Joe Montana Says He Wasn’t Ready to Exit 49ers When Steve Young Became QB1
The NFL is a league of constant change and evolution. Players come and go, teams rise and fall, and dynasties are built and broken. But sometimes, even the most iconic and beloved players can find themselves on the wrong side of a decision that they believe is unfair.
One such player is Joe Montana, the legendary quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers. Montana, who led the 49ers to four Super Bowl victories and was a two-time NFL MVP, was at the peak of his career when the team made the decision to move on from him in favor of Steve Young.
In a recent interview with CNBC’s Alex Sherman, Montana opened up about the Niners’ decision to replace him with Young and how it affected him.
“I wasn’t ready to leave, I didn’t think I was done,” Montana said. “I still thought I had a lot of football left in me.”
Montana’s exit from the 49ers was a combination of both planned and forced. The team had been grooming Young to take over as the starting quarterback, but Montana’s departure was also accelerated by a serious elbow injury that he suffered in the 1990 season.
Despite the injury, Montana was determined to prove that he still had what it takes to lead the 49ers to victory. He worked tirelessly to rehab his elbow and was ready to return to the field in the 1991 season. But to his surprise, the team announced that Young would be the starting quarterback for the upcoming season.
“I was shocked, I really was,” Montana said. “I didn’t think it was going to happen that way.”
Montana’s disappointment and frustration were evident, but he remained professional and supportive of Young. He even helped mentor and train Young during his time as the backup quarterback.
But Montana’s heart was still with the 49ers, and he couldn’t help but feel like he deserved to be the starting quarterback. He had dedicated his entire career to the team and had brought them so much success. He couldn’t understand why they would choose to move on from him.
“I felt like I deserved the right to be able to go out and play,” Montana said. “I didn’t think I had done anything to lose my job.”
Despite his feelings, Montana accepted the decision and moved on to the Kansas City Chiefs, where he had a successful two-year stint before retiring in 1995.
Looking back on his time with the 49ers, Montana has no regrets. He acknowledges that the decision to move on from him was a business decision, and he holds no ill will towards the team or Young.
“I don’t hold grudges,” Montana said. “I’m not a grudge holder. It’s just the way the business is.”
Montana’s exit from the 49ers may not have been on his terms, but he has come to terms with it. He has since been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and is widely recognized as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.
And despite the way things ended, Montana still has a special place in his heart for the 49ers and their fans.
“I love the fans, I love the city, I love the organization,” Montana said. “It was a great place to play.”
In the end, Montana’s exit from the 49ers may have been unexpected and bittersweet, but it doesn’t take away from his incredible legacy and impact on the team and the NFL as a whole. He will always be remembered as a true 49ers legend and a champion on and off the field.
