49ers vs. Cowboys: 10 biggest moments in most storied NFL rivalry
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: 49ers steal Jerry Rice from Cowboys
One of the greatest moments in 49ers-Cowboys history doesn’t actually take place on the gridiron at all.
Well, at least not the opening portion of it.
Let’s rewind back to spring of 1985. The Niners had just won the Super Bowl the previous year, their second of the decade and behind arguably the best overall team in franchise history. As such, they owned the final pick in the 1985 NFL Draft.
Yet San Francisco had eyes on a flashy wide receiver out of Mississippi Valley State, one Jerry Rice, whom the team knew wouldn’t fall all the way to the end of Round 1.
The 49ers also understood the Cowboys were interested in Rice, too, so all the Niners decided to do was trade up to No. 15 in the draft, one spot ahead of Dallas, stealing Rice away in the process.
The Cowboys settled defensive tackle Kevin Brooks, while San Francisco got its hands on the greatest player in NFL history.