Super Bowl XXIX
The 49ers' fifth Super Bowl victory, led by Steve Young's record six touchdown passes.
Super Bowl XXIX was an American football championship game featuring an all-California matchup between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion San Diego Chargers and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion San Francisco 49ers to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 1994 season. The 49ers defeated the Chargers by a score of 49–26, becoming the first team to win five Super Bowl championships. The game was played on January 29, 1995, at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Florida. As of , this is the last Super Bowl to feature two teams from the same state.
- Date
- January 29, 1995
- Location
- Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, Florida
- Final Score
- San Francisco 49ers 49, San Diego Chargers 26
- MVP
- Steve Young (Quarterback)
- Defining Statistic
- 6 Touchdown Passes by Steve Young
Lore & Background
With 49ers quarterback Steve Young at the helm and a defense consisting of several veteran free agents who joined the team during the previous offseason, San Francisco finished the regular season with a league-best 13–3 record, and led the league in total points scored (505). The Chargers, on the other hand, were regarded as a 'Cinderella' team, and advanced to their first Super Bowl after posting an 11–5 regular-season record and overcoming halftime deficits in both of their playoff wins. This was the first Super Bowl in which both teams scored in all four quarters. The combined aggregate score of 75 points and the ten total touchdowns both remain Super Bowl records. Still, the 49ers controlled most of the game, with Young completing touchdown passes in each of the 49ers' first two drives. The Chargers were able to cut the deficit late in the first quarter, 14–7, on a 13-play, 78-yard drive, but could not slow down San Francisco afterwards. Young was named the Super Bowl MVP, throwing a Super Bowl-record six touchdown passes, and completing 24 out of 36 passes for 325 yards.
In Their Own Story
Inside Joe Robbie Stadium, the humidity battled against a roar of noise that seemed to swallow the field whole. Steve Young operated with surgical precision, his eyes scanning the defense before delivering passes that found their targets with clockwork regularity. Jerry Rice and the receivers turned every completion into yardage, pushing the scoreboard toward an unthinkable total. As the fourth quarter wound down, Young wasn't celebrating arrogance; he was acknowledging a legacy being cemented in real-time as the 49ers dismantled the opposition.
Reader's Guide
Despite the predicted blowout (18.5 points is the second-largest margin a team has been favored by in a Super Bowl), the fact that San Diego did not have as much national appeal nor a relatively large core fan base, and two teams from California playing, which could have significantly diminished interest along the East Coast, the telecast of the game on ABC still had a Nielsen rating of 41.3.
Did You Know?
- The 49ers became the first team to win five Super Bowl championships.
- Steve Young threw a Super Bowl-record six touchdown passes.
- This was the first Super Bowl in which both teams scored in all four quarters.
- The combined aggregate score of 75 points and the ten total touchdowns both remain Super Bowl records.
- Chargers backup quarterback Gale Gilbert became the first player to be a member of five consecutive Super Bowl teams.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of Super Bowl XXIX?
The San Francisco 49ers defeated the San Diego Chargers with a decisive score of 49 to 26. This victory stands as one of the most dominant offensive performances in championship history.
Who was named the Most Valuable Player for Super Bowl XXIX?
Quarterback Steve Young earned the MVP award after throwing six touchdown passes during the contest. His performance set a new single-game passing yardage record at that time.
When and where did Super Bowl XXIX take place?
The game was played on January 29, 1995, at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Florida. It served as the culmination of the 1994 NFL season.
Why is Super Bowl XXIX considered historically significant for the 49ers?
This championship marked the franchise's fifth title, cementing their status as an NFL dynasty. It made them the first team in league history to reach five Super Bowl victories.
Which team did the 49ers face in this championship game?
San Francisco played against the AFC champion San Diego Chargers in a contest defined by explosive scoring. The 49ers' offensive precision overwhelmed the Chargers throughout the entire match.
More in Iconic Matches & Games
Elsewhere in the San Francisco 49ers universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record