The Game That Started The Montana LEGEND! (Saints vs. 49ers 1980, Week 14) 

This is Archie Manning’s best statistical performance of his career and it also summarizes the pre Tom Benson owned Saints in a nut shell.

5:49 Dwight Clark, second-year man from Clemson. Little did Clark know he’d be part of one of the most iconic plays in history ~ The Catch ~

Archie can really spin it. Those passes are gorgeous to watch fly through the air.

I think this Montana guy might turn out to be decent

Some fun facts about this game and the two teams: Two weeks prior to this game, the Saints suffered a humiliating Monday night 27-7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. In that game, fans started putting paper bags over their heads and calling themselves the “Aints”. After that game their head coach, Dick Nolan, who led the 49ers to success in the early ‘70s, was fired and replaced with Dick Stanfel. In 2005, his son, Mike Nolan would coach the 49ers until Week 8 of the 2008 season in which he was replaced by Mike Singletary. Number 26 of the 49ers might be a familiar name to those who know the Bill Walsh head coaching tree because it is Ray Rhodes. Rhodes the next season, became an assistant defensive backs coach, coaching a secondary that featured three rookies: Ronnie Lott, Eric Wright and Carlton Williamson. Rhodes would be promoted to defensive backs coach in 1983 and held the position until 1991. Rhodes would leave with Mike Holmgren to Green Bay, where he became their defensive coordinator for two seasons before going back to San Francisco as their defensive coordinator for their 1994 championship season. After that, he became head coach of the Eagles, which he held until 1998 and the head man for the Packers in 1999. After that, he held various defensive coaching positions, including a four year stint with the Seahawks from 2003-2007 as a defensive coordinator, reuniting him with Mike Holmgren. His last coaching assignment was with the Browns as a defensive assistant from 2011-2012. The next week after their debacle, the Saints would get their first and only win of 1980, a 21-20 victory over the New York Jets at Shea Stadium. After the season, the Saints hired Bum Phillips to coach the team. Phillips got the team almost to the playoffs in 1983; however, his magic couldn’t get them over the hump and after Week 12 of the 1985 season, he would resign. When the Saints won their first division title in 1991, only one player remained from that dismal 1-15 1980 team: tackle Stan Brock. Brock was a rookie on the 1980 team and he along with cornerback Dave Waymer (also a rookie in 1980) were the only two players from the 1980 team on the 1987 team that made their first playoff appearance.

“Joe cool” Montana is one of the best quarterbacks in the 80s/90s and the fact that this game made him a legend makes it even more iconic

1980: SF had the worst secondary in the NFL. 1981 Draft, SF selected 4 defensive backs with four of the five first selections (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th rounds), which included Ronnie Lott and two other players to earn multiple pro bowl appearances (Wright and Williamson both in the pro bowl in 84 & 85). This a huge reason they went on a super bowl run and had a top defense.

More old games please! This was fun to watch

1:31 is it just me or did it look like Manning hardly put any effort into that throw and yet it just soared sky-high and glided down into the receivers hands. Beautiful pass

I'm guessing this is also the game that made the 49ers want to get a certain defensive back from USC in the '81 draft. That secondary got torched.

I feel like the 49ers always find some crazy way to beat the Saints. No matter how good or bad either team is

Saints: Blow a 35-7 lead Falcons: ... And I took that personally

How freaking awesome is this..Manning vs Montana. Being a Midwestern boy of the 70s. I got all the Notre Dame highlights Sunday morning before church. The big 3 at Notre Dame. Vegas Ferguson, Ken macafee, and of course Joe Montana.

I was at this game. One of my all time favorites

Well, that Montana Magic goes back to his time with the Fighting Irish. The comeback kid was winning unwinable games back then.

This was a fun game to watch (have it in my collection) Montana snatched victory from the jaws of defeat and never looked back as the QB for the Niners.

Now we’re looking at the great Joe “Cool” Montana!!

One of the greats

The CBS announcers are Jim Kelly (not the Bills quarterback) and Jim Hill (former NFL defensive back and now KCBS sportscaster) What a game and matchup! Peyton and Eli’s dad vs. Joe Montana

These old school NFL games are so fun to watch back when football was played on grass

Dynamite upload my friend!!!! And in such pristine quality as well!!!! I'm guessing this is the game you said I'd appreciate when you uploaded another 49ers gem later in the season. And yes, I am quite pleased!!! Even at 4-5, I'm still hoping the 49ers find a way to dunk on the Saints this weekend. I will always relish an opportunity to smack around our old NFC West rivals!!! Thank you, this game made me feel better in an otherwise crummy season!!!!

Technically the Montana legend started after he beat NE 😂 how ironic

Archie Manning Was The Starting Quarterback Of The New Orleans Saints

Some say, this was the game that warned the league, that the 80s belonged to Joe cool 💯💯💯

Montana will always be the GOAT!

Dam I was at that game wife wanted to leave at half time I told her to take the car I will get the bus. Boy I guess I am getting old. Go Niners👍🏽

The only thing missing from this game was “Omaha!!!... Omaha!!!”..... oh wait!! Wrong Manning.... *joke*

Joe Cool was the Dude in the 80's #16

Stands are full of true 49er Faithful because they weren't the team they were about to become.

Ty for the upload brings me back to the old days what a gem 👏👏

6:41 Normally running into your teammate doesn’t result in a kick return for 6.... but it worked for him that time. Lol

Haha. Back when Pass Interference was termed “Face Guarding”

Saints: Blow a 35-7 lead Falcons: Hold my beer

Incredible quality for standard def video from 40 years ago. You should list which tape format you transfer each old game from. Or could we ever get a behind the scenes look at capturing old footage and optimizing it for progressive scan HD displays?

Still stands as the largest regular season comeback in NFL history Edit: Used to be

I've been to a grand total of 2 NFL games and this was one of them.

Good thing Bill Walsh had to be talked into drafting Montana in 79! One of the 49ers scouts has said he was the one who said Walsh should draft Montana. The story goes Walsh, who came from Stanford, wanted his Stanford QB- Steve Dils. But, this scout, his last name is something like Ranzanno, said he talked the 49ers brass into drafting Montana instead.

My Dad took me to that game, my first ever! been a 9er fan ever since! GO 9ERS!

The quality of this recording is pretty good. Thanks for sharing!

Archie Manning was an elite QB and like Matthew Stafford in 2020 had an entire career not being surrounded by enough talent. Imagine if Archie actually had weapons.

This is so beyond cool. Love love love the quality

Man, Montana is great and all but Archie out there slinging. Too bad Saints wasted his career.

NFL Throwback needs to put more throwback Saints footage out! Would love to see more Archie Manning Saints footage and Dome Patrol and even the inaugural season too!

I bought a Joe Montana Topps rookie card at a garage sale years ago for $0.15 mint condition

All those empty seats at the 'stick! Little did the fans know this would be an iconic franchise for decades.

I was at this game at 8 years old. We almost left at halftime but thank goodness we didn't! A historic game, and amazing family memory ❤️

Joe Cool Montana showed the NFL what was to come in the future years!

Man My Dad Was A Sophomore In High School When This Aired

Thanks for the vid!🤓👍✌️

I remember turning this game off at halftime. I tuned back in just to see how much they lost by. I couldn't believe my eyes.

Great throwback game. Thanks for posting. Montana, Clark, Billy Joel music, and announcers calling screen plays as "He's got a convoy".

Never smoked a day in my life, the Marlboro sign at Candlestick was so cool.

Awesome. I have to say, while this is a little before my time, I like this presentation more than today's broadcasts. Today there is too much talking between they guys in the booth and some woman on the sideline and then some ex-referee then a panel of guys in a studio. Then there is all of the wak music ("Watin' all day for Sunday night...ugh!). Don't get me wrong, I really like a lot of those guys on TV. I have a subscription to NFL Game Pass and love it. I just find this broadcast a little easier on my senses.

This Montana guy, I think he might have an overall Ok career in the NFL, 100 TDs, 25,000 passing yards for him, maybe 1 Super Bowl if they put talent around him.

Saints fan here for over 36 years. Even though they're not in our division anymore, the 49ers will always be a thorn in my side. This game took place the year I was born. Pure example as to why they were the thorn.

Going down 35-7 is just one of Joe Montana’s exercises to challenge himself. Going down 35-3 or 28-3 is one of Houston and the Falcons exercise. Chargers: I like the idea!

Damn manning had a hell of an arm. Just a little flick and the ball is 40 yards down field. Damn shame he didnt have better players with him.

This is when football was so much fun to watch.

The 1980 Saints in a nutshell. Fun fact: Their next game against the Jets saw them get their first and only win of the season.

I don’t mind watching old games but what makes it hard is not having the score up. Sometimes I wanna skip to where the comeback starts.

This is the first time for me to watch Archie Manning playing, thanks the Throwback (‘ ‘)/

7:38 🔥

The Montana Legend started when Joe was in college at Notre Dame. November, 1975....the Irish were down 30-10 to start the 4th Qtr on the road at Air Force. He engineered a 21 point 4th Qtr comeback and Notre Dame won 31-30.

I came to watch Montana. I left thinking that Archie Manning was amazing. I feel bad for the saints. They were winless. The thought they finally won a game. What a gut punch.

Those were such happy times And not so long ago How I wondered where they'd gone But they're back again Just like a long lost friend...

I sure would like it someone showed this game on television some time!

Lenvil Elliott, the “Real Estate Agent!” Love it!

1980 saints : we blew a 35-7 lead 2020 chargers and falcons: hey we are the only ones who can do that here

10:06 Cutting to commericial with Heart, Crazy on you 🎶. Those were the days..

Sick!!!!

This game was blacked out in the bay area, but got to listen to the great Lon Simmons call this amazing comeback! Transistor radio for all home games...lol

I could imagine the young boys seeing Archie come home from from the Saints being disappointed most of the time. They learned from Dad that you have to play with organizations that are committed with good talent. Both of those kids grew up to be world champions!

I saw quite a few before 1971. But the biggest hoopla game was Archie Mannings rookie debut in Candlestick Park, Nov 14 1971.

Love the Marlboro Man advertising billboard…. It was a different time.

4:26 Wow nice hit!!

Actually the game that started the legend was the "Chicken Soup" game in the Cotton Bowl with Notre Dame where his core temperature dropped to 96 degrees with hypothermia & had to leave the game. He stayed in the locker to get IVs, with heated blankets, and given hot chicken soup.. He came back at the end of the game losing 34-12 and threw 3 TDs in the last 8 minutes to win 35-34 with a walk-off TD. Sounds like a Hollywood movie, but it really happened. Look up the film, "Seven & a Half Minutes to Destiny." You will be inspired.

Archie and Joe were both amazing. Wish I wasn’t a toddler at the time.

Bang Bang Old-school Niner Gang 💪💪💪

21:16 😄

Hats off to Montana, but watching this reminds me the comeback was truly a complete team effort. Niners D held the line in the 2nd half.

Saints vs 49ers in was Blacked out here in Northern California in 1980 because the game wasn't Sold out. However I had seen Montana come back from games several times before for The Fighting Irish. Anyone who knew Montana's reputation before this game wasn't surprised by the outcome.

Just think, little Peyton probably watched this

That Joe Montana will be a great player someday, as most people would say in 1980.

Was a Saints fan for 10 years by this game , this was about the end of my tolerance. I lasted a lot longer.

Back when the Saints were the Aint's.

Once Walsh fine tuned the pass blocking , and the secondary, the rest was history!

Coming back from 35-7 in your first start. Who else can say they’ve done that?

I was trippin, i thought that was Brees vs Montana in the thumbnail for a sec.

This was a comeback for Montana. The qb for the Saints that time was Archie Manning... Payton and Eli's father. So Cool😎

So every week they’re gonna upload a Saints loss from the past? 😂

That Montana guy is pretty good.

RIP Chuck Muncie

Hard to believe they had a losing record that year.

The Biggest Comeback in Regular Season History

The Saints finally got that first win of 1980 the next week at Shea Stadium against the Jets.

This is the sort of game the NFL Network ought show, but all they do is show the previous 3 SBs and the previous seasons games. One day they may get it.

The commentator was great in this game! "Lindvale Elliott is a real estate agent right now".... 🤣

Yeah

The game that started it all for the 49ers.

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