Faithful Flashbacks #2: Cementing the Dynasty

Faithful Flashbacks revisits Super Bowl XXIII, when Joe Montana’s late drive gave the 49ers their third championship.

Sep 9, 2026, 8:00 AM Updated: 11:49 am

Joe Montana #16, Quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers calls the play on the line of scrimmage during the National Football League Super Bowl XXIII game against the Cincinnati Bengals on 22nd January 1989 at the Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, Florida, United States. The 49ers won the game 20 - 16. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Allsport/Getty Images)

(Photo by Rick Stewart/Allsport/Getty Images)

In honor of the San Francisco 49ers celebrating their 80th anniversary, Sactown Sports is kicking off a countdown of the 80 greatest moments in the franchise’s illustrious history in reverse order, called Faithful Flashbacks.

From Super Bowl-winning plays to overperforming teams that had minimal expectations, there’s plenty to choose from on the team with five titles under its belt.

A handful of Sactown Sports staffers conducted the voting before compiling the results into a full list that will count down to the 49ers’ 2026 NFL regular-season debut against the Rams in Melbourne, Australia, on September 10th.

Faithful Flashbacks -- San Francisco 49ers 80 Best Moments

Coming in at No. 2 on our ‘Faithful Flashbacks’ countdown of the 80 best moments in franchise history is the 49ers’ Super Bowl XXIII win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

By the time the 1988 season reached its final game, San Francisco had already built high expectations for themselves. Head coach Bill Walsh and star quarterback Joe Montana had delivered the first Super Bowl in the 1981 season, then followed it with another championship in 1984. The 49ers had grown into one of the league’s premier organizations.

Still, 1988 came with many more hiccups than they had grown accustomed to. The 49ers were still talented enough, but the regular season had enough uneven stretches to cause some hesitations. It was not the 15-1 run from 1984 or the dominance that came a year later. This team had to work its way into form en route to a title.

Super Bowl XXIII holds a top spot on this list as the one that pushed the 49ers from a great team to a solidified dynasty.

San Francisco got through the NFC, including a win over Chicago in the “Bears Weather Game,” then met the Bengals in Miami with a chance to win their third Super Bowl. Cincinnati had already seen the 49ers once on this stage, losing to San Francisco in Super Bowl XVI, but this one was a closer battle.

The Bengals led 16-13 late, leaving Montana and the 49ers backed up with 92 yards between them and another championship. That drive ended up being a defining moment of Montana’s Hall of Fame career. He kept calm, moved the ball down the field, and famously pointed out John Candy in the crowd before leading San Francisco within scoring range.

With 34 seconds left, Montana found John Taylor for a 10-yard touchdown, giving the 49ers a 20-16 lead and another Super Bowl win. It was Walsh’s third championship as 49ers head coach and the final game of his coaching career. George Seifert took over, and the 49ers would keep winning, but this was the final chapter for the original Walsh-Montana run.

Super Bowl XXIII wasn’t the conclusion of a dominant season, but that added to the moment. The late drive, calm quarterback play down the stretch, Walsh’s final championship, and San Francisco was officially deserving of the term ‘dynasty.’

More Faithful Flashbacks from Sactown Sports

Upcoming San Francisco 49ers Schedule

Regular Season

Thursday, September 10th – vs. Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia (Season Opener) – 5:35 pm PT
Sunday, September 20th – vs. Miami Dolphins – 1:25 pm PT
Sunday, September 27th – vs. Arizona Cardinals – 1:05 pm PT
Sunday, October 4th – vs. Denver Broncos – 1:25 pm PT

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