Word: 49ers
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This season, despite a rash of injuries, the 49ers have remained the classiest act in the league. And they have done so without the guidance of longtime head coach Bill Walsh, who retired from active coaching last January after ten successful years at the helm. "Basically, we're building on what Bill's accomplished," says George Seifert, 49, Walsh's former defensive coordinator, who has replaced him in the top job. "We're polishing, fine tuning here and there, solidifying basics, the kinds of things you do when you inherit a world champion...
Seifert's leadership style is very different from his predecessor's -- and may produce even better results. Under the cerebral and distant Walsh, the 49ers were sometimes tense and tight. Seifert has more camaraderie with his players. "George is a player's coach," says tackle Harris Barton. "You never knew what Bill was thinking." Star quarterback Joe Montana, who occasionally found it hard to get along with Walsh, describes the change as a "breath of fresh air." Under Seifert's tutelage, the 49ers have compiled a league-leading 14-2 record, making him the winningest first-year head coach...
...49ers' success is Montana, 33, who has overcome elbow, knee and rib injuries to play the greatest season of his career. In 1989 the former Notre Dame star threw for 26 touchdowns and set a new pass-efficiency rating record of 112.41 (a calculation based on completions, yards gained, number of touchdowns and number of interceptions). His completion percentage of 70.2% brought his career mark to 63.9%, highest in N.F.L. history...
...behind victories this season. Against Philadelphia on Sept. 24, for example, he threw four touchdown passes in the fourth quarter to turn a 21-10 half-time deficit into a 38-28 win. He put in an even more dramatic performance against Los Angeles on Dec. 11. With the 49ers trailing the Rams 27-10 and only a shade over ten minutes left to play, Montana first threw a touchdown pass to Mike Wilson, then dumped a slant pass to wide receiver John Taylor, who shook four tacklers and dashed for a 95-yd. touchdown. Less than three minutes later...
...addition to Montana's prowess, much of the 49ers' success can be attributed to the morale-boosting perks provided by owner Edward DeBartolo Jr. Until this season the 49ers were the only team in the league to fly to away games in roomy wide-body jets, giving players space to stretch and move about in. They are still the only team to billet all players one to a room on the road. DeBartolo lavishes long-stemmed roses and expensive gifts on players' wives. "It's first class all the way," says tight end Brent Jones, "like we're an extended...