Joe Montana Turns 65: Five Crazy Facts About the Former NFL Quarterback

Joe Montana Turns 65: Five Crazy Facts About the Former NFL Quarterback

Before Tom Brady, there was Joe Cool. Joe Montana, legendary quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers won four Super Bowls, three Super Bowl MVP awards, and two NFL MVP trophies. Montana turned 65 last June. Here are a few fun facts about his amazing career.

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The Cradle of Quarterbacks

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Born in Western Pennsylvania near Pittsburgh, Joe Montana got an early start playing football. His father lied about his age to get him into a youth football league. He played high school football at Ringgold High near Monongahela, where he grew up. Montana is not the only famous quarterback born in Western Pennsylvania. Other notable names include John Unitas, Dan Marino, Rich Gannon, Jim Kelly, and Joe Namath.

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Not a Notre Dame Hall of Famer

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Montana had a slow start to his career at Notre Dame, including missing a year because of injury. Coach Dan Devine did not name him the official starter until his third year. Although he quarterbacked Notre Dame to the national title in 1977, Montana is not one of the 44 Notre Dame players and coaches named to the College Football Hall of Fame.

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The Chicken Soup Game

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In his last college football game, Montana’s Notre Dame Fighting Irish played Houston in the 1978 Cotton Bowl. The day was so cold that Montana battled with hypothermia the entire first half. When the third quarter started, the staff kept him in the locker room, covered him with blankets, and fed him chicken soup. He returned late in the third quarter with Houston leading 34-12 and threw three touchdown passes, with Notre Dame eventually winning 35-34.

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Spotting John Candy

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Montana’s calm composure during important moments was legendary. In Super Bowl XXIII, down by three points to the Cincinnati Bengals with three minutes remaining and the ball on their 8-yard line, Montana said to the huddle, “Isn’t that John Candy?” and nodded towards the crowd. The entire huddle turned to look. Sure enough, there was Candy eating popcorn. Montana then led the 49ers down the field to a touchdown and victory.

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Kansas City Here I Come

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Montana didn’t finish his career in San Francisco. In the early '90s, he suffered a series of injuries, and Steve Young became the 49ers’ quarterback. Montana asked the NFL to release him from his 49ers’ contract, but they declined. On April 20, 1993, the 49ers traded him to Kansas City. He played at a high level in his final two years, leading Kansas City to the AFC championship game in 1993 and the playoffs in 1994.

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