The 49ers' offense was just as dominating as it had been during the previous regular season. Quarterback
Joe Montana threw for 3,512 yards, 26 touchdowns, and only 8 interceptions, giving him what was then the highest
passer rating in NFL history (112.4). Montana also rushed for 227 yards and 3 touchdowns, and earned both the
NFL Most Valuable Player Award and the
NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award. Wide receiver
Jerry Rice had another outstanding season, catching 82 passes for 1,483 yards and 17 touchdowns. Running back
Roger Craig was the team's leading rusher with 1,054 yards and 6 touchdowns, and he recorded 49 receptions for 473 yards and another touchdown. But other stars on the 49ers' offense began to emerge, enabling the team to spread the ball around. After being used primarily as a punt returner during his first 2 seasons, wide receiver
John Taylor had a breakout season, catching 60 passes for 1,077 yards and 10 touchdowns, while also returning 36 punts for 417 yards. Tight end
Brent Jones recorded 40 receptions for 500 yards. Fullback
Tom Rathman had the best season of his career, rushing for 305 yards and catching 73 passes for 616 yards. Even Montana's backup, quarterback
Steve Young, had a great year, throwing for 1,001 yards and 8 touchdowns with only 3 interceptions, while also rushing for 126 yards and 2 touchdowns. With all of these weapons, San Francisco's offense led the league in total yards from scrimmage (6,268) and scoring (442 points). The
49ers' defense was ranked #3 in the
NFL. Three starters from the defense made the 1989
All-Pro Team:
Ronnie Lott,
Don Griffin, and
Michael Walter.
Schedule Season summary ==== Week 1 at
Indianapolis Colts ==== Week One proved to be a struggle for the Niners as
Joe Montana led five scoring drives, putting the Niners ahead by 23–10 entering the fourth quarter, but then Colts QB
Chris Chandler ran in a touchdown early in the fourth quarter, and a 58-yard touchdown bomb to
Jerry Rice was answered by a blocked punt and recovery for a touchdown by the Colts, though they could get no closer than a 30–24 Niners margin. ==== Week 2 at
Tampa Bay Buccaneers ==== ==== Week 3 at
Philadelphia Eagles ==== The Niners fell behind 21–10 in the fourth but despite giving up a safety
Joe Montana erupted, outscoring the Eagles 28–7 and throwing for 428 yards and five touchdowns in total, winning 38–28. ==== Week 4 vs.
Los Angeles Rams ==== ==== Week 5 at
New Orleans Saints ==== This game was originally scheduled for Candlestick Park but was played at the
Louisiana Superdome instead because the 49ers' fellow Candlestick Park tenant, the
San Francisco Giants, played host to Games 3, 4, and 5 of the
1989 National League Championship Series. The November 6 game would be moved to San Francisco. ==== Week 6 at
Dallas Cowboys ==== ==== Week 7 vs.
New England Patriots ==== This game was played at Stanford Stadium, as Candlestick Park had sustained damage in the
Loma Prieta earthquake five days earlier. ==== Week 8 at
New York Jets ==== ==== Week 9 vs.
New Orleans Saints ==== This game was originally scheduled for
Louisiana Superdome, but was played at Candlestick Park instead, because the originally scheduled October 8 game at Candlestick Park had been moved to the Louisiana Superdome. ==== Week 10 vs.
Atlanta Falcons ==== ==== Week 11 vs.
Green Bay Packers ==== The Niners fell to the Green Bay Packers in what would be their final loss of the season, as
Don Majkowski ran in two touchdowns and threw for a third, overcoming 325 yards by
Joe Montana, who was sacked five times. The 49ers appeared to take the lead in the 4th quarter on an interception return for a touchdown, but a penalty nullified the score. ==== Week 12 vs.
New York Giants ==== ==== Week 13 at
Atlanta Falcons ==== ==== Week 14 at
Los Angeles Rams ==== In what many 49ers fans consider one of the greatest regular-season wins in team history, the 49ers came back from a 27–10 4th-quarter deficit to beat the Rams 30–27. The Rams had already beaten the 49ers earlier in the year and looked poised to do it again, but the 49ers, with help from John Taylor's big game, took the lead late with Roger Craig's 1-yard touchdown. John Taylor had 11 catches for an astonishing 286 yards receiving, which included a touchdown catch of 92 yards, and another touchdown catch for 96 yards. Joe Montana was 30 for 42 and passed for 458 yards. ==== Week 15 vs.
Buffalo Bills ==== ==== Week 16 vs.
Chicago Bears ====
Standings == Playoffs ==