In the off-season, Bill Walsh was concerned about Montana's health going forward, and with no reliable back-up at quarterback he completed a trade for Steve Young, then a quarterback with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. During the strike-shortened 1987 season, the 49ers became one of the NFL's elite teams once again with a league-best 13–2 record. Joe Montana had a bounce-back year after his injuries the previous year and being questioned by the media if he could still produce at a high level, by throwing 31 touchdown passes, a career-high. He also set the NFL record for most consecutive pass attempts without an incomplete pass (22), passed for 3,054 yards, and had a passer rating of 102.1. Rice had established himself as an elite receiver, he caught 65 passes for 1,078 yards and a then NFL-record 22 touchdowns in just 12 games. 1987 was the second of six seasons in which Rice would lead the NFL in receiving or touchdown receptions, he was named Offensive Player of the Year. By the end of the regular season the 49ers were ranked No. 1 on both offense and defense and were heavy favorites to win the Super Bowl. However, they were stunned in the NFC divisional round, losing 36–24 to what was believed to be an inferior Minnesota Vikings team, their third straight playoff loss. Joe Montana had one of the worst post-season games of his career and was eventually benched during the game in favor of Steve Young, who scored a rushing touchdown and threw another. After the game, owner Eddie DeBartolo stripped Walsh of the team president title. Dwight Clark retired that off-season.
in the off-season bill walsh was concerned about montana's health going forward and with no reliable back-up at quarterback he completed a trade for steve young then a quarterback with the tampa bay buccaneers during the strike-shortened 1987 season the 49ers became one of the nfl's elite teams once again with a league-best 13–2 record joe montana had a bounce-back year after his injuries the previous year and being questioned by the media if he could still produce at a high level by throwing 31 touchdown passes a career-high he also set the nfl record for most consecutive pass attempts without an incomplete pass (22) passed for 3054 yards and had a passer rating of 1021 rice had established himself as an elite receiver he caught 65 passes for 1078 yards and a then nfl-record 22 touchdowns in just 12 games 1987 was the second of six seasons in which rice would lead the nfl in receiving or touchdown receptions he was named offensive player of the year by the end of the regular season the 49ers were ranked no 1 on both offense and defense and were heavy favorites to win the super bowl however they were stunned in the nfc divisional round losing 36–24 to what was believed to be an inferior minnesota vikings team their third straight playoff loss joe montana had one of the worst post-season games of his career and was eventually benched during the game in favor of steve young who scored a rushing touchdown and threw another after the game owner eddie debartolo stripped walsh of the team president title dwight clark retired that off-season