SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The history between the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys has been fueled by frequent playoff meetings. With their recent postseason clashes, the rivalry between these two teams from the 70s, 80s, and 90s seems to be reigniting, adding intrigue to the upcoming showdown at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday night.
However, a pregame war of words between the 49ers and Cowboys has yet to make a comeback, and it’s unlikely that anything could match the intensity of the 90s era.
Let’s reminisce about the bold statement made by Dallas coach Jimmy Johnson before the 1993 season’s NFC Championship Game against the 49ers.
“We will win the ballgame,” Johnson confidently declared on the radio. “And you can put it in three-inch headlines.”
49ers coach George Seifert didn’t hold back with his response on the Bay Area airwaves.
“Well, the man’s got balls, I’ll tell you that,” Seifert remarked. “I don’t know if they’re brass or papier-mache. We’ll find out soon enough.”
Ultimately, the Cowboys emerged victorious in that NFC title game, defeating the 49ers for the second year in a row.
Looking back, Johnson acknowledged the impact of his statement years later. “That was our approach. I thought we were the better team, and I wanted to put pressure on our team to perform,” he explained. “It definitely bothered the 49ers. Jerry Rice, one of the classiest and greatest players in the game, received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty because they were so mad that I said we were going to win.”
Alex Martin is your guide to the global phenomenon of football. With a focus on international leagues and tournaments, he provides match commentary, player interviews, and behind-the-scenes stories from the world of football.