Joe Montana’s brilliant career, which included four Super Bowl championships, reportedly will come to an end next Tuesday afternoon in San Francisco-the scene of his greatest days-when he announces his retirement.
Montana, who will be 39 on June 11, is expected to make the announcement at a news conference in downtown San Francisco, though it won’t be affiliated with the 49ers. He’s slated to do the same the next day in Kansas City, where he played the final two years of his 16-year career.
The former Notre Dame star endured many injuries during his career, including what was initially feared to be career-threatening back surgery in 1986. Injuries finally caught up to him in 1991, when elbow surgery sidelined him for the entire season and all but the last half of the last game of the ’92 season. By the time he returned, Steve Young was entrenched as the 49ers’ starter, and Montana, after heated negotiations, was eventually traded to Kansas City.
If he does retire, Montana’s final game will stand as a 27-17 playoff loss on New Year’s Eve in Miami. Montana was 26 of 37 for 314 yards with two TDs.