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The San Francisco 49ers entered the 1984 season determined to erase the memory of their three point loss to the Washington Redskins in the NFC Championship Game the year before. Nineteen games later, they had not only won the Super Bowl, they had redefined NFL history by becoming the first team to win 18 games in a single season. Led by Hall of Fame head coach Bill Walsh and future Hall of Fame players Joe Montana, Ronnie Lott, and Fred Dean, the 1984 San Francisco 49ers finished the season with just one defeat.
A Nearly Perfect Season: The Inside Story of the 1984 San Francisco 49ers chronicles the story of one of the greatest teams in NFL history. Through in-depth research and extensive interviews, Chris Willis details every aspect of this memorable season, from the preseason training camp through Super Bowl XIX. Inside stories from the 49ers are brought to life in colorful detail, including Joe Montana's penchant for stealing teammates' bikes during camp, the players' pre-game superstitions, and what went on in the 49ers' locker room before Super Bowl XIX. In addition, Chris Willis had complete access to Bill Walsh's game plans and meeting tapes, revealing the intense preparation the coach and his staff went through to give their team the greatest chance for success on the field.
Featuring original interviews with more than 30 players from the team-including Dwaine Board, Roger Craig, Fred Dean, Keith Fahnhorst, Riki Ellison, Guy McIntyre, and Keena Turner-and interviews with the coaches and the general manager, this book provides a fascinating behind-the-scenes account of a season to remember.
List of contents
Acknowledgements
1984 San Francisco 49ers Cast of Characters
Preface
Introduction: "The Speech"
Part I: The Team
Chapter 1: Eddie D
Chapter 2: The Genius
Chapter 3: Coaching Staff
Chapter 4: Building a Champion
Chapter 5: Draft
Chapter 6: Lunch Box Team
Part II: Training Camp
Chapter 7: Rocklin
Chapter 8: Students of the Game
Part III: The 1984 Regular Season
Chapter 9: September
Chapter 10: Candlestick Park Experience
Chapter 11: October
Chapter 12: Six Days to Sunday
Chapter 13: November
Chapter 14: December
Part IV: The Post-Season
Chapter 15: NFC Divisional Playoff Game vs New York Giants
Chapter 16: NFC Championship Game vs Chicago Bears
Part V: Super Bowl XIX, Miami Dolphins vs San Francisco 49ers
Chapter 17: The Game Plans
Chapter 18: The Hype
Chapter 19: Pre-Game
Chapter 20: First Half
Chapter 21: Second Half
Chapter 22: Aftermath
Chapter 23: Legacy of the 1984 San Francisco 49ers
Appendix: 1984 San Francisco 49ers Results
Notes
Bibliography
Index
About the Author
About the author
Chris Willis is the head of the Research Library at NFL Films. He is the author of multiple books on professional football, including The Man Who Built the National Football League: Joe F. Carr; Walter Lingo, Jim Thorpe, and the Oorang Indians: How a Dog Kennel Owner Created the NFL’s Most Famous Traveling Team; and Red Grange: The Life and Legacy of the NFL’s First Superstar, all published by Rowman & Littlefield. Willis was nominated for an Emmy in 2002 for his work on the HBO documentary The Game of Their Lives and won an Emmy in 2016 for his work on HBO’s Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Houston Texans. He was awarded the Professional Football Researchers Association’s Ralph Hay award for lifetime achievement in pro football research and historiography in 2012. He lives in Audubon, New Jersey.
