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1983 - For the second time in three seasons, San Franciscoplayed in the NFC Championship Game. The ’83 49erswere 10-6 (third best regular season victory total in clubhistory) and NFC Western Division Champions (fifth timesince 1970, second time since 1981). In the playoffs, SanFrancisco squeezed past Detroit, 24-23, but lost to Washington,24-21, in the NFC Championship contest. Individualstandouts included QB Joe Montana (the league’s numberone all-time QB entering the 1984 season), S Ronnie Lott(making his third Pro Bowl appearance in as many years), DEFred Dean (leading the NFC in sacks with 17.5), DE DwaineBoard (second in sacks with 13), CB Eric Wright (team leaderin interceptions with seven, two for scores), WR Dwight Clark(team leader with 70 receptions and eight TDs), WR FreddieSolomon (club record 21.4 yards per catch), K Ray Wersching(team-record 126 points, including a perfect 51-of-51PATs), offensive linemen C Randy Cross, T Keith Fahnhorstand G John Ayers, RB Roger Craig (752 yards rushing, 427receiving), RB Wendell Tyler (856 rushing yards, 285 receiving)and NFL All-Rookie team pick LB Riki Ellison (two interceptionsin the playoffs).1984 - The 49ers experienced the most successful regularseason in NFL history by winning a league record 15 games,including all eight road contests—setting yet another NFLstandard. The Niners broke 14 team records in ’84, whilebecoming the first NFC team to sweep all of its conferencegames, and the first NFC West unit to win all contests withinthe division. Led by RB Roger Craig and QB Joe Montana,San Francisco capped the year by routing the Miami Dolphinsin Super Bowl XIX, 38-16. The win was the 18th victory ofthe ’84 campaign, establishing an NFL standard for wins ina single season (including playoffs). San Francisco scored athen team-record 475 points. The 49ers defense was thestingiest in the NFL in ’84, allowing a league-low 227 pointsscored. Honors were numerous, including Pro Bowl recognitionfor 10 of Bill Walsh’s charges—Montana, RB WendellTyler, T Keith Fahnhorst, C Randy Cross and C Fred Quillanon offense and S Dwight Hicks, S Ronnie Lott, S Carlton Williamsonand CB Eric Wright (the entire Niners secondary), andLB Keena Turner on defense.1985 - At 10-6, San Francisco qualified for postseasonplay for the fourth time since 1981. Offensively, RB RogerCraig and WR Jerry Rice emerged as potent weapons in theattack. Craig became the first NFL player to surpass 1,000yards rushing and receiving in the same season. Rice wasnamed NFC ROOKIE OF THE YEAR and set the team recordfor first-year players with 927 receiving yards. The defenseexperienced the influx of four new starters in ’85 (NT MichaelCarter, LB Todd Shell, LB Michael Walter and DE John Harty).Carter won a berth on the Pro Bowl team, as did DBs EricWright and Carlton Williamson.1986 - The 49ers captured their fourth NFC Western Divisiontitle since 1981. Offensively, the team was led by All-Pro wide receiver WR Jerry Rice, who paced the NFL with1,570 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns. Those marksestablished club standards in addition to Rice’s team-record16 total scores.The defense managed 49 takeaways, tying the Kansas CityChiefs for NFL leadership. San Francisco’s 39 interceptionsand 578 return yards set team records, while five scores oninterceptions returns tied another club mark. S Ronnie Lotttied HB Dave Baker’s 1960 team record with 10 interceptions.The output by young players was vital due to majorinjuries suffered by many starting veterans. San Franciscomade 20 roster moves during the season, shuffling players inand out of action. QB Joe Montana missed Weeks 2-9 due toback surgery, while backup signal-caller Jeff Kemp did notplay Weeks 8-11 due to a hip injury.1987 - The San Francisco 49ers marched to an NFL regularseason best 13-2 record. It marked a league-leadingthird time in the decade of the ’80s that the team either tiedor posted the best won-loss percentage during the regularseason. San Francisco led the NFL with 5,987 total yardsand was best among league defenders allowing 4,095 totalyards. It was the first time in Niners history that the team ledthe league in fewest total yards allowed. WR Jerry Rice setNFL records with 22 receiving touchdowns and scoring receptionsin 13 consecutive games. The durable wide out receivedpostseason Most Valuable Player awards from nearlyevery news agency and sports publication. QB Joe Montanawon the first NFL passing title of his nine-year career andset a team record with 31 touchdown passes. S Ronnie Lott,Montana and Rice were joined by NT Michael Carter and RBRoger Craig on the NFC squad in the 1988 Pro Bowl.1988 - The 49ers climaxed their 1988 season in thrillingfashion with a dramatic touchdown drive in the waning secondsof Super Bowl XXIII. QB Joe Montana’s 10-yard scoringtoss to WR John Taylor with 34 seconds remaining in thecontest gave the Niners their third Super Bowl win of thedecade and the rights to the title “Team of the 1980s.” Theworld championship game against the Cincinnati Bengalswas a microcosm of the entire ’88 campaign. San Franciscoopened the year strong with a 5-2 record, but by Week 12were 6-5, two games out of first place with only five conteststo play. That week’s victory over Washington launched afour-game winning streak that resulted in the Niners movingup from third to first place in the NFC West standings andearning a third consecutive NFC Western Division title. As theseason ended RB Roger Craig broke the team’s single seasonrushing record (finishing with 1,502 yards) and K MikeCofer established new Niners single-season standards forfield goals attempted (38) and made (27). WR Jerry Rice wenton a playoff tear that included: an NFL postseason recordtyingthree touchdown receptions against Minnesota, theMontana-to-Rice battery hooked-up on first half touchdownsof 61 and 27 yards at Chicago, and concluded witha Super Bowl XXIII MVP performance of 11 receptions for aSuper Bowl record 215 yards and a touchdown. Defenders SRonnie Lott, DE Charles Haley, NT Michael Carter, along withRice, Taylor and Craig, were selected to the Pro Bowl.1989 - George Seifert was named head coach of the SanFrancisco 49ers just four days after the team had won itsthird World Championship under retiring head man Bill Walsh.Seifert’s quest for the title was tested early and often as the