Bill Walsh Dynasty
The birth of a dynasty: 1981 San Francisco 49ers.
The 1981 San Francisco 49ers season was the franchise's 32nd season in the National Football League (NFL), their 36th overall and their third under head coach Bill Walsh. The 49ers were 13–3 in the regular season for their first winning season in five years and first playoff appearance in nine years. The franchise's most successful season to date, it was considered to be 'the birth of a dynasty', when the 49ers began a decade of dominance over much of the NFL. The 49ers won Super Bowl XVI, defeating the AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals 26–21. It was the first of five Super Bowl victories in franchise history, all within the next thirteen seasons.
Quick Facts
- Head coach
- Bill Walsh (1979–1988); George Seifert (1989–1994)
- Super bowl championships
- 5 (XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV, XXIX)
- Key quarterback
- Joe Montana (1979–1992); Steve Young (1991–1994)
- Offensive scheme
- West Coast Offense
- Era span
- 1979–1988 (Walsh tenure), 1989–1994 (Post-Walsh continuity)
- Defining rivalry
- Dallas Cowboys
Lore & Background
The 49ers drew an average home attendance of 54,398 in the season. From 1981 to 1997, the 49ers would have thirteen NFC West titles, eight NFC top seeds, and seven seasons with the NFL's best regular season record. Third-year quarterback Joe Montana began the season as the starter, and produced two fourth-quarter comeback victories. His signature game of the season was the NFC Championship Game, which culminated in 'The Catch', a last-minute touchdown pass from Montana to Dwight Clark, propelling the 49ers to victory over Dallas and a berth in their first Super Bowl. The 49ers were undefeated in their first five Super Bowls.
Reader's Guide
NFL Films produced a documentary about the team's season entitled A Very Special Team; it was narrated by John Facenda. On March 23, 2007, NFL Network aired America's Game: The Super Bowl Champions, the 1981 San Francisco 49ers, with team commentary from Dwight Clark, Ronnie Lott and Randy Cross, and narrated by Gene Hackman.
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