clinched home-field advantage for the 49ers constituted roughly one-sixth of his productivity in terms of yardage on the basis, and he lost four fumbles at home the following Sunday in a 13–10 loss to the New Orleans Saints.^{[81][82][83][84]}

The 49ers looked forward to becoming the first NFL team to conquer three consecutive Super Bowls, and they defeated Washington in the Divisional Round to advance to the NFC Championship Game to face the New York Giants.^[85] The 49ers defense was capable to hold backup quarterback Jeff Hostetler and the Giants without a touchdown, but the tide of the game changed when Montana was sacked by Leonard Marshall while rolling out of the quarterback pocket; he was injured and left the game, which the Giants won, 15–13, on the last of five Giants field goals, which was set up by a fumble from 49ers running back Roger Craig.^[86]

–

Montana missed the entire season and most of the season with an elbow injury sustained during the pre-season.^[87] In the final game of the regular season; a Monday Night Football matchup against the Detroit Lions, Montana stepped in and played the entire second half.

Despite missing nearly two full seasons, Montana proved to be very effective, sealing the victory with "insurance points".^[88] By this day, however, Steve Young had established himself as a starter, and took over for the playoffs.

Though it was not famous at the time, Montana would not see another snap in a 49er uniform. He suited up for the final second as a 49er in the team's NFC Championship showdown with the Dallas Cowboys, though as third-string QB behind Young and Steve Bono.

Quarterback controversy and departure

With Montana healthy and ready to play, a quarterback controversy soon emerged.

Steve Young had proven his effectiveness in the two years he played while Montana was injured, and many fans and players alike felt that they had made the transition to Steve Young. Furthermore, Young did not want to play if he was used only as a backup.^[89] Nevertheless, there was also a formidable sentiment that Montana was the "face of the franchise" and it would be right for him to remain so.

A rift in the locker room developed, and Montana ultimately requested a trade.^[90] Young eventually led the team to another Super Bowl victory, which helped him emerge from Montana's shadow.^[91]

Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (–)

Montana was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs on April 20, , and signed a $10 million contract over three years.^[92] His trade was the catalyst for the subsequent Chiefs' free-agent signing of actor Los Angeles Raiders running help Marcus Allen on June 9.^[93] The arrival of Montana and Allen, both former Super Bowl MVPs, generated much media attention and excitement in Kansas City.^[94] Chiefs general manager Carl Peterson had spent the off-season bringing in players to run a West Coast offense under the direction of new offensive coordinator Paul Hackett, who at one time served as 49ers quarterbacks coach to Montana, and who would report to incumbent chief coach Marty Schottenheimer.^[95]

The Chiefs mailed three jerseys to Montana.

One was number 3, his number from Notre Dame, which the Chiefs had retired in honor of Hall of Fame kicker Jan Stenerud, who offered to let him wear it. Another was number 19, which he wore in youth football and also briefly in training camp of the season with San Francisco, and the third was number 16, which Hall of Fame quarterback Len Dawson offered to let Montana wear since the organization had retired it.

Montana declined Dawson's and Stenerud's offers and wore 19 instead. During the Chiefs' first offseason practice, the defensive players all remained behind after their session concluded to watch the revolting team practice "because they wanted to see Joe Montana perform.

That's what those guys reflection of the trade. It gave everybody hope we could achieve a championship. That's why it was such a special time."^[93]

Montana was injured for part of the season, but was still selected to his final Pro Bowl, as the Chiefs won their division for the first time in 22 years.^[93] Montana led the Chiefs in two come-from-behind wins in the playoffs.

In their wild-card win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, he threw a 7-yard fourth-down touchdown transmit to send the game into overtime.^[96] Then against the Houston Oilers, he led the team to 28 second-half points, including three touchdown passes to collect the 29th fourth-quarter comeback triumph of his career.^[97] In the AFC Championship Game, Kansas Urban area lost to the Buffalo Bills 30–13,^[98] with Montana suffering a concussion during the third engage of the third quarter and yielding to Dave Krieg.

Including their two playoff victories that year (the Chiefs only had one prior playoff win since Super Bowl IV in ), the Chiefs won 13 games, which tied the franchise tape for wins in a season.^[99]

Montana returned healthy to the Chiefs in , starting all but two games.^[] His highlights included a classic duel with John Elway and the Denver Broncos (which Montana and the Chiefs won, 31–28) on Monday Darkness Football,^[] and a memorable game in week 2 when Montana played against his old team, the San Francisco 49ers and Steve Young.

In a much-anticipated match-up, Montana and the Chiefs prevailed and defeated the 49ers, 24– Montana led his team to a 9–7 record, sufficient for another postseason appearance, where they lost in the wild-card playoff round to the Miami Dolphins and Dan Marino, 27–^[]

Montana has fondly remembered the Chiefs' home of Arrowhead Stadium with its "unbelievable roar" from field level, saying, "The thing about Kansas City, it doesn't matter whether they're winning or losing, that fan base is ridiculous.

Over the years, I don't think that stadium's ever been empty. Those people there back that team and that management like none you've seen. And it is so loud. Even after 50 years, they're still in there screaming every week. That fan base is probably one of the best in the NFL, one of the hardest places to play for sure".

Head coach Marty Schottenheimer pulled Montana aside before his first game at Arrowhead and told him to prepare for a volume he had never previously experienced. Montana recalled, "Come on, Marty, I've played in four Super Bowls. I've played all over the place.

And Marty said, 'Just wait.' The thing that gets you is the whole stadium, when they sing the national anthem, is when they say, 'And the home of the Chiefs!' Still makes your hair stand up on your arms."^[]

Retirement

On April 18, , Montana announced his retirement at Justin Herman Plaza in San Francisco.

The event was broadcast live on local television, and included speeches from John Madden, Eddie DeBartolo Jr., and others. Highlights from Montana's remain with San Francisco and interviews with former 49ers teammates were also shown.

Pro Football History. Here's Joe Cool raising his hands after a score in every one of his SuperBowl appearances. Dan Marino. Joe Namath.

Bill Walsh, who had served as head coach for three of Montana's four Super Bowl victories, was the emcee for the event.

NFL records and accomplishments

Noted for his ability to remain calm under pressure, Montana helped his teams to 32 fourth-quarter come-from-behind victories.

With 58 seconds left in the NFC Championship Game against the Dallas Cowboys, he completed a game-winning touchdownpass so memorable that it would become known simply as "The Catch". In Super Bowl XXIII against the Cincinnati Bengals, Montana threw another remarkable game-winning touchdown pass at the close of a yard drive with only 36 seconds left on the game clock.

During his career with the 49ers, Montana completed 2, of 4, passes for 35, yards with touchdowns and interceptions. He had thirty-five yard passing games including seven in which he threw for over yards. His career totals: 3, completions on 5, efforts, touchdowns, interceptions, and 40, yards passing.

He also rushed for 1, yards and 20 touchdowns. When Montana retired, his career passer rating was , second only to his 49er successor Steve Young (). He has since been surpassed by five other players, which ranks his passer rating at 7th all-time.

Montana also had won games faster than any other quarterback until surpassed by Tom Brady in ^[] His record as a starter was – His number 16 was retired by the 49ers on December 15, , during halftime of the team's game against the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football.

Montana also held the document for most passing yards on a Monday night game with against the Los Angeles Rams in

Montana is second in postseason records for most games with a passer rating over (12), career postseason touchdown passes (45), passing yards (5,), and games with + passing yards (six, tied with Kurt Warner).

He also tied Terry Bradshaw's record for consecutive playoff games with at least two touchdown passes (seven), though this register has since been broken by Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.^[] Undefeated in four Super Bowl appearances, Montana completed 83 of passes for 1, yards, 11 touchdowns, and no interceptions, earning him a Super Bowl record passer rating of ^[] The first player ever to win three Super Bowl MVP awards, Montana also holds the Super Bowl record for most pass attempts () without throwing an interception.^[]

He was selected to the Pro Bowl eight times and selected All-Pro six times.^[78] He is also the only player to have two touchdown passes of 95+ yards.^[]

Montana was listed at #4 on the NFL Network's The Highest NFL's Greatest Players (the top ranking quarterback on the list), with teammate Jerry Rice at #1.^[]

NFL records

• Most pass attempts without throwing an interception in a Super Bowl: ^[]
• Most wins in a Super Bowl without a loss: 4 (tied with Terry Bradshaw)
• Passing touchdowns in a available postseason: 11 () (tied)

NFL career statistics

Regular season

Year	Team	Games			Passing									Rushing
		GP	GS	Record	Cmp	Att	Pct	Yds	Avg	TD	Int	Lng	Rtg	Att	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
	SF	16	1	0−1	13	23		96		1	0	18		3	22		13	0
	SF	15	7	2−5				1,		15	9	71T		32	77		11	2
	SF	16	16	13−3				3,		19	12	78T		25	95		20	2
	SF	9	9	3−6				2,		17	11	55		30			21	1
	SF	16	16	10−6				3,		26	12	77T		61			18	2
	SF	16	15	14−1				3,		28	10	80T		32			15	2
	SF	15	15	9−6				3,		27	13	73		42			16	3
	SF	8	8	6−2				2,		8	9	48		17	38		17	0
	SF	13	11	10−1				3,		31	13	57T		35			20	1
	SF	14	13	8−5				2,		18	10	96T		38			15	3
	SF	13	13	11−2				3,		26	8	95T		49			19	3
	SF	15	15	14−1				3,		26	16	78T		40			20	1
	SF	did not act due to injury
	SF	1	0	—	15	21				2	0	17		3	28		16	0
	KC	11	11	8−3				2,		13	7	50T		25	64		17	0
	KC	14	14	9−5				3,		16	9	57T		18	17		13	0
Career				−47	3,	5,		40,				96T			1,		21	20

Playoffs

Year	Team	Games			Passing									Rushing
		GP	GS	Record	Cmp	Att	Pct	Yds	Avg	TD	Int	Lng	Rtg	Att	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
	SF	3	3	3−0	56	88				6	4	58		12	4		7	1
	SF	2	2	1−1	45	79				4	2	76		8	56		18	0
	SF	3	3	3−0	67					7	5	40		13			53	1
	SF	1	1	0−1	26	47				0	1	36		1	0		0	0
	SF	1	1	0−1	8	15		98		0	2	24		0	0		0	0
	SF	1	1	0−1	12	26				0	1	33		3	20		14	0
	SF	3	3	3−0	56	90				8	1	61		10	43		11	0
	SF	3	3	3−0	65	83				11	0	72		5	19		10	0
	SF	2	2	1−1	40	57				3	1	61		3	10		6	0
	KC	3	3	2−1	59					4	3	41		6	13		7	0
	KC	1	1	0−1	26	37				2	1	57		2	5		7	0
Career		23	23	16−7				5,		45	21	76		63			53	2

Nicknames

Montana earned the nickname "Joe Cool" for his ability to remain calm at key moments, and "Comeback Kid" for his history of rallying his teams from late-game deficits.^[] His teammates in San Francisco called him "Bird Legs"^[][] due to his very thin legs and small calves.

He was called "Golden Joe" because he played in California (the Golden State) and because he also appeared on a poster superimposed in front of the Golden Gate Bridge with the words "The Golden Great".^[] Two more names were provided by a San Francisco Chronicle nickname contest early in his NFL career: the winner was "Big Sky", but another contestant suggested that since "Joe Montana" already sounded like a nickname, Montana needed a real call and christened him "David W.

Gibson".^[] Montana liked the Gibson name so much that he had it stenciled above his locker.^[]

Montana appears as the nature "Joe Clifford" (pseudonym derived from his first and middle names) in the NFL Network's Joe's Diner television spots.^[]

Personal life

Montana has been married three times.

In , he wed his hometown sweetheart Kim Moses during his second semester at Notre Dame and they divorced three years later.^[17] In , he married Cass Castillo; they divorced in ^[] He met Jennifer Wallace, an actress and model, while the two worked on a Schick commercial and the couple married in They have four children, two daughters and two sons.

His son Nate was an undrafted free agent out of West Virginia Wesleyan. His other son, Nick, played at Tulane University.

In , Montana sued his first wife and a Dallas auction house for "violating his ' and privacy rights'" after she "sold a bunch of letters and memorabilia from [Montana's] college days at Notre Dame".^[]

Montana resides in San Francisco.^[] He owns horses and produces wine under the label Montagia.^[]

Montana frequently works with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.^[]

See also

References