Best of Rivals: Joe Montana, Steve Young, and the Inside Story Behind the NFL's Greatest Quarterback Controversy

A younger generation of pro football fans might argue that the subtitle of this richly detailed history of two vastly different quarterbacks leans toward hyperbole. But between 1987 and 1993, Joe Montana and Steve Young%E2%80%94both future Hall of Famers who played for the San Francisco 49ers during its dynasty years%E2%80%94starred in a weekly drama on and off the field. Montana, whose grace under pressure earned him the nickname "Joe Cool," joined the team as a rookie in 1979. Despite leading San Francisco to four Super Bowl titles, Montana suffered frequent head, shoulder, and elbow injuries that jeopardized his career. After a major back problem sidelined Montana, the 49ers acquired Young from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1987. A resilient Montana kept bouncing back to the starter's role, bitterly frustrating Young and fueling a sometimes not-so-amicable rivalry that drove both men to become better players. Montana eventually was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs in 1993; Young took the 49ers to his first and only Super Bowl in 1994. Lazarus (Chasing Greatness: Johnny Miller, Arnold Palmer, and the Miracle at Oakmont) relies on detailed game accounts from the period, as well as interviews with both quarterbacks, and former teammates and coaches to capture this one-of-a-kind quarterback controversy. 16 pages of b&w photos. (Sept.)