Faithful Flashbacks #6: Domination Over Denver

Coming in at No. 6 on our ‘Faithful Flashbacks’ countdown of the 80 best moments in franchise history is the 49ers’ Super Bowl XXIV win over the Denver Broncos.

The 49ers had already won the entire thing the year prior, beating the Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII. That being Bill Walsh’s final game as head coach could have been the end of the dynasty’s run. Walsh stepped away, George Seifert took over and San Francisco proved they could carry on without him.

That added to the narrative of their run in 1989. The 49ers were entering a different version of the same era rather than starting over. Joe Montana was still running the show at quarterback. Jerry Rice, maybe the best wide receiver of all time was in the middle of his prime. Now Hall of Famer Roger Craig remained a major part of the offense and the defense had enough talent on their end.

San Francisco went 14-2 during the regular season and looked the part of defending champions despite the coaching change. They continued to do that in the playoffs, where the 49ers beat Minnesota and the Los Angeles Rams before getting another Super Bowl matchup.

Facing off against John Elway and the Broncos in New Orleans, Super Bowl XXIV turned into a ridiculously one-sided game.

Montana threw five touchdown passes, three to Rice, and the 49ers kept adding to their tally until the game was well out of reach. Denver had no real answer defensively. The 55-10 final remains the largest margin of victory in Super Bowl history.

It added to Montana’s already established legacy. He won his third Super Bowl MVP and finished the postseason without throwing an interception. It was also Seifert’s championship in his first season as head coach, answering any question about whether the 49ers could maintain their success post-Walsh.

The win also made San Francisco the first team in a decade to repeat as Super Bowl champions and earned the label of a dynasty. The 49ers had won four Super Bowls in nine seasons, with two head coaches, different versions of the roster while Montana and Rice leading the show.

Super Bowl XXIV was one sided, but solidified the 49ers could continue their success after changing head coaches and further solidify their placement as one of the most dominant dynasties in NFL history.