The 1989 season was the San Francisco 49ers' 40th in the National Football League (NFL), their 44th overall and their 1st season under head coach George 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 fourth Super 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's Page 2 ranked the 1989 49ers as the greatest team in Super Bowl history.ESPN Page 2: The Ultimate Super Rankings
This was the season where the 49ers added the black trim on the SF logo on the helmets which lasted until the 1995 season.
Quarterback Joe Montana had one of the greatest statistical passing seasons in NFL history in terms of efficiency in 1989. Montana set a then-NFL record with a passer rating of 112.4,Broken in 1994 by teammate Steve Young 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."
The 1989 49ers ranked #5 on the 100 greatest teams of all time presented by the NFL on its 100th anniversary.
Offseason
NFL draft
1989 San Francisco 49ers draft Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 28 Keith DeLong LB Tennessee 2 56 Wesley Walls TE Mississippi 3 84 Keith Henderson RB Georgia 4 112 Michael Barber WR Marshall 5 122 Johnnie Jackson CB Houston from Los Angeles Raiders 6 167 Steve Hendrickson LB California 9 251 Rudy Harmon LB LSU 10 279 Andy Sinclair C Stanford 11 289 Jim Bell RB Boston College from Los Angeles Raiders 307 Norm McGee WR North Dakota 12 319 Antonio Goss LB North Carolina from Los Angeles Raiders
Undrafted free agents
+ 1989 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeSteve BergDefensive EndGustavus AdolphusJon BurmanTackleIllinoisMatt DevineLinebackerUC DavisArt MaloneDefensive BackWashingtonJeff NedvedWide receiverCal-State HaywardMike WolfeTackleOklahoma State
Training camp The 1989 San Francisco 49ers season held training camp at Sierra College in Rocklin, California.
Personnel
Staff
Roster
Preseason
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 Los Angeles Rams L 13–16 0–1 Tokyo Dome 43,896 Recap 2 at Los Angeles Raiders W 37–7 1–1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 36,739 Recap 3 Denver Broncos W 35–17 2–1 Candlestick Park 58,641 Recap 4 San Diego Chargers W 17–14 3–1 Candlestick Park 54,471 Recap 5 at Seattle Seahawks L 17–28 3–2 Kingdome 58,641 Recap
Regular season The 49ers' offense was just as dominating as it had been 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 passer 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 Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 September 10 at Indianapolis Colts W 30–24 1–0 Hoosier Dome 60,111 Recap 2 September 17 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 20–16 2–0 Tampa Stadium 64,087 Recap 3 September 24 at Philadelphia Eagles W 38–28 3–0 Veterans Stadium 66,042 Recap 4 October 1 Los Angeles Rams L 12–13 3–1 Candlestick Park 64,250 Recap 5 October 8 at New Orleans Saints W 24–20 4–1 Louisiana Superdome 60,488 Recap 6 October 15 at Dallas Cowboys W 31–14 5–1 Texas Stadium 61,077 Recap 7 October 22 New England Patriots W 37–20 6–1 Stanford Stadium 51,781 Recap 8 October 29 at New York Jets W 23–10 7–1 Giants Stadium 62,805 Recap 9 New Orleans Saints W 31–13 8–1 Candlestick Park 60,667 Recap 10 November 12 Atlanta Falcons W 45–3 9–1 Candlestick Park 59,914 Recap 11 November 19 Green Bay Packers L 17–21 9–2 Candlestick Park 62,219 Recap 12 New York Giants W 34–24 10–2 Candlestick Park 63,461 Recap 13 December 3 at Atlanta Falcons W 23–10 11–2 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 43,128 Recap 14 at Los Angeles Rams W 30–27 12–2 Anaheim Stadium 67,959 Recap 15 December 17 Buffalo Bills W 21–10 13–2 Candlestick Park 60,927 Recap 16 December 24 Chicago Bears W 26–0 14–2 Candlestick Park 60,207 Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Season summary
Week 1 at Indianapolis Colts
Week One proved to be a struggle for the Niners as Joe Montana led five scoring drives, putting the Niners ahead by 23–10 entering the fourth quarter, but then Colts QB Chris Chandler ran in a touchdown early in the fourth quarter, and a 58-yard touchdown bomb to Jerry 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.
Week 2 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 3 at Philadelphia Eagles
The Niners fell behind 21–10 in the fourth but despite giving up a safety Joe Montana erupted, outscoring the Eagles 28–7 and throwing for 428 yards and five touchdowns in total, winning 38–28.
Week 4 vs. Los Angeles Rams
Week 5 at New Orleans Saints This game was originally scheduled for Candlestick Park but was played at the Louisiana Superdome instead because the 49ers' fellow Candlestick Park tenant, the San Francisco Giants, played host to Games 3, 4, and 5 of the 1989 National League Championship Series. The November 6 game would be moved to San Francisco.
Week 6 at Dallas Cowboys
Week 7 vs. New England Patriots This game was played at Stanford Stadium, as Candlestick Park had sustained damage in the Loma Prieta earthquake five days earlier.
Week 8 at New York Jets
Week 9 vs. New Orleans Saints This game was originally scheduled for Louisiana 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 10 vs. Atlanta Falcons
Week 11 vs. Green Bay Packers
The Niners fell to the Green Bay Packers in what would be their final loss of the season, as Don Majkowski ran in two touchdowns and threw for a third, overcoming 325 yards by Joe 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.
Week 12 vs. New York Giants
Week 13 at Atlanta Falcons
Week 14 at Los Angeles Rams
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.
Week 15 vs. Buffalo Bills
Week 16 vs. Chicago Bears
Standings
Playoffs Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Attendance Recap Wild Card First-round bye Divisional Minnesota Vikings (3) W 41–13 1–0 Candlestick Park 64,585 Recap NFC Championship January 14, 1990 Los Angeles Rams (5) W 30–3 2–0 Candlestick Park 64,769 Recap Super Bowl XXIV January 28, 1990 vs. Denver Broncos (A1) W 55–10 3–0 Louisiana Superdome 72,919 Recap
NFC Divisional Playoffs: vs. (3) Minnesota Vikings
NFC Championship: vs. (5) Los Angeles Rams
Super Bowl XXIV
With the win, the 49ers secured both their second straight Super Bowl (4th title overall) and the largest margin of victory in Super Bowl history. However, this would be both the 49ers last Super Bowl until 1994, as well as their last with Joe Montana at QB.
Media
Pre season Local TV Channel Play-by-play Color commentator(s)KPIX-TV 5
Local Radio Flagship station Play-by-play Color commentator(s) Sideline reporter (s)KGO–AM 810Joe StarkeyWayne Walker
1990 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl
Number Player Position Conference 33 Roger Craig RB NFC Pro Bowlers 42 Ronnie Lott FS NFC Pro Bowlers 62 Guy McIntyre G NFC Pro Bowlers 16 Joe Montana QB, Starter NFC Pro Bowlers 80 Jerry Rice WR, Starter NFC Pro Bowlers 82 John Taylor WR NFC Pro Bowlers
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 YearAssociated Press Athlete of the Year (male) Jerry Rice, NFL Leader, Receiving Yards Jerry Rice, NFL Leader, Receiving Touchdowns Jerry Rice, NFC Pro Bowl John Taylor, NFC Pro Bowl
Notes
References
External links 1989 49ers on Pro Football Reference 49ers Schedule on jt-sw.com