Photos: When the San Francisco 49ers beat the Kansas City Chiefs in Tucson
The headline in the Arizona Daily Star was, "49ers' passing game befuddles Chiefs, 31-21." But that was 1980 at Arizona Stadium. 2020 Super Bowl teams the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers faced-off in the Tucson heat for a NFL exhibition game on Aug. 30, 1980. It was most-certainly not "the frozen tundra."
49ers quarterbacks Steve DeBerg and a youngster named Joe Montana split the game time. It was only the second season for Montana, who went on to lead the 49ers to four Super Bowl championships. It was also the second season for legendary coach Bill Walsh, the architect of the 49ers' remarkable dominance in the 1980s.
The Chiefs were led by quarterback Steve Fuller. Ironically, Fuller was 49ers receiver Dwight Clark's college roommate. The Chiefs head coach was Marv Levy, who went on to lead the Buffalo Bills to four Super Bowls and was the the winningest coach in Bills' history.
Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, 1980
Quarterback Joe Montana of the 49ers throws a pass to receiver Jim Robinson at an NFL exhibition game between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers on Aug. 30, 1980 at Arizona Stadium, Tucson.
Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, 1980
Tight end Eason Ramson of the 49ers carries at an NFL exhibition game between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers on Aug. 30, 1980 at Arizona Stadium, Tucson.
Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, 1980
Running back Earl Cooper of the 49ers looks upfield at an NFL exhibition game between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers on Aug. 30, 1980 at Arizona Stadium, Tucson.
Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, 1980
Kicker Ray Wersching (14) watches a loose ball on the turf at an NFL exhibition game between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers on Aug. 30, 1980 at Arizona Stadium, Tucson.
Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, 1980
Kansas City quarterback Tom Clements (2) dives for yardage at an NFL exhibition game between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers on Aug. 30, 1980 at Arizona Stadium, Tucson.
Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, 1980
Wide receiver Dwight Clark of the 49ers, who made "The Catch" in Super Bowl XVI, leaps for the football at an NFL exhibition game between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers on Aug. 30, 1980 at Arizona Stadium, Tucson.
Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, 1980
Running back Horace Belton of the Chiefs looks for daylight at an NFL exhibition game between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers on Aug. 30, 1980 at Arizona Stadium, Tucson.
Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, 1980
Running back Horace Belton of the Chiefs colides with his other players at an NFL exhibition game between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers on Aug. 30, 1980 at Arizona Stadium, Tucson.
Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, 1980
There's a 49ers ball carrier in there somewhere. Quarterback Joe Montana of the 49ers watches (upper right) at an NFL exhibition game between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers on Aug. 30, 1980 at Arizona Stadium, Tucson.
Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, 1980
Chiefs quarterbacks Steve Fuller tries to shake a sack at an NFL exhibition game between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers on Aug. 30, 1980 at Arizona Stadium, Tucson.
Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, 1980
If there's a touchdown in Arizona Stadium and nobody is there to see it, is it still a touchdown? A few fans celebrate a Kansas City score at an NFL exhibition game between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers on Aug. 30, 1980 at Arizona Stadium, Tucson.
Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, 1980
There is a ball in there somewhere, as quarterback Joe Montana (background) looks at a pile at an NFL exhibition game between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers on Aug. 30, 1980 at Arizona Stadium, Tucson.
Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, 1980
49ers running back Earl Cooper is wrapped out by at an NFL exhibition game between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers on Aug. 30, 1980 at Arizona Stadium, Tucson.
Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, 1980
Quarterback Joe Montana for the 49ers throws a pass at an NFL exhibition game between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers on Aug. 30, 1980 at Arizona Stadium, Tucson.
Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, 1980
49ers quarterback Joe Montana watches a running back stopped up by defenders for Kansas City at an NFL exhibition game between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers on Aug. 30, 1980 at Arizona Stadium, Tucson.
Rick Wiley
Photo editor
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