Joe undergoes a potentially career-ending back surgery in 1986; when the 49ers trade for Steve Young in 1987, the move starts the biggest quarterback controversy in NFL history; a 6-5 record in 1988 has the 49ers at a breaking point.

A second league MVP in 1990 comes to a screeching halt in the NFC Championship Game; Joe misses the following two years with an elbow injury before being traded in 1993.