1990 San Francisco 49ers season

1990 San Francisco 49ers season
Owner	Eddie DeBartolo, Jr.
Head coach	George Seifert
General manager	John McVay and Carmen Policy
Home field	Candlestick Park
Results
Record	14–2
Division place	1st NFC West
Playoff finish	Won Divisional Playoffs (vs. Redskins) 28–10 Lost NFC Championship (vs. Giants) 13–15
Pro Bowlers	5[1] QB Joe Montana WR Jerry Rice G Guy McIntyre LB Charles Haley FS Ronnie Lott
AP All-Pros	7[2] QB Joe Montana WR Jerry Rice G Guy McIntyre DE Kevin Fagan LB Charles Haley CB Don Griffin FS Ronnie Lott
← 1989 49ers seasons 1991 →

The 1990 San Francisco 49ers season was the franchise's 41st season in the National Football League and their 45th overall. the team entered the 1990 season heavily favored to win their third consecutive Super Bowl. The season was highlighted by their victory over the New York Giants on Monday Night Football in Week 13. Throughout the season, the 49ers and the Giants were the two best teams in the NFL. The two teams would meet again in the NFC Championship Game.

Between 1988 and 1990, the 49ers set a league record with 18 consecutive road victories. Jerry Rice had a career year by becoming the fourth receiver in the history of American football to have at least 100 receptions in one season. The 49ers won their fifth consecutive NFC West Division Title. Dating back to 1989, the 49ers completed a fifteen-game unbeaten streak in the regular season (5 victories in the last 5 games of 1989 and 10 victories in the first ten games of 1990).

The 49ers were the closest team in NFL history to "three peat" in the Super Bowl, losing in the final seconds on a field goal by the eventual Super Bowl champion Giants in the NFC Championship Game. The season ended on quite a haunting note, because the Giants' Leonard Marshall made a devastating hit on 49ers quarterback Joe Montana, knocking him out of the game. Subsequent to this, Giants nose tackle Erik Howard fought through a double-team block by 49ers center Jesse Sapolu and 49ers guard Guy McIntyre to force 49ers running back Roger Craig to fumble by getting his helmet on the football with only a few minutes left while the 49ers were driving to run out the game clock. Erik Howard dropped to one knee and managed to turn his shoulders perpendicular to the line of scrimmage in an effort to neutralize the double-team block. 49ers guard Guy McIntyre released from the double-team block on Erik Howard in order to attempt a block on onrushing Giants inside linebacker Pepper Johnson allowing Erik Howard to knife through the protection and lay a hit on 49ers running back Roger Craig. The ball was recovered by Giants outside linebacker Lawrence Taylor after he beat a block at the line of scrimmage by 49ers tight end Brent Jones and a subsequent block by 49ers fullback Tom Rathman to position himself just behind where Roger Craig was located along the line of scrimmage to catch the football after Giants nose tackle Erik Howard's hit forced it out of Craig's grasp. The Giants took over possession and began driving to kick the game-winning field goal. They ended up winning 15–13. The words of announcer Pat Summerall, "There will be no three-peat!" still haunt 49ers fans.

Following the 1990 season, the 49ers left team stalwarts Roger Craig and Ronnie Lott unprotected and let them go to the Los Angeles Raiders via Plan B free agency. Joe Montana would remain on the 49ers' roster for the next two seasons, but would never start another game for the 49ers.

Offseason[]

NFL Draft[]

= Pro Bowler [3]

= Hall of Famer

Round #	Pick #	Player	Position	College
1	25	Dexter Carter	Running Back	Florida State
2	48	Dennis Brown	Defensive End	Washington
2	54	Eric Davis	Cornerback	Jacksonville State
3	69	Ronald Lewis	Wide Receiver	Florida State
4	93	Dean Caliguire	Center	Pittsburgh
6	166	Frank Pollack	Tackle	Northern Arizona
8	221	Dwight Pickens	Wide Receiver	Fresno State
9	249	Odell Haggins	Defensive Tackle	Florida State
10	277	Martin Harrison	Defensive End	Washington
11	290	Anthony Shelton	Safety	Tennessee State

Staff[]

1990 San Francisco 49ers staff

	Front office Owner/President – Edward J. DeBartolo, Jr. Executive Vice President/General Counsel – Carmen Policy Vice President of Football Administration – John McVay Administrator of Football Operations – Neal Dahlen Administrator of College Scouting – Tony Razzano Administrator of Pro Personnel – Allan Webb Executive Administrative Assistant – Dwight Clark Head coaches Head Coach – George Seifert Offensive coaches Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks – Mike Holmgren Running Backs – Al Lavan Wide Receivers – Sherman Lewis Offensive Line – Bobb McKittrick Offensive Quality Control – Jon Gruden			Defensive coaches Defensive Coordinator – Bill McPherson Defensive Line – John Marshall Assistant Defensive Line – Dwaine Board Linebackers – Bob Zeman Defensive Backs/Secondary – Ray Rhodes Defensive Assistant – Tommy Hart Special teams coaches Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends – Lynn Stiles Strength and conditioning Physical Development Coordinator –

Roster[]

1990 San Francisco 49ers final roster

	Quarterbacks 16 Joe Montana 13 Steve Bono  8 Steve Young Running backs 23 Spencer Tillman 35 Dexter Carter KR 33 Roger Craig 30 Keith Henderson 44 Tom Rathman FB 24 Harry Sydney Wide receivers 83 Ron Lewis 80 Jerry Rice 88 Mike Sherrard 82 John Taylor PR 85 Mike Wilson Tight ends 84 Brent Jones 89 Wesley Walls 81 Jamie Williams		Offensive linemen 79 Harris Barton G 62 Guy McIntyre G 77 Bubba Paris T 72 Frank Pollack T 61 Jesse Sapolu C 63 Ricky Siglar G 60 Chuck Thomas C/LS 74 Steve Wallace T Defensive linemen 96 Dennis Brown DE 64 Jim Burt NT 95 Michael Carter NT 75 Kevin Fagan DE 78 Pierce Holt DE 67 Pete Kugler NT 91 Larry Roberts DE 76 Fred Smerlas NT		Linebackers 59 Keith DeLong ILB 50 ILB 55 Jim Fahnhorst ILB 94 Charles Haley OLB 57 Martin Harrison LB 54 Matt Millen ILB 53 Bill Romanowski OLB 58 Keena Turner OLB 99 Michael Walter ILB Defensive backs 31 Chet Brooks SS 38 Greg Cox S 25 Eric Davis CB 29 Don Griffin CB/PR 40 Johnnie Jackson S 45 CB 42 Ronnie Lott FS 28 Bruce Plummer 26 Darryl Pollard CB 43 Dave Waymer S 21 Eric Wright CB Special teams 6 Mike Cofer K 9 Barry Helton P/H		Reserve lists -- Dean Caliguire C (PUP) -- Wayne Radloff C (IR) Practice squad -- Sanjay Beach WR 51 C/G Rookies in italics 55 active, 2 inactive, 2 practice squad

Regular season[]

Quarterback Stats

Player	Comp %	Yards	TDs/INTs
Joe Montana	61.7	3,944	26/16
Steve Young	61.3	427	2/0

Schedule[]

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance	Recap
1	September 10	at New Orleans Saints	W 13–12	1–0	Louisiana Superdome	68,629	Recap
2	September 16	Washington Redskins	W 26–13	2–0	Candlestick Park	64,287	Recap
3	September 23	Atlanta Falcons	W 19–13	3–0	Candlestick Park	62,858	Recap
4	Bye
5	October 7	at Houston Oilers	W 24–21	4–0	Astrodome	59,931	Recap
6	October 14	at Atlanta Falcons	W 45–35	5–0	Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium	57,921	Recap
7	October 21	Pittsburgh Steelers	W 27–7	6–0	Candlestick Park	64,301	Recap
8	October 28	Cleveland Browns	W 20–17	7–0	Candlestick Park	63,672	Recap
9	November 4	at Green Bay Packers	W 24–20	8–0	Lambeau Field	58,835	Recap
10	November 11	at Dallas Cowboys	W 24–6	9–0	Texas Stadium	62,966	Recap
11	November 18	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	W 31–7	10–0	Candlestick Park	62,221	Recap
12	November 25	Los Angeles Rams	L 17–28	10–1	Candlestick Park	62,633	Recap
13	December 3	New York Giants	W 7–3	11–1	Candlestick Park	66,092	Recap
14	December 9	at Cincinnati Bengals	W 20–17 (OT)	12–1	Riverfront Stadium	60,084	Recap
15	December 17	at Los Angeles Rams	W 26–10	13–1	Anaheim Stadium	65,619	Recap
16	December 23	New Orleans Saints	L 10–13	13–2	Candlestick Park	60,112	Recap
17	December 30	at Minnesota Vikings	W 20–17	14–2	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	51,590	Recap

Game summaries[]

Week 6[]

• October 14, 1990 – Joe Montana set a 49ers record by throwing for 476 yards in one game and throwing six touchdown passes.
• October 14, 1990 – Jerry Rice set a 49ers record with 5 touchdown receptions and 30 points in one game.

Week 9[]

• November 4, 1990 – In a game versus the Green Bay Packers, Joe Montana threw for 411 yards and 3 touchdown passes.

Week 13 vs Giants[]

It was the second highest rated Monday Night game ever at the time. The game had a 42% share and a 26.9 rating.

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP NYG SF 2 3:26 Giants 20-yard field goal by Matt Bahr 3 0 2 1:30 49ers John Taylor 23-yard touchdown reception from Joe Montana, Mike Cofer kick good 3 7 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 3 7

Week 14[]

• December 9, 1990 – The 49ers beat the Cincinnati Bengals in overtime. Mike Cofer kicked a 23-yard field goal to give the 49ers a 20–17 victory.

Standings[]

NFC West
view talk	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
(1) San Francisco 49ers	14	2	0	.875	4–2	10–2	353	239	W1
(6) New Orleans Saints	8	8	0	.500	4–2	6–6	274	275	W2
Los Angeles Rams	5	11	0	.313	2–4	3–9	345	412	L4
Atlanta Falcons	5	11	0	.313	2–4	3–9	348	365	W2

Postseason[]

NFC Divisional Playoff[]

NFC Championship Game[]

Just like the regular season game between the two teams won by the 49ers 7–3, the championship game was mostly a defensive battle. San Francisco running back Roger Craig's fumble with 2:36 left in the game led to Giants kicker Matt Bahr's 42-yard game-winning field goal as time expired. Bahr was New York's only scorer with 5 (of 6) field goals. Despite not scoring a TD in eight quarters against the 49ers, the Giants moved on to Super Bowl XXV with their victory.

Awards and Records[]

• Led NFC with 353 points scored
• Charles Haley, Led NFC, Sacks (16)
• Charles Haley, NFC Pro Bowl
• Ronnie Lott, NFC Pro Bowl
• Joe Montana, AP NFL MVP
• Joe Montana, Associated Press Athlete of the Year^[4]
• Joe Montana, NFC Pro Bowl Selection, Injured, did not play
• Joe Montana, Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year
• Guy McIntyre, NFC Pro Bowl
• Jerry Rice, NFL Leader, Receptions (100)
• Jerry Rice, NFL Leader, Receiving Yards (1,502)
• Jerry Rice, NFL Leader, Receiving Touchdowns (13)
• Jerry Rice, NFC Pro Bowl

Milestones[]

• Jerry Rice, First 100 reception season ^[5]

References[]

External links[]

• 49ers on Pro Football Reference
• 49ers Schedule on jt-sw.com