CNN/SI - Century's Best

[an error occurred while processing this directive]

John Iacono

State of grace

Montana’s calm precision produced a quartet of championships

A four-time Super Bowl winner with the San Francisco 49ers, Joe Montana exuded cool in the face of pressure. The two-time NFL MVP never had the strongest arm, was never the fastest or the most durable. But he won, and he played his best in the biggest games. In perhaps his finest hour, at Super Bowl XXIII, Montana capped a game-winning drive with a perfect strike to John Taylor to douse the Cincinnati Bengals and establish a dynasty.

Joe’s Super Bowl titles: XVI | XIX | XXIII | XXIV

SI Sportsman of the Year: 1960

SI Flashback: The Ultimate Winner

From CNN/SI:
  • By the Numbers

From SI:
  • All-Century team
  • Our favorite venues
  • Top 20 dynasties
  • Our favorite athletes

SI Sportsman of the Year:
  • 1990: Joe Montana

Guidelines
  • How to pick a champ

SI's Frank Deford
  • The Best Years
  • Instant Century

SI's Leigh Montville
  • The Century's Best?

Reaction
• Who should have made the Top Eight
• The Century’s Best pro football coach

Archive
  • Round of two
  • Round of four
  • Round of eight
  • Best TE of the '90s
  • Best CB/Safety
  • Best football movie
  • Best back of the '90s
  • Best dynasty
  • Most exciting play
  • A better game
  • Artificial turf future

Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines.