The only team Bill Walsh and Joe Montana hadn’t beaten during their days with the San Francisco 49ers was the Denver Broncos. Four times the two powers from the American and National Football Leagues had squared off beginning in 1979 and through Walsh's final year as head coach, 1988.
The Broncos had won twice in Denver and twice in San Francisco. In their Super Bowl meeting the 49ers were prohibitive favorites in George Seifert’s first year as head coach. The 49ers had capped Walsh’s career on the sidelines the prior January with a dramatic Super Bowl victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. They were heavy favorites to win a second consecutive Vince Lombardi Trophy when Denver and San Francisco squared off in Super Bowl XXIV.
One might have thought the 49ers were confident given they were both the defending champs and favored by a dozen points on the spread.
They weren’t.
John Elway and his Broncos were nothing to take for granted. How could they … they’d never beaten them.
Few things are more potent in capturing wins in the National Football League than when talent is coupled with motivation. Given the 49ers had supreme respect for Elway and company they took the field not looking for an easy win but prepared to do whatever it took to capture their first ever victory over Elway.