Joe Montana is one of the defining quarterbacks in NFL history, and his career was built around consistency, precision and an ability to deliver when the stakes were highest. From Notre Dame to San Francisco and eventually Kansas City, Montana established himself as one of football's most accomplished postseason performers.
Player Snapshot
Player Snapshot
Position
QB
Height
6'2"
Weight
195 lbs.
College
Notre Dame
Draft
San Francisco 49ers, No. 3, 1979
Born
June 11, 1956
Birthplace
New Eagle, Pennsylvania
Home
Redwood City, California
Player Notes
The Chicken Soup Comeback
Before Joe Montana became an NFL legend, he was already producing memorable moments at Notre Dame.
During the Cotton Bowl on January 1, 1979, Montana was battling an illness and was struggling through the game. At halftime, he reportedly downed a bowl of chicken soup before returning to the field.
The difference was immediate.
Montana threw two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter as Notre Dame erased a deficit and came back to defeat Houston. It became one of the memorable moments of his college career and an early example of the competitiveness that would define him at the professional level.
Montana & Rice — Aerial Threats
Few quarterback-receiver combinations in NFL history were as productive or as natural as Joe Montana and Jerry Rice.
When San Francisco defeated Atlanta 45-35 in 1990, Montana delivered one of the biggest statistical performances of his career, throwing for 476 yards and six touchdowns. Rice caught 13 passes for 225 yards and tied an NFL record with five touchdown receptions.
The chemistry between the two continued to produce historic numbers after Rice joined the 49ers in 1985.
Over their first six seasons together:
Jerry Rice
79 receiving TDs
Joe Montana
136 passing TDs
The pairing reached another level on the biggest stage. Montana and Rice combined for a record-setting performance when Rice caught three touchdown passes in Super Bowl XXIV.
Career Passing Stats
Career Passing Stats
Career Rushing Stats
The card records Montana with approximately:
Rushing Attempts
96
Rushing Yards
242
Yards Per Carry
2.5
Rushing TDs
20
Some individual-season rushing figures are too small to confidently transcribe from the card, so the career totals are used here rather than filling in uncertain numbers.
Notable Games
Notable Games
Montana's performance helped lead San Francisco to a 45-35 victory, while Jerry Rice added 225 receiving yards and five touchdown receptions.
The Kansas City Chapter
Montana's career didn't end with San Francisco.
In 1994, after joining the Kansas City Chiefs, a Montana touchdown pass during the regular season became a reliable indicator of victory. The Chiefs won all nine regular-season games in which Montana threw a touchdown pass that season.
His competitive fire was still evident in the 1995 AFC Wild Card playoffs against Miami. Montana connected with tight end Derrick Walker on a one-yard touchdown pass to give Kansas City an early 7-0 lead.
The Dolphins ultimately won the game, but the performance reinforced the idea that Montana still had the ability to compete at the highest level.
Player Notes
Joe Montana's career is defined less by volume than by impact.
His numbers place him among the most productive quarterbacks of his era, but the deeper story is the collection of defining moments: the comeback against Houston at Notre Dame, the partnership with Jerry Rice, the historic performances against Atlanta, and the Super Bowl success that established Montana as one of the game's ultimate big-game quarterbacks.
From prospect to pro, Montana became more than a great quarterback. He became one of the most recognizable names in football history.
Collectibles Note
Montana's combination of Hall of Fame status, four Super Bowl victories, Notre Dame pedigree, San Francisco 49ers legacy and the Jerry Rice connection gives him lasting significance within the football collectibles market.
For collectors, his cards represent one of the foundational quarterback names of the modern NFL era.