Nearly Perfect Season

The San Francisco 49ers entered the 1984 season determined to erase the memory of their three point loss to the Washington Redskins in the NFC Championship Game the year before. Nineteen games later, they had not only won the Super Bowl, they had redefined NFL history by becoming the first team to win 18 games in a single season. Led by Hall of Fame head coach Bill Walsh and future Hall of Fame players Joe Montana, Ronnie Lott, and Fred Dean, the 1984 San Francisco 49ers finished the season with just one defeat.
A Nearly Perfect Season: The Inside Story of the 1984 San Francisco 49ers chronicles the story of one of the greatest teams in NFL history. Through in-depth research and extensive interviews, Chris Willis details every aspect of this memorable season, from the preseason training camp through Super Bowl XIX. Inside stories from the 49ers are brought to life in colorful detail, including Joe Montana's penchant for stealing teammates' bikes during camp, the players' pre-game superstitions, and what went on in the 49ers' locker room before Super Bowl XIX. In addition, Chris Willis had complete access to Bill Walsh's game plans and meeting tapes, revealing the intense preparation the coach and his staff went through to give their team the greatest chance for success on the field.
Featuring original interviews with more than 30 players from the team-including Dwaine Board, Roger Craig, Fred Dean, Keith Fahnhorst, Riki Ellison, Guy McIntyre, and Keena Turner-and interviews with the coaches and the general manager, this book provides a fascinating behind-the-scenes account of a season to remember.

Chris Willis has worked at NFL Films as the head of the research library since 1996. He has written multiple books on early pro football, including Old Leather: An Oral History of Early Pro Football in Ohio, 1920-1935 (2005), The Columbus Panhandles: A Complete History of Pro Football's Toughest Team, 1900-1922 (2007), The Man Who Built the National Football League: Joe F. Carr (2010), and Dutch Clark: The Life of an NFL Legend and the Birth of the Detroit Lions (2012), all published by Scarecrow Press.

Acknowledgements 1984 San Francisco 49ers Cast of Characters Preface Introduction: "The Speech" Part I: The Team Chapter 1: Eddie D Chapter 2: The Genius Chapter 3: Coaching Staff Chapter 4: Building a Champion Chapter 5: Draft Chapter 6: Lunch Box Team Part II: Training Camp Chapter 7: Rocklin Chapter 8: Students of the Game Part III: The 1984 Regular Season Chapter 9: September Chapter 10: Candlestick Park Experience Chapter 11: October Chapter 12: Six Days to Sunday Chapter 13: November Chapter 14: December Part IV: The Post-Season Chapter 15: NFC Divisional Playoff Game vs New York Giants Chapter 16: NFC Championship Game vs Chicago Bears Part V: Super Bowl XIX, Miami Dolphins vs San Francisco 49ers Chapter 17: The Game Plans Chapter 18: The Hype Chapter 19: Pre-Game Chapter 20: First Half Chapter 21: Second Half Chapter 22: Aftermath Chapter 23: Legacy of the 1984 San Francisco 49ers Appendix: 1984 San Francisco 49ers Results Notes Bibliography Index About the Author