Joe Montana announced his retirement before a huge crowd at Justin Herman Plaza in San Francisco. The event was broadcast live on local television, and included speeches from John Madden, Eddie DeBartolo, Jr., and others. Highlights from Montana’s stay with San Francisco and interviews with former 49ers teammates were also shown. Bill Walsh served as the MC for the event. Montana’s replacement with the Chiefs was his former backup in San Francisco, Steve Bono. Super Bowl XXX would be dedicated to Montana, who ended the pregame ceremonies with the ceremonial coin toss.

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The game was played at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. It marked the first time that a Super Bowl was held at a cold-weather city. Super Bowl XVI also became one of the most watched broadcasts in American television history, with more than 85 million viewers.

The 49ers defeated the Bengals by the score of 26–21 to win their first Super Bowl. Both teams were making their first Super Bowl appearance. The 49ers posted a 13-3 regular season record, and playoff wins over the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys. The Bengals finished the regular season with a 12-4 record, and had postseason victories over the Buffalo Bills and the San Diego Chargers. Joe Montana was named the Super Bowl MVP, completing 14 of 22 passes for 157 yards and one touchdown, while also rushing for 18 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

Stadium: Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan
Attendance: 81,270
MVP: Joe Montana, Quarterback
Favorite: 49ers by 1
Referee: Pat Haggerty
National anthem: Diana Ross
Coin toss: Bobby Layne
Network: CBS
Cost of 30-second commercial: US$324,000

Video: Diana Ross performs U.S. national anthem at Super Bowl XVI

The previous record was held by Tom Fears (Los Angeles Rams) with 18 catches on December 3, 1950, against the Green Bay Packers. Owens also broke Jerry Rice’s franchise record of 16 receptions set in 1994 against the Los Angeles Rams.

Dec, 6, 1992 - San Francisco 49ers’ wide receiver Jerry Rice set a new NFL-record by catching his 101st touchdown, breaking the record for most career touchdowns previously held by Steve Largent.

Rice’s record-breaking 101st career touchdown catch came on a rainy afternoon in San Francisco, during only his eighth season with the NFL. (By contrast, Largent made his 100th TD reception in his 14th season.) With 8:56 left in the game (a 27-3 rout of the Miami Dolphins) Rice made a quick move to get open in the middle of the end zone, where he caught a 12-yard pass from Steve Young. Mobbed by his teammates, he ran off the field in triumph. Two years later, Rice became the NFL’s all-time touchdown leader (127), passing the great Cleveland Browns running back Jim Brown.