The1989 season was theSan Francisco 49ers' 40th in theNational Football League (NFL), their 44th overall and their 1st season under head coachGeorge Seifert. After going 14–2 in the regular season, the 49ers completed the season with one of the most dominant playoff runs of all time, outscoring opponents 126–26, earning their fourthSuper Bowl victory and their second consecutive, where they defeated the Broncos, 55–10. They finished with the best record in the NFL for the first time since 1987. Their two losses were by a combined 5 points. The 49ers became the 2nd team in NFL history to win 4 Super Bowls, the first being the Steelers.
In 2007,ESPN.com'sPage 2 ranked the 1989 49ers as the greatest team in Super Bowl history.[3]
This was the season where the 49ers added the black trim on the SF logo on the helmets which lasted until the 1995 season.
QuarterbackJoe Montana had one of the greatest statistical passing seasons in NFL history in terms ofefficiency in 1989. Montana set a then-NFL record with apasser rating of 112.4,[4] with a completion percentage of 70.2%, and a 26/8 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
In the playoffs, Montana had arguably the greatest postseason performance by any quarterback in NFL history. He posted a 78.3% completion percentage, 800 yards, 11 touchdowns, zero interceptions, and a 146.4 passer rating.Cold Hard Football Facts calls Montana's 1989 season "the one by which we must measure all other passing seasons."[5]
The 1989 49ers ranked #5 on the 100 greatest teams of all time presented by the NFL on its 100th anniversary.[6][7]
The 49ers' offense was just as dominating as it had been during the previous regular season. QuarterbackJoe Montana threw for 3,512 yards, 26 touchdowns, and only 8 interceptions, giving him what was then the highestpasser rating in NFL history (112.4). Montana also rushed for 227 yards and 3 touchdowns, and earned both theNFL Most Valuable Player Award and theNFL Offensive Player of the Year Award. Wide receiverJerry Rice had another outstanding season, catching 82 passes for 1,483 yards and 17 touchdowns. Running backRoger 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 receiverJohn Taylor had a breakout season, catching 60 passes for 1,077 yards and 10 touchdowns, while also returning 36 punts for 417 yards. Tight endBrent Jones recorded 40 receptions for 500 yards. FullbackTom Rathman had the best season of his career, rushing for 305 yards and catching 73 passes for 616 yards. Even Montana's backup, quarterbackSteve 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).
Week One proved to be a struggle for the Niners asJoe Montana led five scoring drives, putting the Niners ahead by 23–10 entering the fourth quarter, but then Colts QBChris Chandler ran in a touchdown early in the fourth quarter, and a 58-yard touchdown bomb toJerry Rice was answered by a blocked punt and recovery for a touchdown by the Colts, though they could get no closer than a 30–24 Niners margin.
The Niners fell behind 21–10 in the fourth but despite giving up a safetyJoe Montana erupted, outscoring the Eagles 28–7 and throwing for 428 yards and five touchdowns in total, winning 38–28.
This game was originally scheduled forLouisiana Superdome, but was played at Candlestick Park instead, because the originally scheduled October 8 game at Candlestick Park had been moved to the Louisiana Superdome.
Week Nine: New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
The Niners fell to the Green Bay Packers in what would be their final loss of the season, asDon Majkowski ran in two touchdowns and threw for a third, overcoming 325 yards byJoe Montana, who was sacked five times. The 49ers appeared to take the lead in the 4th quarter on an interception return for a touchdown, but a penalty nullified the score.
In what many 49ers fans consider one of the greatest regular-season wins in team history, the 49ers came back from a 27–10 4th-quarter deficit to beat the Rams 30–27. The Rams had already beaten the 49ers earlier in the year and looked poised to do it again, but the 49ers, with help from John Taylor's big game, took the lead late with Roger Craig's 1-yard touchdown. John Taylor had 11 catches for an astonishing 286 yards receiving, which included a touchdown catch of 92 yards, and another touchdown catch for 96 yards. Joe Montana was 30 for 42 and passed for 458 yards.
Tokyo Dome