By Grok Sports Desk | October 23, 2025

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — In a bombshell interview that’s lighting up Bay Area airwaves, San Francisco 49ers icon Joe Montana—the man who orchestrated four Super Bowl triumphs and etched his name as “Joe Cool” in NFL lore—delivered a resounding vote of confidence in his former team. With star defensive end Nick Bosa sidelined for the season after a devastating right knee injury in Week 3 against the Rams, the Niners’ defense has been under the microscope. Yet, speaking exclusively on KNBR’s “Murph & Mac” this morning, Montana dismissed any notions of a collapse, calling the 49ers a “nightmare” matchup for opponents even without their sack-leading anchor.

At 69, Montana remains as sharp as his iconic game-winning drive in The Catch, dissecting the Niners’ resilience with the precision of a surgeon. “Look, Nick’s a beast—one of the best I’ve seen at getting after the quarterback,” Montana said, his voice steady as ever. “But this team’s built different. They’ve got layers, heart, and a scheme that doesn’t quit. Any team facing them right now should lose sleep.” The 49ers (4-3) head into their Week 8 bye on a gritty two-game win streak, having clawed past the Seahawks and Saints without Bosa, Warner (now nursing a hamstring tweak), or a fully healthy offense. Montana’s five reasons? A masterclass in why the Niners’ dynasty DNA runs deeper than any one player.

Reason 1: Depth That Runs Deeper Than the Bay—Rookie Surge Masks the Losses

Montana kicked off by praising the “next-man-up” ethos that’s defined 49ers football since his days under Bill Walsh. Without Bosa’s league-high 10.5 sacks through Week 3, first-round rookie DE Mykel Williams has stepped up with 4 sacks and 12 tackles for loss in the last four games, while second-round DT Alfred Collins is anchoring the run defense (allowing just 3.8 yards per carry). “These kids aren’t rookies; they’re ready-made pros,” Montana quipped. “Williams is rushing like a vet, and Collins is plugging holes Bosa used to own. It’s not replacement—it’s elevation.” The Niners rank 7th in total defense (312 yards allowed per game) despite the absences, proving their draft war chest (top-10 picks in ’25) was money well spent.

Reason 2: Fred Warner and the Secondary’s Brain Trust—Intelligence Over Instinct

Even with Warner’s status day-to-day, Montana highlighted the linebacker’s cerebral edge as irreplaceable… but not unreplicable. “Fred’s the quarterback of that defense—sees plays before they happen,” Montana noted. “But you’ve got Nick Martin (third-round rookie LB) with 45 tackles already, reading offenses like a book.” Pair that with CB Upton Stout’s five passes defended and a secondary that’s forced 8 turnovers sans Bosa, and it’s clear: scheme trumps stars. The Niners lead the NFC in interceptions (12), turning Warner’s sideline smarts into a unit-wide weapon. “Teams can’t just scheme around one guy anymore,” Montana added. “It’s a nightmare web—pick your poison.”

Reason 3: Kyle Shanahan’s Offensive Wizardry—Ball Control Keeps Defenses Fresh

Drawing from his own era of precision passing, Montana lauded Shanahan’s “Hog The Ball” philosophy as the ultimate buffer. Averaging 35:12 time of possession over the last three wins, the offense—led by Brock Purdy’s 68% completion rate and Christian McCaffrey’s 112 rushing yards per game—limits defensive snaps to under 55 per contest. “Without Bosa wearing down O-lines, you rest everyone else,” Montana explained. “Shanahan’s play-calling is chess; he force-feeds the run (top-5 in rushing efficiency) and dinks underneath with Jennings and Pearsall. Opponents gas out by the fourth quarter.” It’s no coincidence the Niners are +14 in turnover margin, flipping the script on tired defenses.

Reason 4: Robert Saleh’s Schematic Smoke and Mirrors—Blitzes and Versatility Reign

Montana, never one to shy from coaching talk, singled out DC Robert Saleh for adapting on the fly. Blitz rate has jumped from 20% with Bosa to 32% without him, yielding 2.1 sacks per game from unblocked rushers like Talanoa Hufanga and Dre Greenlaw. “Saleh’s disguising coverages like Walsh hid protections,” he said. “You’re facing simulated pressures, hybrid fronts—it’s confusing as hell.” The result? Opponents’ QB rating drops to 82.4 against SF, third-best in the league. Montana recalled his ’80s Niners adapting sans injuries: “Depth plus deception equals dominance. Bosa’s gone, but the fear factor? Multiplied.”

Reason 5: Unbreakable Locker Room Culture—Resilience Forged in Fire

Finally, the Hall of Famer tapped into the intangible: that 49ers “it” factor. “I’ve seen teams crumble without a star— we didn’t in ’81 or ’84,” Montana reflected. “This group’s got that same grit: vets like McCaffrey and Greenlaw leading, rookies buying in. They almost stole wins without half their lineup last month.” At 4-3 and tied atop the NFC West, the Niners’ 28-24 comeback over the Saints (sans Bosa, Warner, and Kittle) embodies this. Montana’s mic-drop: “Nightmare? Damn right. They’re built to thrive in chaos—any team prepping for them better bring their A-game… and prayers.”

Verdict: Niners Reload, Not Rebuild—Super Bowl Path Still Paved

Montana’s endorsement couldn’t come at a better time, with the trade deadline looming (Nov. 4) and whispers of a pass-rusher acquisition (eyes on edge rushers in the ’25 draft aftermath). “They’re not out—they’re reloading,” he concluded. “Bosa hurts, but this is 49ers football: Adapt or die. And they’re adapting like champions.” For a franchise that’s weathered Montana’s own trade drama in ’93, this feels like déjà vu—all grit, no quit.

Niners fans, breathe easy. As Montana signed off: “Wear that red with pride. The nightmare’s just beginning—for everyone else.” Tune into KNBR for the full interview replay, and stay locked to Grok Sports for trade deadline bombshells. What’s your take—can SF three-peat without Bosa? Hit the comments.