1989 San Francisco 49ers season

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.

Regular season
The 49ers offense was just as dominating as it was during the previous regular season. Quarterback Joe Montana 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)

Schedule

 * 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 Football 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 Summary

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

NFC Championship
Scoring Summary

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

Super Bowl XXIV
Scoring summary

1st Quarter


 * SF - Jerry Rice 20 yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick) 7-0 SF
 * DEN - David Treadwell 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 Elway 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 XXIV
 * Joe Montana, NFL Most Valuable Player Award
 * Joe Montana, PFWA NFL MVP
 * Joe Montana, NEA NFL MVP
 * Joe Montana, NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award
 * Joe Montana, Offense, UPI NFC Player of the Year
 * Joe Montana, Bert Bell Award
 * Joe Montana, NFL Passing Leader
 * Joe Montana, NFC Pro Bowl
 * Joe Montana, Associated Press Athlete of the Year
 * Jerry Rice, NFL Leader, Receiving Yards
 * Jerry Rice, NFL Leader, Receiving Touchdowns
 * Jerry Rice, NFC Pro Bowl
 * John Taylor, NFC Pro Bowl