1980s Super Bowl XXIII Run
The 49ers' last-minute drive to glory in Super Bowl XXIII.
Super Bowl XXIII was played on January 22, 1989, at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, between the Cincinnati Bengals and the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers won 20–16.
- Era
- 1980-1989
- Head Coaches
- Leeman Bennett, Jerry Glanville
- NFC Championship Appearances
- 1 (1980)
- Super Bowl Appearances in Decade
- None
- Home Stadium
- Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium / Georgia Dome (opened 1992)
- Owner
- Ted Turner
Lore & Background
The game is remembered for the 49ers' fourth-quarter game-winning drive. Down 16–13, San Francisco got the ball on their own 8-yard line with 3:10 left and marched 92 yards, scoring on a Joe Montana pass to John Taylor with 34 seconds remaining. The game was tied 3–3 at halftime, though Super Bowl IX and XII also had halftime ties. Cincinnati's touchdowns came on a 93-yard kickoff return by Stanford Jennings and a pass from Boomer Esiason to Cris Collinsworth. Jerry Rice was named Super Bowl MVP with 11 catches for 215 yards and a touchdown.
In Their Own Story
The air inside Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium was thick with humidity and anticipation during the 1980 playoffs. Fans clad in black and red waved flags as the team took the field against a division rival. The roar of the crowd echoed off the concrete walls, a testament to the city's growing passion for football. Every play felt like a step toward immortality, even if the final whistle would eventually sound elsewhere. It was an era where hope outpaced results, yet the spirit of the Atlanta faithful remained unbroken.
Reader's Guide
The 49ers finished the regular season with a 10–6 record. Joe Montana threw for 2,981 yards and 18 touchdowns. Jerry Rice had 64 receptions for 1,306 yards and 9 touchdowns. Roger Craig led the team in receptions (76) and had 2,036 combined yards. John Taylor led the NFL in punt return yards (556). The Bengals finished 12–4. Boomer Esiason threw for 3,572 yards and 28 touchdowns. Ickey Woods rushed for 1,066 yards and 15 touchdowns. Cincinnati's offense led the NFL in scoring (448 points), rushing yards (2,710), and total yards (6,302).
Did You Know?
- This was the first Super Bowl hosted in the Miami area in 10 years, and the first in Miami not held at the Orange Bowl.
- The game was the third rematch between Super Bowl teams after Super Bowl XIII and Super Bowl XVII.
- Jerry Rice set a Super Bowl record with 215 receiving yards.
- The 49ers' game-winning drive covered 92 yards in under three minutes.
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