49ers Super Bowl History

Audio/Story posted January 29, 2020 in

Host Logan Bourandas gives you a look back at the Super Bowl droughts for both the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers.

The San Francisco 49ers have one of the richest Super Bowl histories in the NFL. They have won five Super Bowl titles, but none have come recently, as all five occurred between 1981 and 1994. The 49ers have had two of the greatest quarterback in Super Bowl history in Steve Young and Joe Montana, as well as with Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice. Beyond the individual players, the 49ers have had some of the most clutch Super Bowl displays of all time.

The first title for the 49ers came in Super Bowl 16 against the Cincinnati Bengals, in which head coach Bill Walsh led his team to victory. Safety Ronnie Lott was the star player, and his ball-hawking skills had a huge impact.

Only three years later, the 49ers beat the Dolphins, which were led by MVP quarterback Dan Marino, in Super Bowl 19. Montana orchestrated a fantastic performance in the big game and had some much-needed help on defense. The defense was so elite that the entire backfield was elected to the Pro Bowl, which was an NFL first at the time. No team can compare to the Carlton Williamson and Ronnie Lott-led backfield because of their speed and instincts.

A third Super Bowl victory came in the Super Bowl 23 rematch against the Bengals. Montana struggled with injuries earlier in the season, but he rebounded nicely for the big game, and with help from Rice, the 49ers won. This game allowed Rice to truly break out on the biggest stage and announce himself as a Hall of Fame-caliber player. After this game, Walsh retired, and most thought that San Francisco would not be back.

But the 49ers answered the bell in the post-Walsh era with a thrilling Super Bowl 24 victory against the Broncos. This is the first season in which Rice made his name as the best wide receiver in the NFL with 17 touchdown receptions. The most impressive aspect of this run was the resilience from Montana, who silenced all the doubters who thought he couldn't win the big one without Walsh.

A couple of years later, Steve Young took over at quarterback and led his team to victory over the Chargers in Super Bowl 29. This was the game that Young announced himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL, especially with Rice at his side. Nothing was stopping the 49ers this year with their powerful running game and passing game deep threats. 

San Francisco will have the opportunity to win their sixth Super Bowl title against the Kansas City Chiefs, but they will need to be clicking on all cylinders to have a chance. The Super Bowl history for the 49ers is rich, and they have a chance to continue that success in the big game with another great performance.

 

Ben Geller is a freshman majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email bjg5666@psu.edu.