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HISTORYHISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTScompetition while securing their second consecutiveWorld Championship. The resounding 55-10 defeatof the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXIV was aconvergence of talent and technique, planning andpurpose. San Francisco tied or set nearly 40 SuperBowl records and Montana was honored with thegame’s MVP award for an unprecedented third time.1990The Niners finished the season with an NFL-best14-2 mark and came within four seconds (in a15-13 loss to the NY Giants) of earning their thirdconsecutive trip to the Super Bowl. In addition to recordingthe NFL’s best win-loss mark for the secondstraight season, the 49ers captured the NFC WesternDivision title for the fifth consecutive year and theeighth time since 1981 (’81, 1983-84, 1986-90).San Francisco claimed its 11th Division crown sincethe NFL/AFL merger of 1970, more than any NFCWestern Division opponent (the Rams were secondwith eight), and second most in NFL history (behindMiami’s 13 AFC East titles). San Francisco openedthe 1990 season with a team-record 10 consecutivevictories. The 49ers also posted an 8-0 mark on theroad, giving them the longest road winning streakin league history (19 games, including postseason)heading into ’91. QB Joe Montana and WR Jerry Riceagain formed one of the most prolific aerial combinationsin pro football. Montana, who was named 1990Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated, finishedhis 12th NFL season by throwing for a then teamrecord3,944 yards. He also tossed 26 touchdownpasses (second in the NFC) and finished as the thirdhighest rated quarterback in the conference. On thereceiving end of many of those Montana passes wasRice, who became only the fourth player in leaguehistory to reach the century mark in receptions for asingle season. Rice hauled in 100 passes for 1,502yards and 13 TDs, and earned his fifth consecutivetrip to the Pro Bowl. In one of the most memorableperformances of the season (if not team history),Rice tied an NFL record with five TD receptions in a45-35 victory at Atlanta, October 14. The defensiveside of the ball was led by LB-DE Charles Haley’s 58tackles and an NFC-high 16 sacks. For his efforts,the fourth-year player from James Madison Universitywas named as a starter in the 1991 Pro Bowl.LB Bill Romanowski led the team in tackles with 79,while CB Darryl Pollard registered 74, including ateam-high 72 solo stops. A number of team careerrecords fell by the wayside in ’90. Montana slippedpast QB John Brodie to take over the career passinglead (34,998 yards), while RB Roger Craig becamethe all-time team record holder in career receptionswith 508, moving ahead of WR Dwight Clark’s totalof 506. The 49ers placed five players on the 1991NFC Pro Bowl squad, four as starters. Representingthe 49ers were Haley, Rice, S Ronnie Lott and G GuyMcIntyre, while Montana, selected as a starter, wasunable to participate because of a finger injury sufferedin the NFC Championship Game.1991It was a classic case of “too little...too late” for theSan Francisco 49ers in 1991. After losing six of theirfirst 10 games by a total of 26 points, the Niners wontheir remaining six contests (by a total of 95 points)but missed the playoffs for the first time since 1982.The 49ers finished the 1991 campaign in impressivefashion during that final six-game span, witha margin of victory that averaged almost 16 points.During that final six-game span, the Niners defeatedthree playoff teams (New Orleans, Kansas City andChicago) while averaging 31.5 points per gamein the process. WR Jerry Rice continued to registerhis place in club and league history taking overthe club’s career receiving record with 525 catches.Rice finished third in the NFC with 80 receptions and1,206 yards, surpassing 1,000 receiving yards for aclub-record sixth consecutive season, and he ledthe NFL with 14 TD receptions. QB Steve Young wonthe NFL passing title, despite missing six games dueto a knee injury. Young, who passed for 2,517 yardsand 17 TDs, finished with a 101.8 rating, bestingWashington’s Mark Rypien (97.9) for the title. WhenYoung was injured at Atlanta November 3, QB SteveBono (1,617 yards, 11 TDs) came off the bench torally the team to five consecutive victories. On thedefensive side of the ball, S Dave Waymer finishedas the leader in total tackles (86), solo tackles (77),interceptions (4), interception return yards (78) andpasses defensed (16) and tied CB Kevin Lewis for thelead in forced fumbles (3). LB-DE Charles Haley andDE Larry Roberts each posted seven sacks, whileCB Don Griffin’s 99-yard fumble return against theBears set a team record and was the third longestreturn in league history. San Francisco placed threeplayers on the 1992 NFC Pro Bowl squad, two asstarters, as Rice, Guy McIntyre and Haley were allselected (Rice and McIntyre as starters). It was thesixth time in Rice’s seven-year career that he wasselected to play on the islands. McIntyre and Haleywere each selected for the third time.1992The San Francisco 49ers continued their winningtradition as they once again posted the NFL’s bestregular season record (14-2), while winning theirsixth NFC Western Division title in seven years, andadvancing to the NFC Championship Game for thesecond time in three seasons. In the NFC DivisionalPlayoffs, the 49ers defeated defending Super BowlChampion Washington (20-13). However, San Franciscofell to Dallas, 30-20, in the NFC ChampionshipGame at Candlestick Park the following week.WR Jerry Rice continued to etch his name in footballhistory, becoming the NFL’s all-time touchdownreception leader with 103. He tied Steve Largent’smark of 100 in Week 13 against the PhiladelphiaEagles (11-29), then broke the record the followingweek vs. the Miami Dolphins (12-6). QB SteveYoung, who harvested a total of 34 awards, includingthe NFL’S Most Valuable Player Award, won the NFLpassing title for the second straight year, finishing anamazing 16.3 points ahead of his closest competitor.Young, who passed for 3,465 yards and 25 TDs, finishedwith a 107.0 rating. Following his 101.8 ratingin 1991, it marked the first time in league historythat anyone had posted back-to-back seasons withratings higher than 100 each year. RB Ricky Wattersgained 1,013 yards to establish a team rushing recordfor first-year backs. K Mike Cofer’s 107 pointsled the 49ers in scoring for the fifth consecutive year.On the defensive side of the ball, linebacking led thecharge as LB Bill Romanowski finished as the leaderin total tackles (80) and assists (15). LB Mike Walter(67 solo stops) and LB Tim Harris (17 sacks for 116yards) also led defensive categories. CB Don GriffinSAN FRANCISCO 49ERS \\380// MEDIA GUIDEpaced the defensive backfield with five interceptionsand 19 passes defensed. Fans at Candlestick sawthe Niners rewrite part of the team’s record book in’92 as they set team marks for total offense (598yards) vs. the Buffalo Bills (Sept. 13) and points (56)in their win over the Atlanta Falcons (56-17, 10-18).San Francisco placed seven players on the 1993NFC Pro Bowl squad, including four starters and fivefirst-time participants. Rice, G Guy McIntyre, DTPierce Holt and Young were all named as starters. TEBrent Jones, Watters and T Steve Wallace were alsoselected. It was the seventh time in Rice’s eightyearcareer that he was selected to play on the islandsand McIntyre was named for the fourth time,while the others made their first visits.1993The 1993 season was another in a long line of successesfor the San Francisco 49ers. Among the team’saccomplishments were: a 10-6 record, marking anNFL-record 11th consecutive season with 10 ormore victories, the team’s 10th NFC West title in 13seasons and a third appearance in four years in theNFC title game. In addition, San Francisco led theNational Football League in scoring and total offenseand established or tied five of the team’s nine majoroffensive records. The marks set included mostnet offensive yards (6,435), most TDs (61), most firstdowns (372) and highest average gain per play (6.3).The Niners also tied the team mark for net passingyards in a season with 4,302, equaling the recordset in 1989. Individually, QB Steve Young became thefirst player in NFL history to lead the NFL in passingthree consecutive seasons, when he posted a 101.5rating in 1993. In addition, it was his third consecutiveseason with a rating over 100, also a league first.Young completed 68 percent of his passes (secondhighest in team history) for a then club-record 4,023yards. His 29 scoring passes in ’93 ranked third onthe team’s single-season charts. RB Ricky Wattersled the ground game for the second consecutiveseason, narrowly missing the 1,000-yard mark with950 yards. Watters posted 10 rushing TDs during theseason and set an NFL single-game playoff recordwith a five-touchdown outburst vs. the New YorkGiants. WR Jerry Rice posted one of his best seasons,recording 98 receptions for 1,503 yards and15 touchdowns on his way to being named NFL OF-FENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR by Associated Press.He also received the team’s Len Eshmont Award.Defensively, DT Dana Stubblefield was named theNFL DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR, capping aseason in which he registered 10.5 sacks. LB BillRomanowski (105) and S Tim McDonald (91) toppedthe team in tackles. Young, Rice and McDonald wereselected to the Pro Bowl, joining T Harris Barton, GGuy McIntyre, TE Brent Jones and C Jesse Sapoluwith that honor.1994The 1994 San Francisco 49ers completed one of themost impressive seasons in NFL history by capturingtheir NFL-record fifth Super Bowl Championship atJoe Robbie Stadium in Miami. San Francisco defeatedthe San Diego Chargers 49-26 in Super Bowl XXIXto put the finishing touches on a 16-3 season andwin an unprecedented fifth Vince Lombardi Trophy.The offseason started on a high note. Despite facingan NFL-imposed salary cap in 1994, the 49ers