The career of a National Football League player can be a difficult road to walk. Injuries happen, and they can sometimes end the prospects of once-promising athletes. If there’s one thing that affects NFL lines more than anything, it’s a sudden, mid-season injury. But what happens when one of the most promising quarterbacks in the sport comes across one of these? How does this affect their team, their skill, and their future?
If you’re wondering about this, then you should know about the story of Joe Montana. In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at one of the most impressive comebacks in NFL history. We’ll look at the injury he suffered, and how he managed his eventual comeback. Joe Montana is one of the most fascinating stars of the 1980s, so let’s take a look at some of the adversity he faced.
Who Is Joe Montana?
Before Tom Brady, one of the most famous quarterbacks out there was Joe Montana. With more Super Bowl rings than most players will ever get close to, he is one of the most iconic players of the 1980s.
Playing as a quarterback for over 16 seasons of the National Football League, Joe Montanna became a household name with one of the most iconic throws of all time. Although he got his first national championship win while playing at Notre Dame, he is known for his 14-season stretch with the San Francisco 49ers. Among his accolades are four Super Bowl wins and three MVP titles.
Early Career
After a fairly slow high school career, Joe Montana began to pick up steam when signed with Notre Dame for college football. It wasn’t until the 1977 season (after he recovered from a separated shoulder injury) that he won his first college title. From here, he entered the 1979 NFL draft and was taken as a starter for the San Francisco 49ers.
First Super Bowl
Joe Montana began to become better known during the 49ers first Super Bowl game. During a match between the 49ers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Montana was able to place to ball in place for a winning touchdown. From here he collected his first Super Bowl MVP title and became a regular on the team.
Injury During The 1986 Season
Tragedy struck for Joe Montana during the first week of the 1986 football season. During this week, he suffered an injury to his spinal disc in his lower back. The injury was so severe that it required him to have surgery immediately.
This kind of lower back injury was the worst-case scenario for an athlete like him, and football fans across the nation feared that it would be the end of his career. More than this, Joe Montana’s doctors gave him the advice to retire for fear of further injury.
This is where the story of this season takes an incredible turn. After 9 weeks without Joe Montana, the football world was amazed to see him return on week 10 for a game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Much to everyone’s amazement, Montana was able to pass for 270 yards and three touchdown passes.
The result at the end of the match was 43-17 to the 49ers. It’s an incredible moment in the history of the 49ers, and of Montana’s career, because even though he struggled with mobility, he was still able to play and lead his team to victory.
At the end of the season, the Comeback Player of the Year awards were shared between Joe Montana and Tommy Krammer.
Later Career
So how did this injury affect Joe Montana for the rest of his career? In many ways, it only made him stronger. In the years that followed the 1986 season, the world watched Montana go from strength to strength, capturing SUper Bowl rings more than once, and becoming MVP two years in a row.
It’s worth noting that Montana did suffer more injuries later in his career, although they were unrelated to his 1986 lower back trouble. In 1991, an elbow injury caused him to miss the entirety of the 1992 season, and eventually saw him traded to Kansas city in the early 90s.
Joe Montana retired in 1995, when he made the announcement on national television. In the 1995 Super Bowl, he was honored by performing the ceremonial coin toss. In the year 2000, Joe Montana was entered into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, adding a final accolade to his already impressive football career.
Final Thoughts
Joe Montana’s 1986 comeback from injury is one of the most impressive examples of perseverance and retaliation throughout all of sports. From some dark days that made some fear the end of his career, to simultaneous Super Bowl MVP honors, his story shows how much an athlete is capable of, and that obvious predictions on the NFL are not always what they seem! We hope that this article has explained to you the impressive comeback of Joe Montana, and that you now know a lot more about this incredible quarterback.
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