Sports has always been a big part of my life. It is the time that I got to spend with my dad and learned so many valuable lessons. Growing up I was a big San Francisco 49ers fan. You would think growing up in New York, I would be a Giants or Jets fan, but oh no. This fan loved the 49ers quarterback Joe Montana. I first got a glimpse of Montana while he played with Notre Dame and knew I would follow his career. When I love a player, I am all in and nothing stops me from supporting them.
Montana was the unquestioned starting quarterback for the 49ers for a decade, leading the franchise to four Super Bowl titles in that span. Injuries took their toll on Montana in the late 1980s, but he persevered. A back injury in 1986 nearly forced Montana to retire, but he returned to throw 31 touchdown passes (a career high) in just 13 games in 1987. Montana led the 49ers to back-to-back Super Bowls in 1888 and 1989. At the conclusion of the 1989 season, Montana won Super Bowl MVP honors for the third time (the first quarterback to accomplish the feat).
Montana was a first-team All-Pro in 1990, throwing for a career-high 3,944 yards and 16 interceptions, but also had 26 touchdowns. Montana headed into the 1991 season as the 49ers starting quarterback, but was lost for the season after suffering a season-ending elbow injury in the preseason. The elbow injury lasted into the 1992 season for Montana after the joint on his elbow flared up and he needed a third surgery. The 49ers kept Montana on the shelf as they cruised to a 13-2 record and sealed home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Fans still wanted Montana to return, and he played in the meaningless final regular season game in 1992. He went 15 for 21 for 126 yards and two touchdowns in his final game with the team.
I could not understand that the 49ers would not want to keep Montana, but then football is a business and he saw the writing on the wall. That the team was ready to move on. At the time, Montana was 36 years old and in a fragile state. I remember crying and wondering if I would see my favorite QB back on the field.
San Francisco made Montana the “designated starter” in an attempt to keep him, days after granting him permission to seek a trade. Montana turned down the Phoenix Cardinals in favor of the Kansas City Chiefs, but the 49ers nixed the trade to Kansas City. The 49ers actually wanted to accept the Cardinals offer, but Montana didn’t want to go there. Montana declined the offer and reminded the 49ers they granted him permission to seek a trade. He was going to Kansas City. That would be the day that I would become a Chiefs fan and have never looked backed.
One of the first games that the Montana played in a Chiefs uniform was against his old team. I remember the late Derrick Thomas saying that they were going to win this game for Joe. The Chiefs prevailed in a low scoring game. The Chiefs implemented the West Cost offense and the Chiefs won their division for the first time in 22 years.
The 1994 season was Montana’s final year in the NFL and my heart was broken. I remember my dad telling me that would I rather him walk away from the game while he could still walk or would I want him to leave broken.
Thanks to Montana I became a Chiefs fan and can’t wait to see them in Super Bowl.
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