Revisiting the Chiefs-49ers Trade for Joe Montana
By Michael Luciano
The San Francisco 49ers knew that it was eventually going to be time for Steve Young to take over the starting quarterback job from Joe Montana, who missed basically the entire 1991 and 1992 seasons due to injury.
In need of a quarterback with a higher ceiling than Steve DeBerg, Marty Schottenheimer and the Kansas City Chiefs were the ones to trade for one of the greatest players of all time in April 1993, giving up a first-round pick for the guy who had led San Francisco to four Super Bowl championships.
The playoffs start in 20 mins with the Chiefs hosting the Titans on ESPN/ABC. Kansas City hasn't won a home playoff game since Jan. 8, 1994 (1993 season), a game Joe Montana started.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 6, 2018
KC has lost 5 straight home playoff games since then, the longest streak in postseason history. pic.twitter.com/U37aVkNrXy
The Chiefs acquired Montana, safety Dave Whitmore, and a third-round pick round pick in exchange for their first-round selection in the 1993 NFL Draft. After trading down, San Francisco picked defensive tackle Dana Stubblefield 26th overall.
Montana, who made a Pro Bowl in 1993, joined up with new free agent signing Marcus Allen to help lead Kansas City to the AFC Championship Game, but they were unfortunately bested by the Buffalo Bills. All told, Montana threw 29 touchdowns and 16 picks while going 17-8 during his final two seasons in the NFL.
The 49ers finally allowed Young to take over as the unquestioned starter, and he rewarded their trust with seven straight Pro Bowl nods, two league MVPs, and a Super Bowl victory. Oh, and Stubblefield was a Pro Bowler who contributed to some solid run defenses by the Bay. Not a bad bonus.
On this date in 1995...Steve Young threw 6 TD passes in Super Bowl XXIX, which is still a Super Bowl record.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 29, 2020
He completed 24 of 36 passes for 325 yards, and broke the record of 5 touchdown passes set by former 49ers quarterback Joe Montana in Super Bowl XXIV. pic.twitter.com/IIRxrjScSZ
Who Won The Trade?
The 49ers look like the big winners, as Young led them to a Super Bowl XXIX title, but Kansas City was able to benefit greatly from the 49ers deciding to jettison Montana for Young.
San Francisco got a Pro Bowl defensive tackle in exchange for a quarterback who wasn't going to start anymore anyway, while Montana and Allen led the Chiefs, who had been stuck in the mud for decades, to an AFC Championship. Let's call this a draw.