Joe Montana | Legends of The Hobby

Joe Cool’s Brand of Magic on Wax

Joe Cool. The Comeback Kid. Joe Montana, the quarterback who dominated a decade, set the pace for all the signal-callers who have followed in his legendary wake. Four-time Super Bowl Champion. Three-time Super Bowl MVP. Montana’s incredible statistical output was only outdone by his flair for the dramatic. One of the greatest players in the history of football, Montana remains an essential part of The Hobby. Let’s take a look at the legend of Joe Cool.

The Legend Begins

Montana became a household name while carrying the storied college program at Notre Dame to great heights. Back-to-back Cotton Bowl victories helped begin to tell the story of Joe Montana. The first, a 38-10 destruction of top-ranked Texas, gave Notre Dame the National Title.

Then came the Chicken Soup Game, played in freezing temperatures, during which a frigid Montana’s body temperature dropped. At half-time, covered in blankets, he was fed chicken soup by the training staff. Returning to the game in the third quarter, Montana erased a 34-12 fourth-quarter Houston lead, punctuated by a last-second touchdown pass. The Irish won 35-34. The Comeback Kid was born.

2005 Topps All-American #8 Joe Montana

The Catch

Montana’s pro career took off in 1981. He led San Francisco to a 13-3 record, and a home conference championship game against Dallas. Montana’s roll-out, under-pressure, back-foot toss found Dwight Clark for a miraculous winning score, capped off a 14-play, 83-yard drive. Regarded to this day as one of the greatest plays in league history, The Catch helped Montana rocket to superstardom. His Topps 1981 Football RC remains one of the most sought-after football cards of all time, a true must-have for any collector of the gridiron.

1981 Topps Football #216 Joe Montana RC

Joe Cool Runs the Decade

Few players truly define an era, but if you think of football in the 1980s, you think first of Joe Montana. Four Super Bowls in nine years, three Super Bowl MVPs, two League MVPs – to go along with an 84-32 regular season record and a postseason record of 13-4. In some ways, his championship game numbers are the best we’ve ever seen: four wins in four tries, 1,142 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, zero interceptions, and a passer rating of 127.8. Montana was foundational to the evolution of the sport itself, leading the passing game revolution that has since taken over the game.

1983 Topps Football #4 Joe Montana 

The Final Chapter

Injuries brought Montana’s San Francisco career to an end as the team moved on to fellow Hall of Famer Steve Young. Montana turned back the clock in his penultimate playoff run, though. Defeating winners of 11 straight Houston on the road in the divisional round, Montana threw three touchdown passes to lead Kansas City to its first conference title bout.

1986 Topps Football #156 Joe Montana 

A Legacy of Greatness

Montana’s long list of accomplishments, records, and wins, alongside his critical role in the evolution of football, combine to create a legacy that lives on. For any collector of America’s most popular sport, Joe Montana is a foundational part of the puzzle. Joe Cool remains one of The Hobby’s most coveted athletes.

2009 Topps Triple Threads Football #TTRCA-7 Tom Brady Joe Montana Terry Bradshaw Auto Relic /12

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