by Marcas Grant

Created on: June 06, 2009

It is hard to get a definitive answer when talking about the greatest quarterback to ever play in the National Football League. But if you are compiling a list, it would be incomplete without Joe Montana. The man who would become known as "Joe Cool" earned his reputation with a presence that was always controlled in the most pressure-filled situations and would eventually lead to a spot in the Hall of Fame.

When it came to individual attributes, Montana was never the biggest, fastest or strongest but at an early age, there was little doubt that he was a complete athlete. Growing up in western Pennsylvania, Joe took an early interest in baseball, football and basketball. He excelled in the latter enough to earn a scholarship offer from North Carolina State. Montana seriously considered the offer because of a pledge that he could play both basketball and football for the school.

However, football remained his first love and he was eventually recruited by Ara Parseghian to play at the University of Notre Dame. Despite being a talented player, Montana began his junior season as the team's third-string quarterback. During a game against Purdue, the Fighting Irish trailed 24-14. The starter, Rusty Lisch had been ineffective and the backup Gary Forystek left because of a serious injury. Then-head coach Dan Devine inserted Montana who led a come-from-behind, 31-24 victory. After the game, Devine named Montana as his starter for the remainder of the year.

Joe would engineer several more comebacks during the duration of his time at Notre Dame. Yet it was perhaps his final game in college that set the foundation for his legacy. In the 1979 Cotton Bowl, Montana was battling the effects of the flu and was forced to the locker room midway through the game. During that time, the University of Houston jumped out to a 34-12 lead. But Montana returned, bolstered by intravenous fluids and chicken soup, and led the Irish to a comeback 35-34 victory - scoring the decisive touchdown on the final play of regulation.

The beginning of his NFL career resembled the start of his college years. After being drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round of the 1979 draft, Montana sat on the bench behind veteran Steve DeBerg. Midway through the 1980 season, head coach Bill Walsh would name Montana as his starter - beginning one of the most successful quarterback-head coach pairings the league would ever see.

The 1981 season offered Montana the first chance to establish himself

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