OTD: Deion Sanders made history in 49ers last Super Bowl win
Deion Sanders' legacy as a football great is undeniable. He only spent one season with the San Francisco 49ers during his Hall-of-Famer career, but made it unforgettable.
The storied Bay Area franchise is no stranger to playing in the Super Bowl. Following Sunday's comeback 34-31 win over the Detroit Lions in the NFC Championship game, the 49ers clinched their eighth trip to the big game. A Super Bowl rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs in Las Vegas, after falling to Andy Reid's team four years ago. Despite holding a 5-2 record, it’s been 29 years to the day since the 49ers last hoisted the Lombardi Trophy.
On January 29, 1995, George Seifert’s 49ers defeated Bobby Ross’ San Diego Chargers 49-26 in Super Bowl XXIX at Miami’s Joe Robbie Stadium. Steve Young threw for 325 yards and a record six touchdowns en route to being named the most valuable player.
“Would someone take the monkey off my back? Please,” Young pleaded in the waning moments of the game. After backing up Joe Montana, who won four Super Bowls with the 49ers, Young was finally able to break out of the shadow of his predecessor.
While most will remember Young’s record-setting performance in South Florida, another feat was set that day. One that has also stood for 29 years. When Sanders took the field for the 49ers in Super Bowl XXIX, he became he first athlete to play in both a Super Bowl and World Series.
In the 1992 World Series, Sanders paced the Atlanta Braves with a .533 batting average (8-for-15), 4 runs, two doubles, and five stolen bases in four games. The Braves, however, lost the best-of-seven series to the Toronto Blue Jays 4-2.
Less than three years later, the Associated Press’ Defensive Player of the Year was anchoring the 49ers’ secondary in Super Bowl XXIX. The following year, Sanders helped the Dallas Cowboys to a then record-tying fifth Super Bowl title, a 27-17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XXX.
In the first quarter against Pittsburgh, Sanders was brought in as an extra receiver and hauled in a 47-yard pass from Troy Aikman, which led to Dallas’ first touchdown. In doing so, Prime became the only player to record an interception (he had an interception in Super Bowl XXIX) and a reception in Super Bowl history.
Per Baseball Almanac, less than 70 athletes are known to have played in both the National Football League and Major League Baseball. In the Super Bowl Era (post-1967), only seven players – D.J. Dozier, Drew Henson, Chad Hutchinson, Bo Jackson, Brian Jordan, Matt Kinzer, and Sanders – have accomplished the feat.
Sanders is the only player to reach the title game in both sports.