By Javier Velez
Staff Writer
Every Super Bowl from the late 20th century has always reignited the popular debate as to which players and teams are considered the greatest of all time, the “G.O.A.T.”
Record-setting NFL quarterbacks such as Joe Montana and Tom Brady seem to be the heavy favorites for this debate.
With that being said, timeliness is the key factor to this whole debate.
Sunday’s Super Bowl may not have been as entertaining as last year’s game, but the New England Patriots’ 13-3 win over the Los Angeles Rams is great news for those who argue that Brady is the greatest quarterback of all time.
However, such a title rightfully belongs to 49ers quarterback Joe Montana who was nicknamed “Joe Cool” by outlets such as Sports Illustrated.
When Brady was a child, he was actually in the stands at Candlestick Park during the game of the famous play that resulted in “The Catch.”
This occurred during the 1981 NFC championship game on Jan. 10, 1982 between the 49ers and Dallas Cowboys.
Montana threw a six yard touchdown caught by tight end Dwight Clark to complete an 83-yard drive and thus win the game 28-27.
Montana helped lead the team to win four out of their five total Vince Lombardi trophies.
Part of what makes the case that Joe Montana is the “G.O.A.T.,” was his ability to dethrone other contenders such as rival quarterbacks Dan Marino and John Elway.
Marino, who was inducted into the NFL Hall Of Fame in 2005, was the quarterback of the Dolphins when they were defeated by the 49ers in 1985 by the score of 38-16.
Elway, a 2004 Hall of Fame inductee, was also defeated by Montana’s 49ers during the 1990 Super Bowl. Montana threw for five touchdowns that game, demolishing Elway and the Broncos 55-10.
Boomer Esiason was the league’s MVP the year he was defeated by the 49ers 20-16 in the 1989 Super Bowl.
He was yet another “G.O.A.T.” contender dethroned by Montana and company.
It’s also worth noting that Montana NEVER threw an interception during Super Bowl play whereas Brady has thrown six.
To Brady’s credit, the New England Patriots have received six Lombardi Trophies in their franchise history and Brady was the quarterback for all six of their Super Bowl victories.
However, the argument can be made that the NFL postseason was much harder in Montana’s day as it preceded major changes such as the newest overtime rules.
Furthermore, the legacy of Brady will always be tainted with plausible accusations of cheating as evidenced by the scandals dubbed “Spygate” and “Deflategate.”
Brady’s Patriots will also have to bear the shame that came during the 2018 Super Bowl when New England was soundly defeated by a surprise-contender Eagles team.
When the Patriots lost the title game to the underdog Philadelphia Eagles, Brady and Patriots fans had no shortage of excuses.
In comparison, Montana won his titles fair and square.
What excuses were made for Joe Montana when he lost the Super Bowl? None, because he never lost a Super Bowl!
