1984 San Francisco 49ers season


The 1984 San Francisco 49ers season was their 39th season in the National Football League. The season was highlighted by their second Super Bowl victory. The franchise had their best season ever with a record of 15 wins and only 1 loss. Quarterback Joe Montana would be awarded the Super Bowl's Most Valuable Player Award for the second time in his career, joining Bart Starr and Terry Bradshaw as the only two-time Super Bowl MVPs.
The 1984 49ers became the first team to win fifteen games in the NFL's regular season since the league went to a sixteen-game schedule in 1978. The 49ers, if not for their loss to the Steelers, would have become the 2nd team after the 1972 Miami Dolphins to complete a perfect season, and the Niners would have been the first to do so since the NFL expanded to a 16-game schedule. The 1985 Chicago Bears, the 1998 Minnesota Vikings, the 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers, the 2011 Green Bay Packers, and the 2015 Carolina Panthers would later join the 1984 49ers to finish 15–1, although the 2007 New England Patriots would exceed this feat by finishing the regular season at an unbeaten 16–0.
In the playoffs, the 49ers were the #1 seed. They defeated the Giants 21–10 in the divisional round, then they shut out the Chicago Bears 23–0, and finally defeated the Miami Dolphins 38–16 in Super Bowl XIX. This 49ers team has gone down as the best in franchise history and many call this season the best in Joe Montana's career.

Offseason

NFL Draft

NFL Supplemental Draft

RoundPickPlayerPositionPro TeamCollege
124Derrick CrawfordWRMemphis Showboats Memphis State
251Joe ConwellOTPhiladelphia Stars North Carolina
380Mark SchellenRBNew Orleans Breakers Nebraska

Training Camp

The 1984 San Francisco 49ers held training camp at Sierra College in Rocklin, California.

Personnel

Staff

Roster

Pre season

Schedule

Regular season

The 49ers advanced to their second Super Bowl in team history after becoming the first team ever to win 15 regular season games since the league expanded to a 16-game schedule in 1978. Much of the hype surrounding the team was their offense, which boasted 5 Pro Bowlers. Quarterback Joe Montana recorded 279 out of 432 completions for 3,630 yards, 28 touchdowns, and only 10 interceptions. Running back Roger Craig was one of the 49ers' major weapons, both rushing and receiving. Craig was the team's second leading rusher with 649 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns, and also caught 71 passes for 675 yards. Pro Bowl running back Wendell Tyler, who had rushed for a team record 1,262 yards during the regular season, recorded 7 rushing touchdowns, and also caught 28 passes for 230 yards and 2 touchdown receptions. Wide receivers Freddie Solomon and Dwight Clark also were deep threats, gaining a combined total of 1,617 yards and 16 touchdowns. Up front, 3 of the 49ers' 5 starting offensive linemen, Randy Cross, Fred Quillan, and Keith Fahnhorst, had been selected to play in the Pro Bowl. Overall, San Francisco's offense finished the season ranked second in the NFL in scoring and fourth in total yards.
Although they did not get as much media attention as the offense, the 49ers defense led the league in fewest points allowed during the regular season. All 4 of the 49ers' starting defensive backs, Ronnie Lott, Eric Wright, Carlton Williamson, and Dwight Hicks, were selected to play in the Pro Bowl. Pro Bowl linebacker Keena Turner was also a major defensive weapon, recording 2 sacks and 4 interceptions for 51 yards. Defensive end Dwaine Board anchored the line, recording 10 sacks and 1 fumble recovery.

Schedule

Game summaries

Week 1 at Detroit Lions">1984 Detroit Lions season">Detroit Lions

Week 2 vs. Washington Redskins">1984 Washington Redskins season">Washington Redskins

Week 3 vs. [1984 [New Orleans Saints season|New Orleans Saints]]

Week 4 at Philadelphia Eagles">1984 Philadelphia Eagles season">Philadelphia Eagles

Week 5 vs. Atlanta Falcons">1984 Atlanta Falcons season">Atlanta Falcons

Week 6 at [1984 [New York Giants season|New York Giants]]

Week 7 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers">1984 Pittsburgh Steelers season">Pittsburgh Steelers

Gary Anderson kicked the game-winning field goal in the fourth quarter that would ultimately prevent the 49ers from going undefeated.

Week 8 at Houston Oilers">1984 Houston Oilers season">Houston Oilers

Week 9 at [1984 [Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles Rams]]

Week 10 vs. Cincinnati Bengals">1984 Cincinnati Bengals season">Cincinnati Bengals

Week 11 at Cleveland Browns">1984 Cleveland Browns season">Cleveland Browns

Week 12 vs. [1984 [Tampa Bay Buccaneers season|Tampa Bay Buccaneers]]

Week 13 at New Orleans Saints">1984 New Orleans Saints season">New Orleans Saints

Week 14 at Atlanta Falcons">1984 Atlanta Falcons season">Atlanta Falcons

Week 15 vs. Minnesota Vikings">1984 Minnesota Vikings season">Minnesota Vikings

Week 16 vs. Los Angeles Rams">1984 Los Angeles Rams season">Los Angeles Rams

Game officials

Preseason

Regular season

Standings

Final statistics

Statistical comparison

Quarter-by-quarter

Individual leaders

1Completions/attempts
2Carries
3Long gain
4Receptions
5Interceptions
6Sacks
7Punts
8Kickoff Returns
9Punt Returns

Playoffs

Notes:

NFC Divisional Playoff

Quarterback Joe Montana threw for 309 yards and 3 touchdown passes as he led the 49ers to a victory, while receiver Dwight Clark caught 9 passes for 112 yards and a touchdown.

NFC Championship Game

The 49ers passed for 228 yards while limiting the Bears to only 37 passing yards and no points.

[Super Bowl XIX]

Game officials

Awards and records

NumberPlayerPositionConference
51Randy CrossRG, StarterNFC Pro Bowlers
71Keith FahnhorstTNFC Pro Bowlers
22Dwight HicksFS, StarterNFC Pro Bowlers
42Ronnie LottLCB, StarterNFC Pro Bowlers
16Joe MontanaQB, StarterNFC Pro Bowlers
55Fred QuillanC, StarterNFC Pro Bowlers
58Keena TurnerLBNFC Pro Bowlers
26Wendell TylerRBNFC Pro Bowlers
27Carlton WilliamsonSNFC Pro Bowlers
21Eric WrightCBNFC Pro Bowlers

Media

Pre season Local TV
ChannelPlay-by-playColor commentator
KPIX-TV 5

Local Radio
Flagship stationPlay-by-playColor commentatorSideline reporter
KCBS-AM 740Don KleinDon Heinrich