San Francisco 49ers

In the final 6 weeks of the season the 49ers defense shut out 3 teams, and had one of the most stupendous goal-line stands against the Philadelphia Eagles. In the team's first playoff game in 2 years, they played against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in the NFC Wild Card, but lost 25â€"15. Montana himself set many Super Bowl records 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. Prior to 2002, the teams played each other almost every season during the pre-season, but only every three years during the regular season when the AFC West and NFC West teams faced each other.
Additionally, several rookie players made key contributions to the team, some becoming season-long starters such as defensive tackle Bryant Young, fullback William Floyd, and linebacker Lee Woodall. Due to injuries to the offensive line, the 49ers tempo some tough times early in the season, including a 40â€"8 home loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, and a 24â€"17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, led by former 49ers quarterback Joe Montana.
Following the Eagles main, a poll conducted on local sports radio station KNBR showed that an overwhelming majority of 49er fans wanted head coach George Seifert fired. The game against the Eagles was a turning point for the 49ers despite the lopsided score. Quarterback Steve Young was benched in the 3rd quarter and was later seen livid on the sidelines, shouting profanities at Seifert. After throwing a pass, Young was hit, picked up, and driven into the ground by three Lions defenders.

The 49ers lost 11 of their last 12 games, and suffered their first losing season in a non-strike year since 1980, which was also the last time that the 49ers did not win at least ten or more games in a season. Bobb McKittrick, 49ers offensive line coach since 1979, also died of cancer following the 1999 season. In 1991, Steve Young injured the thumb on his throwing hand and later was sidelined with an injured knee. 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 Chicago Bears 52â€"14, finishing 10â€"6.
The 49ers steamrolled the San Diego Chargers 49â€"26 behind Young's record-setting 6 touchdown passes in Super Bowl XXIX, at the time becoming the first team to win a record five Super Bowls. Finally establishing himself as a worthy successor to Joe Montana, Young was named the game's MVP.
Their defense also had a bounce-back year, going from the 28th-ranked defense in 2000, to the 9th-ranked. Garrison Hearst, who had been forced to retire from football after breaking his ankle in the 1998 divisional playoffs, finally returned to the line-up after over two years of rehabilitation. He became the first player in NFL history to come back to football after suffering avascular necrosis. He had an excellent season, rushing for 1, 206 yards on a 4. 8 average.
Despite scoring only 8 points in one main and 14 in another, the 49ers set a new record for keseluruhan regular season and post season combined points scored. Even after those initial rough spots early in the season, the 49ers finished the season 13â€"3 and with home field advantage throughout the playoffs. In their first main, they easily defeated the Chicago Bears, 44â€"15, setting up the third straight 49ersâ€"Cowboys NFC championship main. The 49ers took advantage of three early Cowboys turnovers, taking a 21â€"0 lead in the first quarter. Taking a 31â€"14 lead into halftime after a perfect 29-yard pass from Young to Rice in the closing seconds, the game appeared to be far out of reach for the Cowboys.
However, the 49ers finished 6â€"10, missing the playoffs for the second straight season for the first time since 1979 and 1980, due to a defense that gave up 26. 4 points per game and a total of 422 points. The 2000 season was Jerry Rice's final year with the 49ers; he played 16 seasons with the team. In the 2001 season the 49ers established themselves as a playoff team once again after two down years.
Denise York became chairwoman of the board, while John York became CEO. At the time it was believed the severe hit ended his career but Young later said in interviews he could have come back to play another season or two. After meeting with then-general manager Bill Walsh and being told about how the salary cap troubles would make the team non-competitive, Young chose to retire rather than risk his long-term health further for a likely losing club. Without their future Hall of Famer, 29-year-old rookie Jeff Garcia took over as starting quarterback, but he would be benched for poor performances in favor of Steve Stenstrom. Garcia would be reinstated as the starting quarterback and in the final 5 games of the regular season.