Joe MontanaEssay Preview: Joe MontanaReport this essayJoseph Clifford Montana, Jr., (born June 11, 1956 in the Monongahela pocket suburb New Eagle, Pennsylvania) was widely considered one of the best football quarterbacks in the history of the National Football League. The western Pennsylvania and West Virginia hills around the Monongahela river drainage basin are famed in sports circles (esp. scouting) for the number of college and pro-NFL caliber players produced in the greater region, and Montana is perhaps archetypical in that manner. He is of Italian descent and grew to maturity in the hard-scrabble steel town of Monongehela at a time when the failing rust belt industries were making for tough times in the local economy.
He led the San Francisco 49ers to four Super Bowls (1981 season, 1984 season, 1988 season, 1989 season) and became the only player to win three Super Bowl MVP awards. He was also the first player in league history to win two Associated Press MVP awards, as he did so for the 1989 and 1990 season. In 1990, he received Sports Illustrated magazines “Sportsman of the Year” award, and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000. His moniker, Joe Cool, was given to him because of his ability to come up big when his team needed it.
High School YearsMontana attended Ringgold Area High School in Monongehela and was a standout in football, basketball, and baseball. In football, he was a two-year starter and as a senior, won Parade All-American honors. In basketball, he led his team to a League Championship as a senior. He also served as his classes vice president as a senior.
Pro football CareerSan Francisco 49ersMontana was drafted in the third round by the San Francisco 49ers in 1979 from Notre Dame. He was selected after leading Notre Dame team to defeat the Houston Cougars in the 1979 Cotton Bowl. This came after Montana leading the Irish to the 1977 college football National Championship finished by a victory over the Texas Longhorns in the 1978 Cotton Bowl. Injured after getting hit by Leonard Marshall during the NFC Championship Game in January 1991, Montana missed all of the 1991 season and most of the 1992 season with an elbow injury (he did appear in a Monday Night Football game vs. Detroit Lions at the end of the 92 season and was very effective). However, at this point, teammate Steve Young replaced him at the starting quarterback position.
Kansas City ChiefsMontana was then traded to the Kansas City Chiefs in April 1993 and spent his two final seasons with the Chiefs before retiring at the end of the 1994 season. As a Chief, Montana led two come-from-behind wins in the 1993 playoffs and reached the AFC Championship Game where Kansas City lost to the Buffalo Bills. In 1994, Montanas highlights included a classic duel with John Elway on Monday Night Football and a final playoff appearance.
NFL records and accomplishmentsMontana earned the nicknames “Joe Cool” and “Comeback Kid” due to his ability to rally his teams from late game deficits, including 31 fourth quarter comebacks. “The Catch” (the game-winning TD pass vs. Dallas in the 82 NFC Championship Game) and “The Drive” (the Super Bowl-winning 92-yd. drive vs. the Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII) are staples of NFL highlight films.
For his career with the 49ers, Montana completed 2,929 of 4,600 passes for 35,142 yards and 244 touchdowns. He had thirty-five 300 yard passing games. His career totals: 3409 completion on 5391 attempts, 273 touchdowns, 40,551 yards. His career passer rating was 92.3, 3rd highest of all-time, behind Kurt Warner (still active) and successor Steve Young. He also rushed for 1676 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Montana holds post-season records for most career touchdown passes (44), and passing yards (5772) among others. In his four Super Bowls, Montana completed 83 of 122 passes, for 1,142 yards and 11 touchdowns with an impressive zero interceptions, earning him a quarterback rating of 127.8. Montana led his team to victory in each game, and is the only player ever to win 3 Super Bowl MVP awards. He played in eight Pro Bowls. His success is a combination of Bill Walshs highly successful West Coast Offense, a team of superstars, pro-bowlers and future stars, and Montanas uncanny ability to find the open man (often the third or fourth option).
StatisticsCareer5,391 passes attempted3,409 passes completed40,551 passing yards273 passing touchdowns139 passes intercepted38.7 passing attempts per interceptionPost-season records and statistics16-7 record in the postseason732 passes attempted463 passes completed5,772 passing yards (250.9 ypg)44 passing touchdowns21 passes intercepted34.8 passing attempts per interception in the post-season8 Pro Bowls3 Super Bowl MVP awards4 Super Bowl victoriesZero career interceptions thrown during Super Bowl appearancesPost-NFL lifeCritics have largely slighted his comedy appearances, e.g. Saturday Night Live with guest Walter Payton. However his 3Ð minute piece on the Late Show with David Letterman
[pullquote]
You are truly a stand-up comedian. Every day comes a day like that where you make a really great speech with your mind and your body and your emotions.