No matter how old or young you are, no matter if you are a longtime NFL fan or a newcomer, chances are that Joe Montana is one name you have heard off. Montana is an absolute legend of gridiron football and the NFL in particular. Until Tom Brady came along and won all those Super Bowls, Joe Montana was the guy everybody considered the GOAT of football. And had Brady not won seven rings, Montana would still be at the top of the list because even now after so many years into retirement, the former San Francisco 49ers great is considered as the second best to ever do it.
Now the debate between who the real GOAT is is a never ending topic in all of sports, so leaving that aside looking back at what made Montana so special is the best way forward. In a 16 year career there is no doubt that he gave everyone some amazing moments. He gave the 49ers and their fanbase 4 Super Bowl victories out of their 5 in total.
What made Montana so great is that he was a prime athlete and not just a quarterback sitting in the pocket waiting for something to happen down the field. He was a great mover even though he wasn’t the fastest person on the field. Not only was he a pass master, but his accuracy levels were always at the top. In fact, Montana even led the league in completion percentage for five years. Taking a walk down memory lane, let us see which teams Montana played for and how he fared.
Joe Montana's Team History
Joe Montana played a total of 16 seasons in the NFL but played for only two franchises. He spent the first 14 years of his career in San Francisco after they drafted him in the third round of the 1979 NFL Draft. Had Montana not gotten injured and had the 49ers not gotten Steve Young, a capable successor to the franchise, there would have been a strong possibility that Montana would have finished his career having played only for one team.
However, after a glorious career on the west coast, Montana was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs in 1993 where he played out the final two years of his career. Even to this day, Montana fondly remembers his two years in the midwest since the Chiefs fanbase is one of the rarest ones he had ever seen and the loud Arrowhead stadium is a once in a lifetime experience for any football player or fan.
Joe Montana with the 49ers
Montana, who is also fondly known as Joe Cool because of his tendency to keep a cool and composed mind even while facing difficult situations, was selected Montana started out as the backup quarterback in his first year and remained so until midway through his second year.
In 1981, his third year in the league, Montana transformed the team after starting all games and led the 49ers to a 13-3 record. His leadership and stellar play along with a good all round team resulted in the first Championship of his career. One of the most notable achievements of his career comes from the fact that Montana never lost a Super Bowl as he won all 4 that he played in. Montana was also well known for his come from behind victories which meant even if the 49ers were looking down and out, they could never be counted out with their gutsy quarterback still on the field.
Until 1991, Montana and the 49ers continued to enjoy success in most seasons. All of their championships also came in the same time period. However 1991 changed the course of his career altogether as he had to miss out the entire season and most of the 1992 season due to an elbow injury from the 1991 preseason. As a result of which the 49ers had developed Steve Young into a more than able starter and the quarterback controversy led to Montana being traded to the Chiefs.
Before leaving for the Chiefs though, Montana had become a three time Super Bowl MVP, a two time NFL MVP, and an Offensive Player of the Year with the 49ers.
Joe Montana with the Chiefs
Although Joe’s career in Kansas City lasted only two years, he still had good memories to give the Chiefs. In both years he helped them reach the playoffs and in 1993 he was just one win away from getting to yet another Super Bowl as the Chiefs lost in the AFC Championship game to the Buffalo Bills.
After the 1994 season, Joe Montana decided to retire from the game as the hits on his body had piled up and he was also missing out on a lot of family time. His official retirement took place on April 18, 1995.
FAQs
A. Joe Montana has played in 4 Super Bowls and he has won all of them.
A. Joe Montana played for the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs.
A. Joe Montana had played 16 years in the NFL by the time of his retirement. He was already 39 years old and his body had taken lots of hits by then leading to his decision.
A. While such topics are always an ongoing debate, Joe Montana certainly has the credentials to be named as one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the NFL if not the greatest ever.
A. Montana earned the nickname Joe Cool because of his ability to remain cool and calm under pressure and find a way out of the difficult situation.
