49ers Bowl NFL America's

What's the best way to replace a coaching legend? Quietly. When Bill Walsh retired from the San Francisco 49ers following the 1988 season, the team opted not to sign a big name as his successor. Instead, the organization stayed in-house, hiring defensive coordinator George Seifert. It was perfect casting. The stoic Seifert promptly led the team to new heights in his first year on the job. The 49ers were already a dynasty, winning three Super Bowls over the decade, so Seifert wasn't pressed to make any great changes. The teams West Coast offense then kept humming along. Joe Montana completed over 70 percent of his passes, a personal best, while throwing to one of the NFLs greatest receiving tandems: Jerry Rice and John Taylor. The 49ers were a force against the pass as well, with Charles Haley leading the defense with 10.5 sacks. Blessed with all that firepower, the Niners went 14-2 during the regular season, and then rolled through the playoffs to reach Super Bowl XXIV. There, San Francisco was at it's best on both sides of the ball against the Denver Broncos. Join NFL Films as they retell the story of the 89 49ers, a club that thrived under new leadership. Americas Game uses exclusive interviews with Seifert, Rice, and Tom Rathman to recount San Francisco's championship season.