Fansided

Best quarterback/wide receiver duos in NFL history

By Staff

INDIANAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 16: Peyton Manning No. 18 of the Indianapolis Colts celebrates the touchdown of Marvin Harrison No. 88 for a 30-20 lead over the Houston Texans during the fourth quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 16, 2008 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 16: Peyton Manning No. 18 of the Indianapolis Colts celebrates the touchdown of Marvin Harrison No. 88 for a 30-20 lead over the Houston Texans during the fourth quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 16, 2008 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 14: Quarterback Joe Montana No. 16 of the San Francisco 49ers throws a pass to wide receiver Jerry Rice No. 80 against the Atlanta Falcons in an NFL game at the Fulton County Stadium on October 14, 1990 in Atlanta, Georgia. The 49ers defeated the Falcons 45-35. (Photo by Gin Ellis/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 14: Quarterback Joe Montana No. 16 of the San Francisco 49ers throws a pass to wide receiver Jerry Rice No. 80 against the Atlanta Falcons in an NFL game at the Fulton County Stadium on October 14, 1990 in Atlanta, Georgia. The 49ers defeated the Falcons 45-35. (Photo by Gin Ellis/Getty Images) /

3. Joe Montana and Jerry Rice

Jerry Rice was just a 6-foot-2, 200-pound wide receiver from a small school named Mississippi Valley State in 1985 when the San Francisco 49ers drafted him at No. 16 overall.

They had a six-year veteran starting at quarterback named Joe Montana, whom they drafted in the third round of the 1979 NFL Draft. Montana had already led the 49ers to two Super Bowl victories in 1981 and 1984 before Rice arrived and made San Fran truly unstoppable.

Montana and Rice, like most, got off to a slow start in their first year together but found a great deal of success starting in year two. Rice knocked out 11-straight seasons of more than 1,000 yards receiving. It wasn’t until Rice tore his ACL in 1997 that the streak broke.

One of the duo’s most incredible years together was in 1987. Rice set a new NFL record with 22 receiving touchdowns while Montana led the league with 31 passing touchdowns.

The duo led the 49ers to back-to-back Super Bowl wins in 1988 and 1989. During those two years, Montana went off for 44 touchdowns and 6,502 yards. Rice put up 26 receiving touchdowns and 2,789 yards on 146 receptions.

Montana suffered an elbow injury in the 1990 NFC Championship Game, though, and missed all of 1991 and most of 1992. That opened the door for his understudy, Steve Young, to take the reins.

Montana finished his career with two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and left Rice behind. They broke records together, though, and by the time Montana retired in 1994, Rice had caught 55 of his 273 passing touchdowns.

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