Montana’s 40th draft anniversary: From ‘Joe Who?’ to 49ers’ ‘Joe Cool’

www.sfchronicle.com/49ers/article/Joe-Montana-s-40th-draft-anniversary-From-13793359.php


In the spring of 1979, before the NFL draft, 49ers rookie head coach Bill Walsh told offensive assistant Sam Wyche to go to UCLA to work out a wide receiver prospect.



Wyche, then a 34-year-old former NFL quarterback, was capable of throwing during the workout. However, Walsh wanted him to serve strictly as an intent observer. So Wyche got the phone number of a quarterback prospect who was living in Manhattan Beach from the team’s scouting department and arranged to have him throw.



On Monday, as Wyche shared the four-decade-old story, he worked to recall the name of that wide receiver, James Owens, who had an unremarkable six-year career after the 49ers selected him in the second round.



“… Jerry Owens,” Wyche said. “Is that right? Yeah, Jerry Owens.”



However, Wyche had no problem with the name of that QB.



“Joe Montana,” Wyche said, laughing, “that was a pretty good pick.”