Tom Brady may be widely considered the greatest quarterback in NFL history, but San Francisco 49ers legend Joe Montana isn’t exactly far behind.
Montana defined 49ers mystique by leading them to four Super Bowl championships while becoming renowned for his cool, calm and poised demeanor, even in the most pressure-packed situations.
Wright Thompson, an NFL reporter, talked about a dinner after a Walmart event that Montana, Dan Marino, John Elway and Johnny Unitas attended, during which Montana decided to throw some shade at Marino.
NFL legends Joe Montana, Dan Marino, John Elway and Johnny Unitas went to dinner after an event.
When the check arrived, Montana told everyone: “Whoever has the fewest rings pays.”
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) February 10, 2023
When the check for the dinner came, Montana told the other three men that whoever had the fewest championship rings would have to pick up the check.
Of the four men, Marino was the only one who didn’t win a championship, so he had to pay up.
Like Brady, Montana was something of an unlikely success story, as he was a third-round draft pick in 1979.
Despite a strong resume at the University of Notre Dame, which included a come-from-behind win in the Cotton Bowl despite suffering from hypothermia, scouts doubted whether Montana had the tools to be successful at the pro level.
According to them, he wasn’t tall enough and his throwing arm simply wasn’t strong enough.
After barely playing as a rookie, Montana became the starter midway through the 1980 season, and his legend began in Week 14 when he led the 49ers back from a 35-7 halftime deficit to a three-point overtime win over the New Orleans Saints.
One of Montana’s four world championships came against Marino’s Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl XIX, which was the latter’s only appearance in the big game.
