| Team: | San Francisco 49ers |
| Year: | 1989 |
| Record: | 14–2 |
| Division Place: | 1st NFC West |
| Owner: | Eddie DeBartolo, Jr. |
| General Manager: | John McVay and Carmen Policy |
| Coach: | George Seifert |
| Off Coach: | Mike Holmgren |
| Def Coach: | Bill McPherson |
| Stadium: | Candlestick Park |
| Playoffs: | Won Divisional Playoffs (vs. Vikings) 41–13 Won NFC Championship (vs. Rams) 30–3 Won Super Bowl XXIV (vs. Broncos) 55–10 |
| Shortnavlink: | 49ers seasons |
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.[1]
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,[2] 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."[3]
The 1989 49ers ranked #5 on the 100 greatest teams of all time presented by the NFL on its 100th anniversary.[4] [5]
See main article: 1989 NFL 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 |
The 1989 San Francisco 49ers season held training camp at Sierra College in Rocklin, California.
| 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 |
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.
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.
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.
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.
This game was played at Stanford Stadium, as Candlestick Park had sustained damage in the Loma Prieta earthquake five days earlier.
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.
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.
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.
| 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 | |
| Week | Opponent | Referee | Umpire | Head Linesman | Line Judge | Back Judge | Side Judge | Field Judge | Replay | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles Rams (at Tokyo, Japan) | |||||||||
| 2 | at Los Angeles Raiders | |||||||||
| 3 | Denver Broncos | (9) | (27) | (72) | (59) | (4) | (58) | (122) | Bill Fette | |
| 4 | San Diego Chargers | |||||||||
| 5 | at Seattle Seahawks | (43) | (100) | (37) | (25) | (52) | (29) | (96) | Royal Cathcart |
| Week | Opponent | Referee | Umpire | Head Linesman | Line Judge | Back Judge | Side Judge | Field Judge | Replay | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | at Indianapolis Colts | (6) Tom Dooley | (101) Bob Boylston | (35) Leo Miles | (5) Jim Quirk | (24) Roy Clymer | (62) Duwayne Gandy | (86) Bernie Kukar | Bill Parkinson | |
| 2 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | (48) Gordon McCarter | (117) Ben Montgomery | (81) Dave Anderson | (56) Ron Baynes | (75) Jim Daopoulos | (61) Dick Creed | (93) Jack Vaughan | Chuck Heberling | |
| 3 | at Philadelphia Eagles | (60) Dick Jorgensen | (110) Ron Botchan | (121) Sanford Rivers | (51) Dale Orem | (92) Jim Poole | (20) Larry Nemmers | (44) Donnie Hampton | George Sladky | |
| 4 | Los Angeles Rams | (70) Jerry Seeman | (67) John Keck | (79) Aaron Pointer | (65) Walt Coleman | (106) Al Jury | (66) Dave Hawk | (113) Don Dorkowski | Dave Kamanski | |
| 5 | at New Orleans Saints | (43) Red Cashion | (100) Bob Wagner | (37) Burl Toler | (25) John Alderton | (52) Ben Tompkins | (29) Howard Slavin | (96) Don Hakes | Gaylord Bryant | |
| 6 | at Dallas Cowboys | (12) Ben Dreith | (88) Dave Moss | (55) Tom Barnes | (41) Dick McKenzie | (28) Don Wedge | (16) Doyle Jackson | (91) Bill Stanley | Cal Lepore | |
| 7 | New England Patriots (at Stanford) | (33) Howard Roe | (42) Dave Hamilton | (8) Dale Williams | (54) Jack Johnson | (68) Louis Richard | (102) Merrill Douglas | (18) Bob Lewis | Royal Cathcart | |
| 8 | at New York Jets | (11) Fred Wyant | (57) Ed Fiffick | (17) Jerry Bergman | (112) Joe Haynes | (36) Bob Moore | (63) Bill Carollo | (77) Don Orr | Fritz Graf | |
| 9 | New Orleans Saints | (32) Jim Tunney | (115) Hendi Ančićh | (26) Mark Baltz | (15) Bama Glass | (118) Tom Sifferman | (97) Nate Jones | (82) Pat Mallette | Bill Fette | |
| 10 | Atlanta Falcons | (70) Jerry Seeman | (67) John Keck | (79) Aaron Pointer | (65) Walt Coleman | (106) Al Jury | (66) Dave Hawk | (113) Don Dorkowski | Dave Kamanski | |
| 11 | Green Bay Packers | (105) Dick Hantak | (89) Gordon Wells | (114) Tom Johnson | (39) Don Carlsen | (22) Paul Baetz | (120) Gary Lane | (76) Ed Merrifield | Bill Swanson | |
| 12 | New York Giants | (95) Bob McElwee | (30) Dennis Riggs | (123) Tom White | (45) Ron DeSouza | (107) Jim Kearney | (108) Stan Kemp | (84) Bob Wortman | Tom Kelleher | |
| 13 | at Atlanta Falcons | (14) Gene Barth | (71) Ed Coukart | (10) Ron Phares | (74) Ray Dodez | (38) Bruce Maurer | (34) Gerald Austin | (31) Dick Dolack | Mark Burns | |
| 14 | at Los Angeles Rams | (48) Gordon McCarter | (117) Ben Montgomery | (81) Dave Anderson | (56) Ron Baynes | (75) Jim Daopoulos | (61) Dick Creed | (93) Jack Vaughan | Chuck Heberling | |
| 15 | Buffalo Bills | (23) Johnny Grier | (78) Art Demmas | (87) Paul Weidner | (53) Bill Reynolds | (80) Tim Millis | (90) Gil Mace | (119) Ron Spitler | Al Sabato | |
| 16 | Chicago Bears | (32) Jim Tunney | (115) Hendi Ančićh | (26) Mark Baltz | (15) Bama Glass | (118) Tom Sifferman | (97) Nate Jones | (82) Pat Mallette | Bill Fette |
| Week | Opponent | Referee | Umpire | Head Linesman | Line Judge | Back Judge | Side Judge | Field Judge | Replay | Alternates | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NFC Divisional Playoff | Minnesota Vikings | (6) Tom Dooley | (101) Bob Boylston | (72) Terry Gierke | (112) Joe Haynes | (4) Doug Toole | (108) Stan Kemp | (82) Pat Mallette | Bill Fette | (113) Don Dorkowski | |
| NFC Championship Game | Los Angeles Rams | (9) Jerry Markbreit | (103) Rex Stuart | (111) Earnie Frantz | (45) Ron DeSouza | (118) Tom Sifferman | (47) Tom Fincken | (84) Bob Wortman | Tom Kelleher | ||
| Super Bowl XXIV | vs. Denver Broncos (at New Orleans, Louisiana) | (60) Dick Jorgensen | (115) Hendi Ančićh | (111) Earnie Frantz | (83) Ron Blum | (106) Al Jury | (34) Gerald Austin | (77) Don Orr | Al Sabato | (105) Dick Hantak (103) Rex Stuart |
See main article: 1990 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 |