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HISTORYHISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTSship and Super Bowl XVI). The 49ers won 15 of theirlast 16 games, beat five opponents twice—includingall three postseason foes—and became the firstteam since Chicago in 1945-47 to go from the worstNFL record (2-14 in 1979) to the league’s best (13-3 in ’81) in just three seasons. All this happened withthree rookies (S Carlton Williamson, CB Eric Wrightand Lott) starting in the defensive secondary. Thosethree rookies, along with Montana, Clark, Cross, WRFreddie Solomon and Hicks, combined with “oldveterans” Dean and LB Jack “Hacksaw” Reynolds,formed a nucleus of world championship vintage.1982As defending world champions, the San Francisco49ers did not enjoy the 1982 season, but then notmany NFL fans, coaches and players throughoutthe league did either (except maybe in Washington,where the Redskins were Super Bowl XVII champs).The Niners fell to 3-6 and missed out on the playoffs.In the strike-shortened season, San Franciscowent winless at home (0-5) but did manage a 3-1road record (the Niners were 0-2 prior to the 57-day players’ strike and 3-4 following it). WR DwightClark had an outstanding season, leading the NFLwith 60 receptions and being named consensusAll-Pro and NFL Player of the Year by Sports Illustrated.LB Keena Turner (second-team All-Pro), SRonnie Lott (Pro Bowl), C Randy Cross (Pro Bowl), SDwight Hicks (Pro Bowl), T Keith Fahnhorst and QBJoe Montana (NFL record for five straight 300-yardpassing games) were bright spots in an otherwisedisappointing season.1983For the second time in three seasons, San Franciscoplayed in the NFC Championship Game. The’83 49ers were 10-6 (third best regular season victorytotal in club history) and NFC Western DivisionChampions (fifth time since 1970, second time since1981). In the playoffs, San Francisco squeezed pastDetroit, 24-23, but lost to Washington, 24-21, in theNFC Championship contest. Individual standouts includedQB Joe Montana (the league’s No. 1 all-timeQB entering the 1984 season), S Ronnie Lott (makinghis third Pro Bowl appearance in as many years),DE Fred Dean (leading the NFC in sacks with 17.5),DE Dwaine Board (second in sacks with 13), CB EricWright (team leader in interceptions with seven,two for scores), WR Dwight Clark (team leader with70 receptions and eight TDs), WR Freddie Solomon(club record 21.4 yards per catch), K Ray Wersching(team-record 126 points, including a perfect 51-of-51 PATs), offensive linemen C Randy Cross, T KeithFahnhorst and G John Ayers, RB Roger Craig (752yards rushing, 427 receiving), RB Wendell Tyler (856rushing yards, 285 receiving) and NFL All-Rookieteam pick LB Riki Ellison.1984The 49ers experienced the most successful regularseason in NFL history by winning a league record15 games, including all eight road contests—settingyet another NFL standard. The Niners broke 14 teamrecords in ’84, while becoming the first NFC teamto sweep all of its conference games, and the firstNFC West unit to win all contests within the division.Led by RB Roger Craig and QB Joe Montana,San Francisco capped the year by routing the MiamiDolphins in Super Bowl XIX, 38-16. The win was the18th victory of the ’84 campaign, establishing anNFL standard for wins in a single season (includingplayoffs). San Francisco scored a then team-record475 points. The 49ers defense was the stingiest inthe NFL in ’84, allowing a league-low 227 pointsscored. Honors were numerous, including Pro Bowlrecognition for 10 of Bill Walsh’s charges—Montana,RB Wendell Tyler, T Keith Fahnhorst, C Randy Crossand C Fred Quillan on offense and S Dwight Hicks, SRonnie Lott, S Carlton Williamson and CB Eric Wright(the entire Niners secondary), and LB Keena Turneron defense.1985At 10-6, San Francisco qualified for postseason playfor the fourth time since 1981. Offensively, RB RogerCraig and WR Jerry Rice emerged as potent weaponsin the attack. Craig became the first NFL playerto surpass 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in thesame season. Rice was named NFC ROOKIE OF THEYEAR and set the team record for first-year playerswith 927 receiving yards. The defense experiencedthe influx of four new starters in ’85 (NT MichaelCarter, LB Todd Shell, LB Michael Walter and DE JohnHarty). Carter won a berth on the Pro Bowl team, asdid DBs Eric Wright and Carlton Williamson.1986The 49ers captured their fourth NFC Western Divisiontitle since 1981. Offensively, the team was led byAll-Pro wide receiver WR Jerry Rice, who paced theNFL with 1,570 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns.Those marks established club standards in additionto Rice’s team-record 16 total scores. The defensemanaged 49 takeaways, tying the Kansas City Chiefsfor NFL leadership. San Francisco’s 39 interceptionsand 578 return yards set team records, whilefive scores on interceptions returns tied another clubmark. S Ronnie Lott tied HB Dave Baker’s 1960 teamrecord with 10 interceptions. The output by youngplayers was vital due to major injuries suffered bymany starting veterans. San Francisco made 20 rostermoves during the season, shuffling players in andout of action. QB Joe Montana missed Weeks 2-9due to back surgery, while backup signal-caller JeffKemp did not play Weeks 8-11 due to a hip injury.1987The San Francisco 49ers marched to an NFL regularseason best 13-2 record. It marked a leagueleadingthird time in the decade of the ’80s that theteam either tied or posted the best win-loss percentageduring the regular season. San Francisco ledthe NFL with 5,987 total yards and was best amongleague defenders allowing 4,095 total yards. It wasthe first time in Niners history that the team led theleague in fewest total yards allowed. WR Jerry Riceset NFL records with 22 receiving touchdowns andscoring receptions in 13 consecutive games. Thedurable wide out received postseason Most ValuablePlayer awards from nearly every news agencyand sports publication. QB Joe Montana won the firstNFL passing title of his nine-year career and set ateam record with 31 touchdown passes. S RonnieLott, Montana and Rice were joined by NT MichaelCarter and RB Roger Craig on the NFC squad in the1988 Pro Bowl.SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS \\379// MEDIA GUIDE1988The 49ers climaxed their 1988 season in thrillingfashion with a dramatic touchdown drive in thewaning seconds of Super Bowl XXIII. QB Joe Montana’s10-yard scoring toss to WR John Taylor with34 seconds remaining in the contest gave the Ninerstheir third Super Bowl win of the decade and therights to the title “Team of the 1980s.” The worldchampionship game against the Cincinnati Bengalswas a microcosm of the entire ’88 campaign. SanFrancisco opened the year strong with a 5-2 record,but by Week 12 were 6-5, two games out of firstplace with only five contests to play. That week’svictory over Washington launched a four-gamewinning streak that resulted in the Niners moving upfrom third to first place in the NFC West standingsand earning a third consecutive NFC Western Divisiontitle. As the season ended RB Roger Craig brokethe team’s single season rushing record (finishingwith 1,502 yards) and K Mike Cofer establishednew Niners single-season standards for field goalsattempted (38) and made (27). WR Jerry Rice wenton a playoff tear that included: an NFL postseasonrecord-tying three touchdown receptions againstMinnesota, the Montana-to-Rice battery hookedupon first half touchdowns of 61 and 27 yards atChicago, and concluded with a Super Bowl XXIII MVPperformance of 11 receptions for a Super Bowl record215 yards and a touchdown. Defenders S RonnieLott, DE Charles Haley, NT Michael Carter, alongwith Rice, Taylor and Craig, were selected to the ProBowl.1989George Seifert was named head coach of the SanFrancisco 49ers just four days after the team hadwon its third World Championship under retiring headman Bill Walsh. Seifert’s quest for the title was testedearly and often as the 49ers endured nail-bitingwins at Indianapolis (30-24) and Tampa Bay (20-16) to open the season. QB Joe Montana threw for428 yards and five touchdowns, including a teamrecordfour TD tosses in the fourth quarter resultingin a 10-point victory (38-28) in Philadelphia. Underfirst-year offensive coordinator Mike Holmgren, theNiners accumulated more yardage than any otherNFL team. WRs Jerry Rice and John Taylor, RB RogerCraig, G Guy McIntyre and QB Joe Montana were1990 Pro Bowl participants. Rice’s 1,483 receivingyards paced the league. Craig exceeded 1,000 yardsrushing for the second consecutive season and runningmate FB Tom Rathman led NFC running backswith 73 receptions. Montana had the best season ofhis career. A consensus Player of the Year, Montana’s112.4 quarterback rating set a then NFL single-seasonrecord. Montana was selected by his teammatesas the ’89 recipient of the Len Eshmont Award. Fueledby Rice’s 72-yard first quarter catch-and-runfor a score, the 49ers exploded for 27 first half pointsand cruised to a 41-13 victory against Minnesotain their opening ’89 playoff contest. The 49ers facedLos Angeles in the NFC Championship Game. TheNiners started slowly, however. Two long, secondquarterscoring drives and a touchdown set up byan interception gave San Francisco a 21-3 lead atintermission. Cofer’s three field goals cushionedSan Francisco’s lead as the team advanced to SuperBowl XXIV with a satisfying 30-3 win. The 49ersdisplayed optimal performance at the highest level of