The 1984 San Francisco 49ers season was their 35th season in the National Football League (NFL) and 39th overall. The season was highlighted by their second Super Bowl victory. The franchise had its best season ever, with a record of 15 wins and only 1 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Quarterback Joe Montana was 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.
History
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 Forty-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, 2015 Carolina Panthers, the 2024 Detroit Lions, and the 2024 Kansas City Chiefs would later join the 1984 49ers to win 15 games, although the 2007 New England Patriots would exceed this feat by finishing the regular season at an unbeaten 16–0, losing the Super Bowl to the New York Giants 17–14. However, the only other one of these teams that won the Super Bowl was the 1985 Bears.
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 in the NFC Championship 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.
NFL Films produced a documentary about the team's season entitled A Team Above All; Brad Crandall narrated it. On January 29, 2007, NFL Network aired America's Game: The Super Bowl Champions, in which they ranked the 1984 49ers at #8; the film was narrated by Gene Hackman and featured commentary from players Russ Francis, Keena Turner and Dwight Hicks. More than a decade later, the team gained greater esteem by ranking #4 on the 100 greatest teams of all time presented by the NFL on its 100th anniversary.
Offseason
NFL draft
Round Pick Player Position College 1 24 Todd Shell LB Brigham Young 2 Choice to L.A. Raiders 2 56(Choice from L.A. Raiders) John Frank TE Ohio State 3 73(Choice from St. Louis) Guy McIntyre G Georgia 3 Choice to St. Louis 4 Choice from Tampa Bay to Seattle 4 Choice to San Diego 5 121(Choice from Atlanta) Michael Carter NT Southern Methodist 5 Choice from Denver to Atlanta 5 Choice to St. Louis 5 139(Choice from Washington through L.A. Raiders) Jeff Fuller DB Texas A&M 6 Choice to Atlanta 7 Choice to New England 8 Choice to San Diego 9 239(Choice from Chicago) Lee Miller DB Cal State Fullerton 9 248 Derrick Harmon RB Cornell 10 275 Dave Moritz WR Iowa 11 304 Kirk Pendleton WR Brigham Young 12 Choice from Chicago to Miami 12 Choice to San Diego
NFL supplemental draft
Round Pick Player Position Pro Team College 1 24 Derrick Crawford WR Memphis Showboats (USFL) Memphis State 2 51 Joe Conwell OT Philadelphia Stars (USFL) North Carolina 3 80 Mark Schellen RB New Orleans Breakers (USFL) Nebraska
Training camp The 1984 San Francisco 49ers held training camp at Sierra College in Rocklin, California.
Personnel
Staff / coaches
Roster
Preseason
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 Los Angeles Raiders W 13–10 1–0 Candlestick Park 54,990 Recap 2 at Denver Broncos L 13–20 1–1 Mile High Stadium 70,211 Recap 3 at San Diego Chargers L 15–35 1–2 Jack Murphy Stadium 58,356 Recap 4 Seattle Seahawks W 23–21 2–2 Candlestick Park 49,219 Recap
Preseason Game summaries Week P2 (Saturday, August 4, 1984): vs. Los Angeles Raiders
Point spread: Over/under: Time of game:
RaidersGame Statistics49ers First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
Week P2 (Saturday, August 11, 1984): at Denver Broncos
Point spread: Over/under: Time of game:
49ersGame StatisticsBroncos First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
Week P3 (Saturday, August 18, 1984): at San Diego Chargers
Point spread: Over/under: Time of game:
49ersGame StatisticsChargers First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
Week P4 (Friday, August 24, 1984): vs. Seattle Seahawks
Point spread: Over/under: Time of game:
SeahawksGame Statistics49ers First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
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 (475 points) and fourth in total yards (6,544).
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 (227). 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 Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 September 2 at Detroit Lions W 30–27 1–0 Pontiac Silverdome 56,782 Recap 2 Washington Redskins W 37–31 2–0 Candlestick Park 59,707 Recap 3 September 16 New Orleans Saints W 30–20 3–0 Candlestick Park 57,611 Recap 4 September 23 at Philadelphia Eagles W 21–9 4–0 Veterans Stadium 62,771 Recap 5 September 30 Atlanta Falcons W 14–5 5–0 Candlestick Park 57,990 Recap 6 at New York Giants W 31–10 6–0 Giants Stadium 76,112 Recap 7 October 14 Pittsburgh Steelers L 17–20 6–1 Candlestick Park 59,110 Recap 8 October 21 at Houston Oilers W 34–21 7–1 Astrodome 39,900 Recap 9 October 28 at Los Angeles Rams W 33–0 8–1 Anaheim Stadium 65,481 Recap 10 November 4 Cincinnati Bengals W 23–17 9–1 Candlestick Park 58,324 Recap 11 November 11 at Cleveland Browns W 41–7 10–1 Cleveland Stadium 60,092 Recap 12 November 18 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 24–17 11–1 Candlestick Park 57,704 Recap 13 November 25 at New Orleans Saints W 35–3 12–1 Louisiana Superdome 65,177 Recap 14 December 2 at Atlanta Falcons W 35–17 13–1 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 29,644 Recap 15 Minnesota Vikings W 51–7 14–1 Candlestick Park 56,670 Recap 16 Los Angeles Rams W 19–16 15–1 Candlestick Park 59,743 Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Regular season game summaries
Week 1 (Sunday, September 2, 1984): at Detroit Lions The Football Database. Retrieved 2022-Jun-20.
Point spread: 49ers by 2½ Over/under: 43.0 (over) Time of game:
49ersGame statisticsLions24 First downs 1932–124 Rushes–yards 28–132188 Passing yards 17716–25–0 17–24–02–14 Sacked–yards 2–11174 Net passing yards 166298 Total yards 298198 Return yards 982–45.5 4–44.02–1 Fumbles–lost 0–02–32 Penalties–yards 6–4530:44 Time of Possession 29:16
Week 2 (Monday, September 10, 1984): vs. Washington Redskins The Football Database. Retrieved 2022-Jun-20.
Point spread: 49ers by 2 Over/under: 52.0 (over) Time of game:
RedskinsGame statistics49ers20 First downs 3021–62 Rushes–yards 40–167331 Passing yards 38124–43–0 24–40–04–22 Sacked–yards 2–14309 Net passing yards 367371 Total yards 534132 Return yards 747–36.6 3–34.73–0 Fumbles–lost 3–26–60 Penalties–yards 6–5025:15 Time of Possession 34:45
Week 3 (Sunday, September 16, 1984): vs. New Orleans Saints The Football Database. Retrieved 2022-Jun-20.
Point spread: 49ers by 5½ Over/under: 45.0 (over) Time of game:
SaintsGame statistics49ers20 First downs 1931–119 Rushes–yards 32–148162 Passing yards 17916–34–5 13–26–12–13 Sacked–yards 3–20149 Net passing yards 159268 Total yards 307166 Return yards 1603–46.0 5–40.80–0 Fumbles–lost 0–04–47 Penalties–yards 6–5431:38 Time of Possession 28:22
Week 4 (Sunday, September 23, 1984): at Philadelphia Eagles The Football Database. Retrieved 2022-Jun-20.
Point spread: 49ers by 4½ Over/under: 44.0 (under) Time of game:
49ersGame statisticsEagles23 First downs 1537–177 Rushes–yards 20–72252 Passing yards 18717–34–0 16–41–14–31 Sacked–yards 2–18221 Net passing yards 169398 Total yards 241173 Return yards 517–39.1 7–40.02–0 Fumbles–lost 0–012–141 Penalties–yards 4–3034:31 Time of Possession 25:29
Week 5 (Sunday, September 30, 1984): vs. Atlanta Falcons The Football Database. Retrieved 2022-Jun-20.
Point spread: 49ers by 6 Over/under: 49.5 (under) Time of game:
FalconsGame statistics49ers22 First downs 1735–161 Rushes–yards 32–161267 Passing yards 14922–41–2 13–25–02–10 Sacked–yards 0–0257 Net passing yards 149418 Total yards 31048 Return yards 624–38.8 5–43.83–1 Fumbles–lost 3–25–45 Penalties–yards 5–5634:57 Time of Possession 25:03
Week 6 (Monday, October 8, 1984): at New York Giants The Football Database. Retrieved 2022-Jun-20.
Point spread: 49ers by 3 Over/under: 44.0 (under) Time of game:
49ersGame statisticsGiants18 First downs 2332–167 Rushes–yards 23–113218 Passing yards 30316–27–0 25–44–21–1 Sacked–yards 4–27217 Net passing yards 276384 Total yards 389123 Return yards 1425–39.0 5–42.41–0 Fumbles–lost 0–07–40 Penalties–yards 3–2028:08 Time of Possession 31:52
Week 7 (Sunday, October 14, 1984): vs. Pittsburgh Steelers The Football Database. Retrieved 2022-Jun-20.
Point spread: 49ers by 8 Over/under: 42.0 (under) Time of game:
SteelersGame statistics49ers23 First downs 2247–175 Rushes–yards 20–117156 Passing yards 24111–18–1 24–35–11–7 Sacked–yards 0–0149 Net passing yards 241324 Total yards 358106 Return yards 1312–41.0 3–30.71–0 Fumbles–lost 1–011–68 Penalties–yards 8–5734:45 Time of Possession 25:15 The 49ers' hope for a perfect season was foiled by the Steelers when Gary Anderson kicked the game-winning field goal in the fourth quarter that would ultimately prevent the 49ers from going undefeated.
Week 8 (Sunday, October 21, 1984): at Houston Oilers The Football Database. Retrieved 2022-Jun-20.
Point spread: 49ers by 11 Over/under: 42.0 (over) Time of game:
49ersGame statisticsOilers25 First downs 2238–164 Rushes–yards 18–82353 Passing yards 35625–35–1 25–33–21–0 Sacked–yards 2–6353 Net passing yards 350517 Total yards 43285 Return yards 1053–49.3 3–46.32–0 Fumbles–lost 3–18–70 Penalties–yards 7–7534:13 Time of Possession 25:47
Week 9 (Sunday, October 28, 1984): at Los Angeles Rams The Football Database. Retrieved 2022-Jun-20.
Point spread: 49ers by 3 Over/under: 45.0 (under) Time of game: