Joe Montana
Joe Montana (born June 11, 1956) is widely considered one of the best quarterbacks in the history of the NFL. He led the San Francisco 49ers to four Super Bowls (1982, 1985, 1989, 1990) and became the only player to win three Super Bowl MVP awards. In 1990, he received Sports Illustrated magazine's "Sportsman of the Year" award, and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000.
Drafted in 1979 from Notre Dame after leading the team to victory in the Cotton Bowl to secure the national championship, Montana led the 49ers for 12 seasons. After an injury in October, 1991 sidelined him, Montana was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs in April, 1993. He spent two final seasons with the Chiefs before retiring at the end of the 1994 season. As a Chief, Montana led two come-from-behind wins in the 1993 playoffs and in 1994 Montana outdueled John Elway in a Monday-night classic.
Montana earned the nickname the "Comeback Kid" due to his ability to rally his teams from late game deficits, including 31 fourth quarter comebacks. Film clips of several of his clutch pass completions to Jerry Rice and Dwight Clark remain a staple of football highlight films.
For his career with the 49ers, Montana completed 2,929 of 4,600 passes for 35,142 yards and 244 touchdowns. He had thirty-five 300 yard passing games. His career totals: 3409 completion on 5391 attempts, 273 touchdowns, 40,551 yards. His career passer rating was 92.3, 3rd highest of all-time, behind Kurt Warner and successor Steve Young. He also rushed for 1676 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Montana holds post-season records for most career touchdown passes (44), and passing yards (5772) among others. In his four Super Bowls, Montana completed 83 of 122 passes 1,142 yards and 11 touchdowns, earning him a quarterback rating of 127.8. He played in eight Pro Bowls.
