Bill Walsh: A Football Life - Montana vs. Young A QB Controversy

"A Football Life: Bill Walsh" documents the decision that changed the path of the San Francisco 49ers franchise, should the Niners stick with MVP and Super Bowl winner Joe Montana or switch to the up-and-coming Steve Young?
Watch NFL Network. www.nfl.com/nfl...

[@link2yourfuture139]

Montana won 4 Super Bowls in 9 years. In those 4 games he had 11 TD passes, 0 interceptions, with a 127.8 passing rating. He definitely brought it in big games.

[@Lundahlium]

Brady would have won 4 in 8 years if not for four miracle plays but Bradshaw had great stats too.

[@imjuan2352]

All thanks to linemen

[@capnawesome4649]

That's fucking crazy.

[@franceswitham8214]

The "genius" treated his two quarterbacks like shot.

[@TL2354]

Wow, thanks for that insight

[@markg2861]

What an epic story. You will never see two quarterbacks this good on one team again.

[@aidankearns2102]

Wentz and Files Jk hell no

[@dirtydan4656]

Aaron Rodgers, Brett favre

[@ferb5665]

Dirty Dan nope

[@Yeomannn]

Favre and Rodgers. Favre is better than Montana but Rodgers is probably a bit better than Steve.

[@jameshorton3692]

@@ferb5665 yep

[@DireHammer]

Even though 1988 was a championship season it was Walsh's worst. The inconsistency nearly kept the best team in football from even making the playoffs and the ship only righted itself when Montana was finally put where he belongs.

[@ldfreitas9437]

49ers still won it all. It made up for season like in 1959, 1961, 1967 and 1976 when the 49ers were red hot for half a season and then imploded.

[@speedkills2939]

Steve young best left hand QB of all time hands down

[@GiGiStrong]

speed kills Michael Vick

[@kdsburneraccount7476]

Gary Littlejohn No.

[@CasusCantare]

speed kills warren moon

[@VibeDoctor98]

Gary Littlejohn Vick was a better rusher for sure not by a lot but he was but his passing was no where near Young’s

[@radar0412]

Maybe, but Stabler was a more exciting Player and played in more Historic games.

[@GoMrTom]

Montana is a Hall of Famer, Young is a Hall of Famer. This is the problem. Both are number one QBs.

[@williambohon3093]

but joe is the goat and steve is not

[@ryanadam3720]

@@williambohon3093 Brady is the goat plus Montana was out of his prime when they traded him

[@craigSmith-sq8gj]

Montana never lost a Superbowl Brady lost 3 ​@@ryanadam3720

[@PhilJHaast7695]

I think letting Steve Young start for part of 1988 helped keep Montana rested for the playoffs. Montana was injury prone for the rest of his career, and it helped to have a reliable backup to shoulder some of the load. Even in Kansas City, where there was no QB controversy, Dave Krieg and Steve Bono were there for that purpose.

[@skatefrisco]

John Lynch played under Bill Walsh at Stanford and Mike Shanahan at Denver. Mike Shanahan was OC of Montana and Young's Niners. Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch have a chance to bring back that old spirit and drive. let's hope for the best!

[@BlahKDubstep]

I can imagine the silence and the coaches looking at each other in that meeting room when Bill brought up “What do you we could get in a Trade for Montana?...” 👀

[@rmatrix4777]

Joe Montana said, later, that the whole team didn't take the Vikings game seriously. Meaning they probably didn't take the previous week's practice seriously. I had the sense that that was going to happen. Everyone took it for granted that the 49ers would win.

[@nerva-]

+R Matrix I remember being 15 years old, watching the pregame comments from tailgating 49ers fans, saying the Vikings "backed into the playoffs" when other wildcard contenders lost their final games and all the 49ers had to do to win was show up. Even at the time, it struck me as a bad omen that the fans were so dismissive of a playoff opponent.

[@rmatrix4777]

***** There we have it.

[@tempest20000]

R Matrix This happens a lot surprisingly. The #1 or #2 team things they are the best and either doesn’t practice seriously or play seriously. And not practicing seriously means your rusty and out of practice. This happened to the 96 Broncos and the 2011 Packers just off the top of my head. Coaches and players need to get it through their heads that not playing hard is hurtful.

[@Candypants217]

I got love for Young, But there is absolutely no one or will there ever be anyone like Joe Montana

[@dan4isaboss]

Steve Young won without Walsh. He was statistically better and had the greatest SB performance of all time without the benefit of the greatest coach ever.

[@Iconhulk]

@@dan4isaboss Smh.. You're delusional..

[@jackyoung9731]

Iconhulk he's also factually accurate. Steve young's stats are much better in every single category. There's nothing Montana could do that Steve couldn't but there are many things Steve could do that Montana couldn't. It's just Steve didn't become the starter until he was 31 and was only a starter for 7 seasons so of course he couldn't accomplish what Montana did as far as Super Bowls because he didn't have enough time. Not to mention the 80's 49ers were the most well rounded teams of all time and it's not particularly close...

[@dionr1168]

@@dan4isaboss but he still had Jerry Rice to throw to.

[@JerBuster77]

@@dionr1168 And Rice had better numbers from Young vice Montana.

[@AldermanFredCDavis]

Very few NFL teams get the opportunity to have a truly elite quarterback. The 49'ers had the wonderful 'problem' of having two. The only other team in the last 30 years that I can think of, who was in a similar situation is the Packers, when they had Favre and Rodgers.

[@mmajunkie007]

When Montana was traded was he past his prime ? Learning about this I had no idea him and young were competing for starting , kinda disrespectful for a qb who did so much

[@rustykuntz94]

Yes he def was past his prime when traded after the 92 season. Joe had been in the league since 1979 by that point. But in 88 when Walsh first initiated the QB controversy Montana still had the magic.

[@Yeomannn]

He had been dealing with back issues for over 5 years at that point and didn't have much arm left.

[@stevemaviver357]

They traded Joe Montana to KC so much for all he did at San Francisco. The owners stabbed the guy in the back. When they played Joe and Steve against each other Joe should have left thoses ungreatful Jerks

[@benthekeeshond545]

Steve, They were running a business and it is understandable that they will release a player that won't be able to help them. But that was not the case for Joe Montana, he had an off-day against the Vikings. Besides, the Vikings were really good. Steve Young, on the other hand, was unproven. When Young took over the QB job in 1991, he lost so many games before he was replaced by Steve Bono. But the hole he dug for the 49ers was too deep. If I recall correctly, Bono won all the remaining games of the season and finished at 10-6. Not good enough to get into the playoffs. The 49ers would have won the SB that year instead of the Redskins.

[@juckey6585]

Ben is right be quite

[@franceswitham8214]

It was a crappy way to treat them man.

[@TL2354]

He was hurt for 2 years. Then he only -lauded in KC for 2 years. It was a smart move but you don’t know what smart is

[@franceswitham8214]

They sure showed their appreciation for his amazing performances. His sacrifices meant nothing to them.

[@drewhendley]

What a great problem to have, having teo Hall of Fame quarterbacks to choose from

[@TheRgordon16]

I think its quite simple. Bill Walsh was feeling the pressure from above and he didn't know how to handle it. The pressure Walsh felt trickled down to Montana.

[@ronniemillsaps]

+TheRgordon16 Yep, the stupid owners saw Young run fast and bought fools gold. Young was a great QB but Montana was the Greatest QB who won 4 superbowls. Young won one and it took a pro bowl defense to get him there. Montana won with basically 2 different playing rosters, Rice, Jones, Taylor were only there for 88,89 and Craig wasn't there for the 1st one.

[@raymondrembert6870]

+ronniemillsaps what young won 3 superbowls; went to 7 pro bowls; and retired having the highest QBR until that point. It was the right move similar to the packers moving farve for rodgers.

[@TheRgordon16]

+ronniemillsaps Wow you sound like me. Sounds like you didn't like Steve Young as much as you liked Montana. I hated Steve Young for being such a whiny cry baby. Joe deserved the opportunity to battle for the starting position. No question if he had been given the opportunity, he would have won back the starting position. Actually I was more pissed off at Seifert. Stupid Seifert was to blame for Montana's departure.

[@TheRgordon16]

+Raymond Rembert No it was not the right time for that move. Joe was not through yet. Even when he went to Kansas City he was able to make that offense better than it had ever been before. Joe made everyone around him better. He was able to lead the Chiefs to an AFC Title game with less talent around him. Something they had not done since Super Bowl 4. And there was no doubt that if Joe was given a chance to compete for the starting position in San Francisco he would have beaten Steve Young. And there is no doubt that they would not have lost to Dallas in the NFC title game if Joe was the QB. He had won 4 titles and deserved respect from that idiot Seifert. Favre was done in Green Bay. They got tired of his dumb childish games. So they got rid of him.

[@ronniemillsaps]

Young won 1 Superbowl with the biggest all star cast assembled in football history, he rode the pine for the other 2, so saying he won 3 is like saying Steve Bono won 2. Also it took the 49ers giving away the future to assemble the 1994 all star defense since Seifert couldn’t draft squat without Walsh. Let me also explain this to you, on top of Montana winning a college National Championship he also won his first 2 Superbows without Jerry Rice, John Taylor, Brent Jones and company, heck Roger Craig wasn’t even there for Montanas first Superbowl win (1980) and 1983 NFC championship run where they were screwed out of another superbowl by a bad call. Craig was a rookie in 1984 and wasn’t no where near the force he was in the 88, 89 superbowls. Joe took KC to AFC Championship and they hadnt won a playoff game before that since Len Dawson and didn’t win one since Joe left. If not for the concussion and Kimble Anders dropping a ball Joe dropped in his hands at the goal line the Chiefs would have went to that super bowl. The 49ers disrepected Joe and the sad thing is they disrespected him for the wrong reason. At least Favre was throwing games away and being a Diva when the Pack went to Rogers. Montana was just being cool and dominating as always. No way Montana throws that 91 NFC Championship away like Young did, and in 92 Young lost to Bernie Kosar cause Aikman got hurt early. I remember watching that game as Montana held the clipboard for Young and I was thinking what a waste.

[@thfzn]

Both were great. Young lost some good years playing behind Montana, but from 87 - 90 Montana was a bit better. Flash forward to 92' and Young had won the spot, the trade was the right move despite Montana having some good years left in him.

[@ryanadam3720]

@@hydros25 joe Montana wouldn’t of done anything either those cowboys teams were just better

[@chrisdavidson3015]

3:04 conversations with denver?? Umm a man named Elway was still employed there. Unless it was a montana/elway swap, which woulda been craaaaazy wild

[@Matthew-qy7op]

This reminds me a lot of Favre - Rodgers transition. Favre had a horrible game in Dallas, got hit and hurt bad enough that he was pulled, Rodgers came in and moved the ball. Packers fell short, but I think the Packers scored 2 or 3 times with Rodgers, and only once with Favre. And thus began the saga of Favre

[@SingleTax]

Walsh clearly mishandled that situation. A two-time Super Bowl MVP leads your team to yet another division title with a 102.1 QB rating (over 3,000 yards passing and 31 touchdowns), but then throws an interception -- count it, one whole interception! -- in a playoff game, and all of a sudden you're eager to *trade* him to another team!?!? Was it Montana's fault the 49ers' defense gave up over 400 yards and 29 points to the Vikings? Was it Montana's fault Ray Wersching missed a 26-yard field goal (a virtual chip shot) near the end of the first half? It makes absolutely no sense. That's why I can't help but wonder if Walsh had some sort of grudge against Montana as a result of something that happened *off* the field, and was therefore *looking* for an excuse -- *any* excuse -- to trade him. What was that something? Did his wife scream out Joe's name in the heat of passion? Guess we'll never know.

[@freeze2602]

Can you imagine what kind of value Joe Montana had in a trade? Insane value, almost to the point where they could have gotten anyone they wanted, and if they did trade him they would still have Young at quarterback, so in a way they really would have only gained from it.

[@SingleTax]

Gained from it how? By winning the next two Super Bowls? That's exactly what they did by *not* trading Montana. Walsh was wrong, it's as simple as that.

[@anthonyc2781]

Bills sick way of trying to motivate Montana and the team. It worked Montana played his best football after that, creative tension lol

[@robgordon885]

Freeze They were talking about trading Montana to Baltimore in 1983 for John Elway. It never happened, but would have been interesting.

[@edwardbrito3332]

+SingleTax You should see the next part... won 2 straight SBs. Montana was MVP... I know he coached one team but he build it and ran his O, his players and his coaches all developed by him.

[@veritas1007]

Happy 84th birthday bill walsh

[@wholesomecomment45]

One thing I couldn't stand was that people said that Tom Brady was the creation of Bill Belichick. One could say the same for Joe Montana, also before you say that Joe is better than Tom cause he never lost a Superbowl, remember that neither Joe Flacco or Eli Manning have lost, so does that make them better than Peyton Manning(who lost 2 Superbowls).

[@johnre1514]

Eli and flacco had an average career beside there sbs. Joe won 4 in 9 yrs and had a great career to back it up.

[@nintendians]

it was hard back then, but eventually they moved on and got better in some ways.

[@chaunceroberts3181]

Joe and Steve are the reason I love the 49ers but honestly, Steve young out performed Joe Montana, considering the fact that Joe was lucky enough to be Bill Walsh's first masterpiece, Young was only part of Bill Walsh's brilliant tactics.. Joe was master of keeping cool and coming back from sure defeats, but Steve had heart and made himself a player who in his short lived career in SF overcame doubtful fans and shunning comments from the media put his name in the hof and beat a couple of Joe's records from only 1 superbowl...

[@isaacrodriguez2523]

Yea but Joe would've won more superbowls if they got rid of Steve.

[@Duncman92]

Chiefs would have two rings to their name by now if they traded for Steve Young instead

[@razorback9926]

Young did not outperform Joe in the post-season: Young was 20:13 TD:INT, Joe 45:21. Yards per game, 251 to 151 for Joe. QB rating, Joe 95, Steve 85. Totally one-sided comparison. Young was great, a HOF'er, but Joe was the greatest QB that ever played (since surpassed by Brady).

[@benthekeeshond545]

@@razorback9926 Of course, Joe was the greatest QB. Steve Young was very good but unlike Joe Montana, he didn't have the mental toughness to slug it out in tough games. I have to agree that Tom Brady has that toughness in him but he is a "CHEATER."

[@razorback9926]

Steve had Jerry Rice the whole time. Joe played 6 seasons before Rice ever got there, including 2 Super Bowl wins. Steve was great, but Joe was the best ever. But now I gotta reluctantly give the nod to Brady, with his 9 Super Bowls and 6 Super Bowl wins.

[@TimRHillard]

My hero is Roger Staubach. That said, Montana is the best ever. Brady is up there, but who you gonna want as your QB in their prime. Montana to Clark broke my heart, “the catch”. Montana was the man.

[@BombDog_]

Making Diamonds

[@quietcorner293]

I'm a Vikings fan. In the '87 playoff game, we may have won the battle but Frisco won the war. After that, they won 3 more Super Bowls titles and we have none.

[@salenriquez1871]

does anyone know what the name of the music track is at 2:20? it's also on "Elway to Marion" as well.

[@Gamebox27]

Imagine choosing from two of the best ever

[@ryan49er1]

Walsh had too much pressure on him from Eddie and himself to succeed. I can see why he was second guessing Joe......His job was on the line and he couldn't focus.

[@shakeandjake_1]

Hall of famer on the field. Hall of famer on the bench. Walsh knew exactly what to do.

[@Gamebox27]

Holmgren actually coached Young at BYU

[@underworldfilms86]

Walsh weakness: He was so smart that he could be stupid............you don't run out players (when they could play 3-5 years).....creative tension between two QBs is untheruptic for team chemistry....

[@jacobbennett6884]

***** yep

[@edwardbrito3332]

***** Walsh was so "stupid"... won 2 SBs in a row after. Montana played 2 of his best yrs.

[@GaryClutchClark]

Edward Brito He won 1, not 2. Seifert won in 89.

[@edwardbrito3332]

+Gary Clutch Clark Bill drafted and developed and traded for virtually all the 89 squad. They ran his offense he invented and taught... used his offensive and defensive coordinator. Usually when a new coach goes in he fires coaches brings guys even players and installs new O or D... none of that was done team was on autopilot and that didn't work when Dallas showed up. You got a good point technically won 88 but 89 team don't exist without Bill. It makes it more amazing Lombardi left they were a last place team in GB, Landry left well when he left already in decline, Shula, Ditka, Jimmy Johnson is one example of the autopilot but for the most part teams fall apart after a good coach leaves not the 49ers ran strong for a decade with the most NFC West titles.

[@ronniemillsaps]

+Gary Clutch Clark He won 3 81, 84, 88 and I think they went to NFC Championship in 82 or 83

[@1burnman]

greatest coach in the history bar none in the history of football

[@denniswilliams6519]

Vince Lombardi, Paul Brown and Bill Belichick would disagree with that statement.

[@denniswilliams6519]

Vince Lombardi, Paul Brown and Bill Belichick would disagree with that statement.

[@Yeomannn]

Chuck Noll is better.

[@1burnman]

@@Yeomannn Chuck Noll is great

[@paulpatane2439]

its painful to read Mike Mike text comments. bottom line Joe Montana is 4-0 in Sbs. always was and will be better than Steve Young. Steve will admit that. Montana from 83-90 was a machine,cant knock the guy for having Rice & the weapons around him. In 1990, if Leonard Marshall doesn't knock him out,I think 49ers beat Bills in a shootout for Joes 5th ring. In 86 when 49ers got beat in Ny,hard to knock Joe for that. 86 Gmen had a nasty D,lead by Bill B & Bill Parcells. Steve Young sat behind Joe from 85-90. Walsh and San Fran knew who the man was. I always like Steve,but Montana was a surgeon running that offense

[@andyfarm6169]

+paul patane its chip Kelly time I'm 49ers fan for years wen I was 5 I'm 30 love it

[@andyfarm6169]

JM8 Graphics ok that's what you think

[@benjamindanielson9747]

+JM8 Graphics It's spelled *you're. I find it hilarious when clowns such as yourself decide to call someone else dumb when you can't even spell third grade level words. Why is it always the dumbest people that THINK they're the smartest?

[@ojaren5571]

+Benjamin Danielson I typed to fast lol I shouldn't of called him dumb but chip kelly destroyed the Eagles franchise so I would be very surprised if he helps the 49ers

[@benjamindanielson9747]

+JM8 Graphics Chip wanted total control of Philly, so he was both the GM and Head coach for that team. Turns out he's a really good coach, but he's an AWFUL GM. If the 49ers have a good GM and hire Chip Kelly as ONLY the head coach, he'll do good. He knows what to do with the talent in front of him, as long as he's not the one picking the talent lol.

[@3321far]

You can say what you want about how smart he was, but if they made the deal with KC for Montana you figure 2 #1's and a #2. He's then looking at Steve Young, Jerry Rice and Michael Irvin on offense and adding Derrick Thomas on defense. Let's just say history would have been different if that happened.

[@bisquik3006]

3321far Worst football comment I've seen possibly ever.

[@AllPro777]

bisquik3006 LOL!

[@jpace4revolution]

Damn dude?

[@Regularguy1798]

Terrible Coaching Screwup, lousy leadership...

[@vincentpreston2694]

who s better Joe Steve , Brady or Montana ,elway or Marino . forget stats and rings who ya got sudden death clock ticking?🤔

[@tracishoults5852]

Montana

[@rmatrix4777]

An important note to the comment I made below but forgot. Joe Montana would always listen to Jerry Rice's input, at any time during a game. In between plays, I've seen countless times, after a play, JR would run up to JM, and say something, then on the next play, JM would throw (completions) to JR. Bread and butter that was. And Joe would listen to a player, wideout, offensive guard, etc... If a player knew he could beat his opponent on the next play, Joe would often go for it. Joe was like, "Let me know, when you know, that you've got your man beat." The same frustration that Bill Walsh generated with the QBs (I just learned that in more detail), is the same frustration that JR must have been feeling during the games with SY, thusly heightening Steve Young's admitted propensity for ignoring players who were asking for the ball on a plays. Steve Young did to Jerry Rice what Al Davis did to Marcus Allen. The unity that Joe Montana established, is the same unity that JR, naturally, thought would be the same when SY became QB. With JM, JR was valuable to the play calling, as stated above, but SY, desperate to have his name shine up in big lights, ignored that comradarie. There's more I can say, but I wait until provoked to do so. Please, no vulgar language in responses. Try first to use non-vulgar, and see if we can keep this a pleasant atmosphere for the young adults and those who are weary of unfounded bravado.

[@billyfitzgerald3442]

.

[@rmatrix4777]

*****​ You would have actually had to have watched the very football games, themselves, to gather that information. As I have stated elsewhere, even the Sportscasters were dumbfounded by Steve Young's lack of throwing to Jerry Rice on many games, and those occasions. As far as some of what JR said, there was that sports boardcast that you would have had to have watched, also. If you had an eye to see and an ear to hear, all this would have been apparent. I can't spoon feed you. No offense.

[@ronniemillsaps]

+R Matrix Your absolutely right and I was a die hard 49er fan from the time Montana stepped on the field. Even though I was young my Grandfather touted Montana when he won National Championship at Notre Dame and then of course the chicken soup game. Montana was absolute poetry in motion and totally in tune with his players. He is a very humble laid back guy which is why he was so clutch, he never got rattled. Montana should have gotten the starting job for the 49ers in 93 but Young cried and groaned to management and split the locker room. Charles Haley tried to beat Young down after a loss to the Raiders in which Ronnie Lott, just traded to Raiders in the offseason with Roger Craig, dominated the Young. Siefert wanted out from under Walsh shadow and went with his boy Young and dismantled one of the best defenses in history in the process. The 49ers should have let Holmgren who was offensive coordinator at the time replace Walsh instead of dummy Seifert who obviously benefited from Walsh being the greatest NFL draftsman in history. Joe only asked to compete for the job and he was honestly better in 93 because of his clutch ability over Youngs ability to choke games away. So many times coaches give up a sure thing for some potential they see and its dumb. Somebody should write a book about 1990-1993 49ers and call it the destruction of a dynasty and mortgaging the Future for one Superbowl win in 94.

[@ronniemillsaps]

+R Matrix I had to post one more thing. Young went totally south on Rice his last 2 years with the 49ers and I think wanted to win without Rice to prove something. I really though Rice was shot until he went to the Raiders and just went off. I know he had Tim Brown on the other side but he had T.O. in SF. Young is and was always a jerk that wants spotlight. That's why he can't stay off TV and to be honest Trent Dilfer makes him look stupid when they debate.

[@rmatrix4777]

ronniemillsaps Thank you. We have seen the same things. It's good to hear from a true fan of the same measure.

[@9mm54]

Why did Denver want to trade for Montana? Did he hate Elway or something?

[@DireHammer]

+john spano Only in comparison to Montana. Sorry, but nobody in the 80s measured up to Montana and Walsh was crazy for even considering the trade.

[@RockdaNike]

john spano Similar to saying "Why would Oakland trade for Brady if they had Carr?" Yeah Carr is great but no one is passing up Brady.

[@johnjones2517]

Walsh gave up on Joe n threw him away to tryna save his ass

[@mroberts453]

Young constantly complaining “i wanna be the starter “ its like yo, ask to be traded and create your own legacy. Nope…he wanted to be the 49ers qb. The cake that Montana created was already in the oven and he wanted to take over is all. Jim McMahon said in an interview that he was the same way at BYU. Constantly crying “ Coach please put me in, play me instead of Jim”. Montana is the 49ers and he and Bill Walsh created that dynasty along with Eddie D. Whilst Young was a total bust in Tampa

[@Yeomannn]

Montana is the ultimate system QB.

[@PhilJHaast7695]

Steve Young was a future Hall of Famer and he wasn't content to be a backup. But there was still a mutual respect between him and Montana. Neither of them could accept being a backup.

[@redmustangredmustang]

One thing is for sure is that the players and the coaching staff (mainly Mike Holmgren) basically told Walsh end this BS and stick with either Montana or Young. Walsh stuck with Montana and the rest is history.

[@SpringOffensiveCat]

Joe Goat Cool

[@McKinleyDave]

It's like picking between your two kids. Which do you love more?

[@branon6565]

The first born, always....

[@stevemaviver357]

Wasn't Steve Y. Payed the biggest contract when the Cowboys of the NFL tried Drafting him to keep the New UFSL from getting him.The Los something paid 40 million for S.Young the biggest contract ever at the time and they never played him ever after signing him. Is this the same guy ?

[@gladec3896]

Yes. Steve arranged it so he would make money from it forever

[@Jemo0]

Smh after everything Joe has done for SF, how could Bill have disrespect him like that just because he thought Joe was going to get him fired from losing too much many future games smfh!!!!!!!!!!

[@ScottysBackYardBBQ]

young 1 superbowl... joe 4 hello

[@capnawesome4649]

He didn't have to play the Cowboys every year in the playoffs.

[@WarriorMigs24]

Two great QB

[@battlestarmarc]

Montana was awesome. Montana and Walsh were fabulous together.

[@dionr1168]

I must beg the question... Would the Niners have won the next 2 Super Bowls had Steve Young started them and not Montana?

[@franceswitham8214]

No

[@Only2GendersCommonSense]

Yes.

[@Yeomannn]

Yes.

[@pluto545]

Denver??? Speaking of QB controversy.

[@316lawdog]

montana was a better qb than young.joe could have won that game.

[@celli351]

and then???

[@Gump-tion]

+celli351 Part 2 anyone???

[@dustinlee6277]

+celli351 Bill Walsh is a football genius.

[@jumpboy29]

Funny I'm looking for the next part too. After this the 49er's turned it on. Montana led them to the superbowl and made the classic drive against Cincinatti. It was Bill Walsh last year of coaching and 49er's dominated until 1990 losing to the giants nfc championship

[@rbueno55]

celli351 genius?....he said Geovanny Carmazi was the better quarterback available in the 2000 draft....and overlook Brady....Gio has 5 goats and Brady got 5 sb rings...

[@TurtleTy1]

celli351 then the Vikings lost a another super bowl

[@rmatrix4777]

I've always been in ill favor with Steve Young because of the friction that News Media would report in the latter '80s, saying Steve Young was giving Joe a bad time, but after seeing this Vid I see that it was Bill Walsh that started it. It's understandable for Anyone to get restless and discontent with all that uncertainty, so I will now forgive Steve in light of that. But Steve Young still could have thrown the ball to Jerry Rice more than he did. Steve's arrogance in wanting to do things his way caused him to ignore Jerry Rice's input. Steve admitted on National TV, and to Jerry Rice, when Rice would ask Steve to throw the ball to him, on various plays, that he would throw to somebody else. Because of Steve's arrogance and selfishness, we see that Jerry Rice ended his career with less than 200 receiving TDs. Jerry should have had at least 210 TDs for that total. I've seen too many games where JR was wide open, short yardage- long yardage, where SY would throw to someone else. Game Announcers would broadcast the best thing in many instances would be to throw to JR yet SY didn't, leaving everyone dumbfounded. When JR would approach SY in the huddle or on the sideline, this was made SY throw to someone else more. Effectively benching JR while still on the field. Through the years in broadcasting we've all witnessed SY's abominable arrogance. I think he is finally starting to mellow out. If I couldn't have Joe Montana at QB, I would pick SY anyday. SY was a great great QB, except he couldn't win games in the rain.

[@ericmaliziamusic2857]

Steve Young threw more TDs to Jerry Rice than Montana did. Both amazing QBs though.

[@LiterallyGod]

Qb competitions never work

[@stevekutra6365]

It "is what it is." You have two starting quarterbacks. Both can and did take the team to the Super Bowl and win. Two unyielding egos, both great athletes. Both winners. The mistake was giving birth to a "quarterback controversy." Had I been the coach, Montana would clearly have been named starting quarterback, period. Steve Young, that's my future starting quarterback when Montana proved consistently he no longer had the physical tools. Professional football is clearly a business. If an athlete has it, he plays, period. Joe earned the starting job, FIRST! Like it, or not, Steve was INSURANCE to win. Would I have benched Montana when today wasn't his day? Yes I would. I'd do it in a heartbeat! As head coach, I'm paid to do one thing and one thing only, WIN! And as much as Steve would hate it, I would have made it very, very clear to him, Joe is and will be my starting quarterback until he can't do it anymore. And if you can't deal with that, let me know and we can trade you. Not a problem.

[@PilliamWilliam]

I think you illustrated the nature of why the controversy was necessary though. they both could, and did lead the 49ers to success. young knew he was good, if there were no controversy, I think he would have asked for a trade, and thus the 49ers trade away a future HOFer with many good years in front of him for a couple more years of the GOAT and then uncertainty. I like your don't take any BS approach though

[@billmason2785]

Go Vikings

[@FromSouthforkTexas]

Montana all day

[@rogercraigsburner1525]

Wait 2 QB's isn't Young a back up QB wtf!!!

[@rozid1435]

The problem was Joe was right handed and Steve was left handed 😂😂😂😂

[@franceswitham8214]

He used it to smoke screen his own Rufus mistakes.

[@55Reever]

This is where Bill Walsh got too smart.

[@johnjones2517]

If Montana had rice and and Taylor both from his first year to last year and believe heck coach he'd have every record possible and nobody would never touch him

[@isaacrodriguez2523]

If you kept Joe you would've won four more Superbowls.

[@ryanadam3720]

Joe was old and out of his prime lol

[@isaacrodriguez2523]

@@ryanadam3720 Na with the team the 49ers had they would've won more under Montana. Steve was lost and had to improvise to much. Send him to any other team in that era and Steve dies.

[@ryanadam3720]

@@isaacrodriguez2523 nah Montana didn’t have that much left in him plus they ain’t beating the cowboys

[@isaacrodriguez2523]

@@ryanadam3720 i believe Montana was just getting started with his career when they sold him out. Steve was just freaky athletic for a QB of that era, that didn't make him a better QB. Joe wins Steve loses

[@PhilJHaast7695]

The 49ers timed it pretty well. They didn't permanently start Young until Montana missed more than a full season.

[@Measuredingrahams]

And the only person who was happy during this situation was Jerry rice lmaooo

[@jamesallen5591]

Montana was the better QB. And it's not even close.

[@Lundahlium]

Walsh really wasted Young's career. he only started at 30 years old.

[@c.l.taylor8760]

Joe was there, what do you expect?

[@Lundahlium]

C.L. Taylor yeah but Joe was frequently injured with his high school body

[@dylanf3108]

I wish Free agency came about sooner.

[@frankieperez1160]

rip bill walsh

[@TurtleTy1]

I accidentally thought it said Blair Walsh

[@greensmithfootball10]

Montana was the better quarterback and young was the better athlete. If I'm looking for a quarterback I'd look for a guy like young instead he's more versatile.

[@tracishoults5852]

Bill Walsh should have just kept both Montana and Young let Joe play the first half of the season and the 2nd half of the season can be Steve Yong's turn.

[@MrLasboor]

The biggest mistake in nfl history coming from a raider fan

[@DaveH-10]

Joe should have went into the hall of fame as a chief for what the owners did to him. I think Steve was great but this was Joe's team. He should have been allowed to retire there. Bill Walsh had no backbone.

[@andrewha149]

To day

[@tytratar2114]

Because of this joe Montana hates Steve young to this day! There have been so many times when Montana wouldn't show up to a niners reunion party, because young was going to be there.

[@pp3k3jamail]

he said he doesn't hate steve and there have been time were they been at reunions and interviews together.

[@tytratar2114]

Montana isn't gonna publicly say he hates Steve. He is much better than that. Over the years, Montana has privately said bad things about young. It's very clear to those people that he has very serious disdain for young. And yes there have been events where both of them, have been seen talking together. Montana is just putting on a happy face. From what I hear young, has no disdain for Montana, but Montana has a ton of disdain for young.

[@pp3k3jamail]

Ty Tratar prove it when has montana said anything bad about young.

[@tytratar2114]

So many times! I have my credible sources, and I am content with what I said. Montana is very bitter, about being replaced. I don't know if he hates young, but trust me he holds a ton of ill-will towards him. They got together for a commercial recently, but Montana will basically do anything for a large paycheck. If you want to believe this thing that there is no ill-will from Montana then go ahead. But I don't have time to argue with you. Goodbye!

[@EMG_Iman]

+Ty Tratar what creditable sources? There has been no hard ships between Montana and Young.

[@VillanuevaMedia]

Blaine and Colin 2.0

[@ronniemillsaps]

This should have never been a controversy. The owner should have let Montana start in 93, let Montana retire however that season ended and then hand the team over. Everybody in the world would love Steve young if that would have happened but lets go ahead and keep it real. Seifert started tearing that team up the minute he took over. Shipped Ronnie Lott and Roger Craig off when they could still play and that started the locker room split that carried over to Young starting and Haley trying to attack Steve Young after a Raiders game. The best day of my NFL life was when Montana beat the 49ers in 94. I knew Young would choke like he always did.

[@manco828]

Are you kidding? Young was NFL MVP in 1992. No way Joe Montana was going to be the starting QB in 1993...

[@boxingbasics7015]

Regular season was Joe Montana and Steve Young were about eating but when it came to playoffs in the end of games that's where Joe separated himself from Steve being better and that's saying a lot because Steve was a great NFL quarterback

[@chadbinette3201]

Wasn't Steve young lefty? That says a lot.about the recievers catching passes from a righty and lefty switching back and forth.

[@radar0412]

If Montana would have been lucky enough to play for Joe Gibbs he'd of had 10 Superbowl titles. Credit mediocre Coach Walsh for drafting Montana. It took him 3 rounds of the NFL draft to figure it out, but we'll forget about that part.

[@dandane8164]

Joe cool the real g.o.a.t.

[@samslick9000]

No one's position is safe. Watch out Tom Brady

[@ryanadam3720]

Wow you were right

[@samslick9000]

@@ryanadam3720 NFL= Not For Long A player becomes expendable when he: 1. Gets too old 2. Gets hurt 3. Gets too expensive

[@speedkills2939]

I love football forever will be a nigga favorite sport

[@charblaze33]



[@kevintross9778]

Say what you want about Brady but he was never benched for another QB. Joe was phenomenal but Brady is in another Stratosphere

[@jackyoung9731]

It makes no sense how Bill Walsh gets hate for trading Montana. It was clearly a smart decision considering they went 14-2 the first season with young as a starter and he was a first team all pro 3 straight years and led the league in completion%, yards per attempt, passer rating, and TD's 3 straight years while Montana was crumbling and breaking in half in KC. If they let young walk it woulda been the worst mistake of Walsh's career. Young was the better Quarterback at the time and if you compare both in their prime, Steve is the far better QB statistically and Physically.

[@johnre1514]

No. They went 10-6 in youngs first year. Bono was 5-1. Young was 5-5. They didnt even make the playoffs.

[@johnre1514]

He is not far better. He is a little better statistically. Montana was FAR better in the playoffs. Montana had the IT factor. He was better in the important games. A lesser montana with a lesser team beat young and the 49ers in 1994. Had they both made the superbowl in 1993 i bet montana would have rose to the occasion and beat the 49ers. Steve took montanas 5 th superbowl and leonard marshall took the other one in 1990. But i do agree that young was healthier and much more durable than montana in 1993. Young dissapointed in the playoffs in the 90s. Went 1-2 vs the cowboys and made far too many mistakes. Went 1-3 to the packers and lost 2 home games. And when he finally got past the packers he couldnt even beat the falcons in 1998.....young is like the older version of aaron rodgers. Great stats. Tds-ints. Qb rating and everything. But both underachieved in the playoffs only winning 1 superbowl.

[@Yeomannn]

Jack you are perfectly right. Montana was a very good QB but ultimately was the product of an innovative and tremendous offensive system that defenses of that time didn't adapt to yet. He was a decent athlete early on but injuries rendered him a banged up gimp by the end of his tenure with the 49ers. There's a good chance Montana would have ended up in a wheelchair with a catastrophic injury by those physical Cowboys and Packers defensive units if he stayed in San Fran. He didn't have the athleticism to get away from defenders anymore at that point. Even Steve Young got beat up a lot playing those teams and Steve was a 10x better athlete than Joe even in Joe's prime.

[@Iconhulk]

Young blows

[@DL-rz6tw]

Kap should go down in the hall of fame. Best quarterback 49ers have ever had

[@canadasugardaddysugardaddy1797]

Montana would have won those 2 Dallas SB games.