With four Super Bowl rings and two MVP awards to his name, it is safe to say that Joe Montana had more than an accomplished career in NFL. Still, it appears that the Hall of Fame quarterback believes he could have done more if he stayed a bit longer in the game.
Montana retired in 1995, terminating his deal with Kansas City Chiefs prematurely.
“Even to this day I look back and regret that I left the Chiefs even with one year on my contract,” said Montana in a recent chat with USA TODAY Sports, joking that he could have played until 64 if he didn’t have his shoulder replaced.
Being 38 at the time and with already 16 seasons in NFL, he decided his body couldn’t take the toll of playing at the highest level.
“But it was more of a physical thing for me. The injuries that I’d had—the concussion that I had the year before … I made the right decision for me at the time,” he added.
Joe Montana spent two seasons with the Chiefs, leading the franchise to consecutive playoff trips and AFC Championship game in 1994. Kansas City had a talented team back then, so they might had a chance of challenging for a Super Bowl if Montana continued playing.
Still, it was the right choice at the time for Montana, and he is still considered one of the best players in the history of the game regardless.
Chiefs, on the other hand, eventually got their Super Bowl win, although they had to wait 25 years longer for it.
