49ers Retire Joe Montana’s No. 16 Legendary Former Quarterback Saluted As A ‘Bay Area Icon’
To the wild cheers of an adoring crowd and the sparkling flashes of hundreds of cameras, Joe Montana returned once more to the windswept field off San Francisco Bay as the 49ers retired his No. 16 jersey Monday night.
Introduced by former coach Bill Walsh, the man who drafted and developed him, Montana was clearly impressed by the reception.
“Back in 1979 when I first stepped on the field, I never imagined I’d be in this position tonight having my number retired,” Montana said.
Broadcaster Al Michaels introduced an introspective of Montana’s career, calling the quarterback a “Bay Area icon and a man who has come to embody the 49ers franchise.”
Eddie DeBartolo, the managing owner of the team for 20 years until two weeks ago when he stepped down to face allegations of gambling fraud in Louisiana, also praised Montanaamid cheers for himself.
“This man has etched his place in NFL history as the greatest quarterback who has ever played the game,” DeBartolo said.
The halftime event was just one of several converging story lines Monday night. The 49ers’ game against the Denver Broncos also spelled the return of star receiver Jerry Rice, who had been out since the season opener because of a serious knee injury. He caught three passes in the first half, one for a touchdown, before taking off the rest of the night.
Rice, on the receiving end of 55 touchdown passes from Montana, stood in the end zone and applauded Montana during the ceremony.
San Francisco’s third-round pick out of Notre Dame in 1979, Montana led the 49ers to the playoffs 10 times, including four Super Bowl titles.
He spent more than a decade as the team’s starter before an elbow injury forced him to the sidelines for nearly two years. During his absence, Steve Young asserted himself as the 49ers quarterback.
When the 49ers decided to stick with Young as their starter, Montana was traded to Kansas City before the 1993 season. He spent two seasons with the Chiefs before retiring.
For his career, Montana threw for 273 touchdowns, 244 with the 49ers. He orchestrated 31 fourth-quarter comebacks during his career, including “The Catch,” the miracle pass to Dwight Clark in the 1982 NFC Championship game.
On Monday, it was apparent early that it was Montana’s night. Huey Lewis and the News, who sang the “Star Spangled Banner,” added the line: “Oh say could that old Joe Montana play.”
Montana joins seven other 49ers who have had their jerseys retired: Quarterback John Brodie (12), running back Joe Perry (34), cornerback Jimmy Johnson (37), running back Hugh McElhenny (39), defensive tackle Charlie Kruegern (70), tackle Leo Nomellini (73) and Clark (87).