Editing San Francisco 49ers (section)

===== Super Bowl XXIV champions (1989) =====
In the [[1989 NFL season]], Joe Montana threw for 3,521 yards and 26 touchdowns, with only 8 interceptions, giving him a 112.4 quarterback rating, which was then the highest single-season passer rating in NFL history, and was named [[NFL Most Valuable Player Award|NFL Most Valuable Player]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Joe Montana 1989 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MontJo01/gamelog/1989/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=NFL Passer Rating Single-Season Leaders |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/pass_rating_single_season.htm |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1989 Awards Voting |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/awards_1989.htm |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> Jerry Rice, in his fifth year in the league, continued to dominate; he led the league with almost 1,490 receiving yards, and 17 touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jerry Rice 1989 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RiceJe00/gamelog/1989/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> The 49ers clinched their fourth straight division title, beating the [[1989 Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles Rams]] 30–27 after a dramatic second-half comeback; they finished 14–2, gaining home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Their two losses were by a combined five points.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1989 San Francisco 49ers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sfo/1989.htm |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

In the divisional playoffs, they easily defeated the Vikings, 41–13. In the [[1989–90 NFL playoffs#NFC Championship: San Francisco 49ers 30, Los Angeles Rams 3|NFC championship game]], they played against the Rams for a third time; the previous two games had been decided by a total of 4 points, but they were able to blow out the Rams 30–3, earning another trip to the Super Bowl, where they defeated the [[1989 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]] in relatively easy fashion by a score of 55–10 in [[Super Bowl XXIV]] – setting a record for points scored and widest margin of victory in a Super Bowl.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - Minnesota Vikings at San Francisco 49ers - January 6th, 1990 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199001060sfo.htm |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=NFC Championship - Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers - January 14th, 1990 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199001140sfo.htm |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl XXIV - San Francisco 49ers vs. Denver Broncos - January 28th, 1990 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199001280den.htm |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> Montana himself set many Super Bowl records (some since tied or surpassed) en route to his third Super Bowl MVP. In winning the Super Bowl, the 49ers became the only team to win back-to-back Super Bowls under different head coaches. This 1989 championship team is often regarded as one of the most dominant teams in NFL history, winning three playoff games by a combined 100 points.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://dev.realclearsports.com/lists/dominating_postseason_team_performances/1989_san_francisco_49ers.html | title=Top 10 Most Dominant Postseasons: 1989 San Francisco 49ers | date=May 28, 2012 | access-date=February 3, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205233159/http://dev.realclearsports.com/lists/dominating_postseason_team_performances/1989_san_francisco_49ers.html | archive-date=February 5, 2018 | url-status=dead }}</ref>[[File:SF 49ers HQ tophy wall.JPG|thumb|right|49ers wall of trophies at the Marie P. DeBartolo Sports Center]]
In [[1990 NFL season|1990]], the 49ers won their first 10 games, and they eventually finished 14–2.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1990 San Francisco 49ers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sfo/1990.htm |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> They ripped through the season, and the coveted third consecutive Super Bowl victory seemed within reach. In the playoffs, the 49ers dispatched the [[1990 Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins]] 28–10,<ref name="1991Divisional">{{cite news|last1=Stellino|first1=Vic|title=Montana picks Redskins apart in 28–10 victory 49ers' interceptions thwart two drives|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1991/01/13/montana-picks-redskins-apart-in-28-10-victory-49ers-interceptions-thwart-two-drives/|work=The Baltimore Sun|date=January 13, 1991|access-date=August 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518090401/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1991-01-13/sports/1991013121_1_joe-montana-montana-time-49ers|archive-date=May 18, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> setting up a conference championship game with the [[1990 New York Giants season|New York Giants]]. Despite not scoring a touchdown in the game, the Giants took advantage of a fourth-quarter injury to Montana and converted a faked punt attempt to thwart the 49ers' attempt at a "three-peat". The Giants kicked a last-second field goal after recovering a Roger Craig fumble in the final minutes of the game, winning 15–13 and going on to win [[Super Bowl XXV]].<ref name="Gutsiest">{{cite web|last1=Merron|first1=Jeff|title=The List: Gutsiest calls in sports|url=http://www.espn.com/page2/s/list/gutsiestcalls.html|website=ESPN|access-date=August 19, 2017|format=Page 2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820062925/http://www.espn.com/page2/s/list/gutsiestcalls.html|archive-date=August 20, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

During their quest for a "three-peat" between 1988 and 1990, the 49ers set a league record with 18 consecutive road victories.<ref name="g335">{{cite web | title=The Top 17 Streaks in San Francisco 49ers History | website=49ers.com| date=2015-02-03 | url=https://www.49ers.com/news/the-top-17-streaks-in-san-francisco-49ers-history-14879170 | access-date=2024-08-30}}</ref> Joe Montana missed almost all of the following two seasons with a recurring elbow injury. Following the 1990 season, the 49ers left team stalwarts Roger Craig and Ronnie Lott unprotected and let them go to the [[Los Angeles Raiders]] via Plan B free agency.<ref name="l845">{{cite web | last=Gay | first=Nancy | title=Mystery still surrounds extent of injury to Montanta's elbow | website=Baltimore Sun | date=1991-09-04 | url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1991/09/04/mystery-still-surrounds-extent-of-injury-to-montantas-elbow/ | access-date=2024-08-30}}</ref>

In [[1991 NFL season|1991]], [[Steve Young (American football)|Steve Young]] injured the thumb on his throwing hand and later was sidelined with an injured knee. After 10 games, the 49ers had a record of 4–6. Backup quarterback [[Steve Bono]] helped the team win its next five games with Young sidelined. In the final game of the season, Monday night versus the NFC's number two seed, Young returned and the 49ers beat the [[1991 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]] 52–14, finishing 10–6.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1991 San Francisco 49ers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sfo/1991.htm |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> However, the team missed qualifying for the playoffs by virtue of losing the head-to-head tiebreaker to the [[1991 Atlanta Falcons season|Atlanta Falcons]], which had beaten the 49ers on a last-second Hail Mary pass earlier in the season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1991 NFL Standings & Team Stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1991/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

In [[1992 NFL season|1992]], Joe Montana came back after missing almost two full seasons due to an elbow injury in his throwing arm and started the second half of a Monday night game versus [[1992 Detroit Lions season|Detroit]] on December 28, 1992. With the 49ers clinging to a 7–6 lead, Montana entered the game and looked as though he had not missed a single snap, completing 15–21 for 126 yards and 2 touchdowns, as the 49ers defeated the Lions 24–6. The 49ers finished the 1992 season with a 14–2 record and home-field advantage in the playoffs. San Francisco defeated the [[1992 Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins]] 20–13 in the divisional playoff game but lost to the [[1992 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] 30–20 in the NFC championship at Candlestick Park.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - Washington Redskins at San Francisco 49ers - January 9th, 1993 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199301090sfo.htm |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=NFC Championship - Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers - January 17th, 1993 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199301170sfo.htm |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

At the end of the 1992 season, partly fueled by media hype, the biggest quarterback controversy in football history was in full swing. After discussions with the owner and the coach, Montana asked for, and was granted, a trade to the [[Kansas City Chiefs]] prior to the 1993 season.<ref name="r306">{{cite web | last=Gatto | first=Tom | title=Why Joe Montana left the 49ers for the Chiefs | website=Sporting News | date=2020-01-31 | url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/why-joe-montana-left-the-49ers-for-the-chiefs/1u7yyq3mopvjs1dcj0nuw5mgb2 | access-date=2024-08-05}}</ref> Despite Eddie DeBartolo wanting Montana to stay and start, Montana realized that he and Young could not stay with the 49ers without a controversy. Montana was later quoted as saying, "If I had stayed and started, there would have been problems. If I had stayed and Steve Young had started, there would have been problems."

The 49ers finished the [[1993 NFL season|1993 season]], the team's first without Joe Montana on the roster, with a 10–6 record and no. 2 seed in the playoffs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1993 San Francisco 49ers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sfo/1993.htm |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1993 NFL Standings & Team Stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1993/index.htm |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> San Francisco defeated the [[1993 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] 44–3 in the divisional playoff game but lost to the [[1993 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] 38–21 in the NFC championship at Texas Stadium.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers - January 15th, 1994 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199401150sfo.htm |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=NFC Championship - San Francisco 49ers at Dallas Cowboys - January 23rd, 1994 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199401230dal.htm |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>