Joe Montana Career Biography and Statistics

Bio:
The quarterback (QB) is the undisputed on-field leader of a football team. As such, it is the QB that the team and the fans turn to with the game on the line. Some QB’s embrace the challenge and excel, others falter and fall on their faces. Joe Montana was a QB who embraced those moments and not only excelled, but excelled above all others.

Montana was born on June 11, 1956 in New Eagle, PA. From an early age he showed interest and talent in football as well as baseball and basketball. In fact, Montana was so good at basketball that as a senior he was offered a basketball scholarship to North Carolina State University. It wasn’t until his junior year of high school that Montana achieved the position of starting QB for the Ringgold High School Rams. Montana did not relinquish the position for the next two years, and after his senior season he was named to the Parade All-American team. He decided to pursue football and accepted a scholarship to play at the University of Notre Dame.
          
Montana did not see much action until his sophomore season when he impressed his new coach in spring games before the regular season. He became the go-to guy late in the game during comeback situations. He led Notre Dame to two crucial comeback wins, including an incredible performance against Air Force that earned him the nickname “The Comeback Kid”---the nickname stuck to Montana for the rest of his career. He missed the entire 1976 season due to a separated shoulder but came back strong in 1977. Once again, he began the year low on the depth chart at number three, but due to an injury to the second string QB and Montana leading another comeback win, he officially became the starting QB for the first time. Montana did not disappoint as he led Notre Dame to win their final nine games, including a 38-10 Cotton Bowl win over the number one ranked Texas Longhorns. This win earned Notre Dame the NCAA national title. During his senior year in 1978, Montana led Notre Dame back to the Cotton Bowl, this time against the University of Houston. This game is considered to be one of the greatest of Montana’s career, as he led his team to yet another fourth quarter comeback to beat Houston by one point.
          
There is not much to say about Montana’s professional career, for it can be summed up in one word: incredible. Despite his college heroics, he was not selected until the third round of the 1979 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. Montana spent his first year as the 49ers backup, appearing in all 16 games but only attempting 23 passes. Midway through the 1980 season Montana earned the starting position by leading San Francisco to a fourth quarter comeback victory over the New Orleans Saints. This was the first of the 31 times that Montana would lead his team to a fourth quarter comeback win during his professional career.
          
The rest of Montana’s career is full of comebacks (not only in fourth quarters, but also from injuries), championships, MVPs, and records. He continued his comeback legacy, the most notable occurring during the Conference Championship game against the Dallas Cowboys. “The Comeback Kid” led his 49ers on a long drive late in the fourth quarter to beat the Cowboys by one point and propel San Francisco into Super Bowl XVI. The drive culminated in what is simply known as “The Catch” by wide receiver Dwight Clark. Montana ultimately led San Francisco to four Super Bowl victories, was named MVP of three of those Super Bowls, selected as the NFL MVP twice, and played in eight Pro Bowls. He finished his career with 3,409 completions, 40,551 yards, 273 TDs, and a 92.3 passer rating.