Super Bowl Portfolio (1984-95)

All Photos by Tony Mangia

Bright lights from 49ers' Levi's Stadium causing problems for airline pilots: Report

Pilots preparing to land at San Jose Mineta International Airport usually get a birds-eye view of the San Francisco 49ers games in action at Levi's Stadium when they head for the runway, but some of them are now complaining that the bright lights of that venue are making it difficult to land.

The stadium, which opened  in August 2014 and already had problems with its grass, may now have to look towards the skies to solve another flaw in its design.

The stadium and the airport are less than five miles apart.

At least six commercial pilots have filed complaints with the Federal Aviation Administration after being blinded by bright light coming from the Santa Clara stadium, claiming it is a safety hazard, according to NBC Bay Area. 

"At first I couldn’t really tell where it was coming from," pilot Christina Kurowicki said. 

Kurowicki and her co-captain wrote complaints about the bright lights as soon as they landed.

"I was kind of mad," Kurowicki said. 

Kurowicki and her captain each filed a report with the FAA. She said the lights were so bright she ended up with a headache and her captain had to get medical treatment.

"We just knew that we were getting beams of light in our eye," she said. 

"Created a blind spot in my field of vision – had to rely on instruments until about 100 feet [above ground level] because of the distraction,” Kurowicki wrote in the compliant.

Here's game time proof of how close the planes are:

I think a Pterodactyl flew over Levi's Stadium on Sunday (via @RosenbergMerc, http://t.co/Km7EjZkQlY) pic.twitter.com/pTZqRfGpOU

— John Breech (@johnbreech) August 20, 2014

Last year, the FAA issued a safety-alert bulletin for pilots about the lights.

FAA public affairs manager Ian Gregor wrote in a statement that most of the reports it reviewed were when the stadium's scoreboard was being calibrated, making it brighter than usual. 

"The FAA relayed these concerns to the stadium operator, which agreed to provide the FAA with advance notice of all scoreboard testing and not to test or calibrate it at night during scheduled airfield hours," Gregor wrote.

Jay Rollins, a former American Airlines pilot and now an aviation safety consultant, said a lone warning is gambling with safety and hopes the 49ers will take action.

"They really have to choose between whether the lights in the stadium and the excitement that goes on there is more important than the safety of these arrivals," said Rollins.

Former rugby league star Jarryd Hayne flattens Chargers' Lowell Rose (VIDEO)

Jarryd Hayne, a former rugby league star turned San Francisco 49er, absolutely flattened San Diego Chargers cornerback Lowell Rose on a third-quarter drive during Thursday's preseason game.

The Australian native broke one tackle before laying out Rose at the 50-yard line on a 2nd-and-2.

Oh. That's just former Rugby League star @jarrydhayne_1, turning NFL defenders into pancakes. #SDvsSF http://t.co/sObSmoGhX9

— NFL (@NFL) September 4, 2015

Hayne did more than just run over players, he also showed some nice moves and ability to break off a big run too.

The body control. The balance. The jab step. Jarryd Hayne is just showing off now. #49ers https://t.co/3QjV5KkRqS

— Oscar (@BetterRivals) September 4, 2015

Oi Oi Oi.

Colin Kaepernick apologizes for Instagram joke about Houston flood

The plains my be flooding in Texas but it looks like Colin Kaepernick also found himself knee-deep in mud Tuesday while standing on the sidelines of the disaster.

The 49ers quarterback posted a photo to Instagram of cars caught in flood waters in Houston above the #7tormsComing hashtag that has become his trademark.

"I warned you the #7tormsComing !!! #Houston," the caption read.

After more than a foot of rain pounded the Houston area, several Twitter users commented the image was in poor taste before Kaepernick deleted it, although a tweet linking to it remained up.

The flooding has killed at least 14, with more declared missing.

Kaepernick apologized after the backlash and apologized on his Twitter account: "No disrespect intended! Prayers up!"

No disrespect intended! Prayers up!

— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) May 26, 2015

Another tweet followed that read, "Just livin! #WhoDoYouLove #IDontGetTired," and linked to a shirtless Instagram photo. It is not clear whether the tweet was related to the earlier one about flooding.

A few hours later, Kaepernick tweeted out another apology.

"I'm so sorry about my insensitive post earlier today," read the tweet. "I didn't fully understand how many people are struggling in Houston right now and I feel horrible. My prayers are with everyone there."

pic.twitter.com/qRDIjVdGUc

— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) May 26, 2015

Looks like someone learned a hard lesson about the boundaries of social media.

Sio Moore calls Colin Kaepernick 'chump' on Instagram after Raiders victory (PHOTO)

Is there a more convenient way to celebrate a win over your local rival these days than trolling them on social media?

If you're Sio Moore there isn't.

The Raiders linebacker rubbed his team's 24-13 upset win over the 49ers into Colin Kaepernick's face by posting a photo of himself and the Niners quarterback going nose-to-nose with the caption: "There's a difference between boys and Men... Freakin chump":

There's a difference between boys and Men... Freakin chump

A photo posted by Sio Moore (@mroaktown55) on Dec 12, 2014 at 6:40pm PST

It was the first time Oakland had beaten San Francisco since 2000, so it's easy to understand Moore's vitriol after the Battle of the Bay.

Oh yeah. Moore had one tackle in the game.

Feds knew of terror threats to New Orleans Super Bowl — including bomb plot to kill Beyoncé: Report

Federal agents investigated a series of terror threats including one against Beyoncé at last year's Super Bowl in New Orleans, a new report reveals.

The game between San Francisco's 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens on February 3 might be most remembered for the 34-minute blackout which interrupted the festivities but that might not be the only things that put the the public in danger.

According to documents obtained by News 4 I-team in Washington, the Department of Homeland Security kept from the public that there were at least four terrorist threats including an anonymous call made hours before kick-off which threatened to blow up the Mercedes-Benz Louisiana Superdome at half-time.

A timeline by News 4 I-team showed that the planned threats were to be carried out both inside and outside the stadium before and during the Crazy in Love singer's halftime show.

None of the investigations were made public until Thursday.

The sensitive security information, obtained from a Freedom of Information request by News 4 I-team revealed an unidentified caller used a pay phone to contact the Superdome with a threat to the stadium and the pop singer.

"The Mercedez-Benz building in New Orleans is going to blow up. It's gonna blow up after Beyoncé's performance," it said.

The caller was never found.

Another caller warned police that the Krazy Korner Bar in the city's nearby French Quarter, was lined with explosives.

It sparked an emergency raid hours before kick-off, forcing owners to clear the bar which was showing the game.

Minutes later, a bomb threat was made against the staging area of the stadium, prompting an FBI search. No explosives were found.

And earlier that day, more than 12 assault weapons were stolen from an unmarked New Orleans police car, including a semi-automatic handgun, an assault rifle, a tactical vest, swat team gear and a Taser gun.

There were no injuries or attacks during the big game and two suspects were detained in May. Only the swat team gear and tactical vest were recovered.

49ers did one thing Sunday night that made Peyton Manning really mad (GIF)

For most of the game against the 49ers Sunday night Peyton Manning had a big grin on his face. And why not? The Broncos quarterback had set an NFL record for career touchdown passes, toyed with the Niners defense and even got to spend the fourth quarter relaxing on the bench during his team's 42-17 blowout win.

Then the visitors called a useless timeout while they were trailing 42-10 with three minutes left in the game to preserve the clock, and Manning just shook his head.

But when San Francisco also took a timeout before an extra point attempt after scoring a touchdown with one minute left, Manning's dismay turned into a WTF.

Read his lips:

At least he can smile knowing he has the historic football to take home with him. Oops, about that spot on your mantle, Peyton.

Darnell Dockett seeks out fan involved in brawl during 49ers-Cardinals game (VIDEO)

A wild brawl broke out between Cardinals and 49ers fans in the upper deck at University of Phoenix Stadium on Sunday. It's not clear how the fight started, but a YouTube video shows that things got out of hand after one fan was pushed and fell down two rows of seats and a lone security guard was attacked.

As the number of participants involved continued to grow, the scrum moved from the seats at the stadium to some cement stairs which ended up covered in the security guard's blood.

At one point, a fan starts choking the security guard, wearing a marked blue shirt, before he was eventually helped by a Cardinals fan wearing a Darnell Dockett (No.90) jersey.

Dockett, who obviously saw the video, took notice of the guy who helped the security guard and made the helpful fan an offer on Twitter.

Who was the guy in the Dockett jersey in the brawl at the cardinals game??? Contact me I have some tickets for you. I like that sh*t.😃
— DARNELL DOCKETT (@ddockett) September 22, 2014

And you thought player don't care about these idiotic episodes.

Here's a couple of GRAPHIC videos of the fight:

Joe Montana hits Eddie DeBartolo for final TD in Candlestick (VIDEO)

It seemed only fitting that San Francisco 49ers icon Joe Montana threw Candlestick Park's
last touchdown pass in a "game" to former team owner Eddie DeBartolo as the Niners did something the notorious San Francisco Bay winds never could — blow out the last flicker of light on the beloved stadium.

Montana rallied his team to down his All-Stars opponents, 45-40, in the Legends of Candlestick flag football game on Saturday night in a touching farewell to the concrete lady.

In 2014 the 49ers will unveil Levi's Stadium, their spanking new home after 33 years in creaky, 54-year-old Candlestick.

More than 25,000 fans were in attendance to say goodbye to Candlestick. The flag-football game that matched 49ers legends against past NFL All-Stars was the final salute to the team's glorious history in what was sadly becoming known as Candlestink. 

"It's a dream come true to get everybody back here," DeBartolo told the San Francisco Chronicle. "And have a fitting end to this stadium. It's a special place that has great, great memories for us that will last forever."

RT @mercbrownie: Montana's game-winning pass to DeBartolo, wanted owner to be last person to score a TD @ 'The Stick. pic.twitter.com/AoY7cVCjqM
— Anthony Ly (@AnthonyLy49) July 13, 2014

Montana threw three touchdown passes while Steve Young rushed for a score. Jeff Garcia added two touchdowns, with one going to Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice.

After Montana's game-winning pass, DeBartolo was carried off the field by his team.

49ers Chris Culliver arrested for hit and run, threatening witness with brass knuckles: Report

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver was tossed in jail Friday after hitting a bicyclist with his car, fleeing the scene and threatening witnesses with brass knuckles, police reported.

Culliver was charged with felony hit and run, reckless driving and weapons possession for the Friday morning incident in San Jose, sources told SF Gate.

Police said Culliver was recklessly driving his Ford Mustang through an intersection just after 10 a.m. when he struck a pedestrian on a bicycle.

When Culliver tried to drive away, another motorist chased the three-year NFL veteran in his car before cornering him.  Culliver then got out of his car to threaten the driver using a pair of brass knuckles, according to police.

Police found the brass knuckles while searching Culliver’s car, they also discovered he was driving on a suspended license, according to KPIX.

The bicyclist suffered only minor injuries.

This is not the the 25-year-old's first brush with controversy.  Culliver first drew national attention to himself after saying that gays were "not welcome" in NFL locker rooms and that they should "come out 10 years later."

He made the comments only days before the 2013 Super Bowl, which the 49ers lost to the Baltimore Ravens, and quickly apologized for the remarks.

Brandon Jacobs still has grudge with Jim Harbaugh: 'He's a bitch' (VIDEO)

Brandon Jacobs days of running over defenses may be over, but the former NFL star isn't done running his mouth.

The two-time former New York Giants running back made it clear Thursday there's no love lost between him and 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh. Jacobs spent one unhappy and frustrating season in 2012 playing for Harbaugh and the 49ers before ending his career in 2013 where he started — with the Giants.

The bruising back was vocal about his lack playing time while on the west coast and used social media to criticize Harbaugh and the 49ers organization. And it sounds like he still holds a grudge.

“I have two rings and he don’t,’’ Jacobs said of Harbaugh on WFAN’s “Boomer & Carton Show.” “He’s a bitch. It’s not that he was a bitch, he is a bitch and that’s why he hasn’t won anything.’’

The 31-year-old Jacobs played nine years in the NFL, the first seven with the Giants, earning two Super Bowl rings. As a free agent heading into the 2012 season, he opted to take slightly more money from the 49ers, which seemed like a good fit. 

It never worked out. Jacobs’ knee was an issue from the start, and when he became healthy he barely got on the field — five rushing attempts for seven yards in two games. He angered Harbaugh and the 49ers by using Twitter and Instagram to express his longing for the Giants and to complain he was “on the team rotting away.’’ Jacobs asked for his release, which was not granted. Harbaugh eventually suspended Jacobs for the final three games.

“I have one regret in my career and that’s going to the 49ers when I could have stayed in New York,’’ Jacobs said. “I just wanted to see what stuff was like with another team, and it didn’t work out for me. I wasn’t liked, to be honest with you. … I thought I was being held hostage because of the previous year. I got two rings, Harbaugh’s a bitch, so it doesn’t matter.’’

Asked why he felt the 49ers signed him in the first place, Jacobs said: “I have no idea whatsoever, and they didn’t want to release me when I kept going to them with pure respect, which I usually don’t have when I’m pissed off. I kept it respectful the whole time. They just felt we really can’t use him, let’s try to suspend him. I tell you what, I got my money back and playoff and Super Bowl money. Everything. For two years in a row, I got everything.’’

Jacobs returned to the Giants after the first game of the 2013 season and had 58 rushing attempts for 238 yards and four touchdowns. He underwent knee surgery following the season and decided to retire.

“My body, man, it wasn’t responding the same any more: I’d get hurt, then I’d try to come back and play and then I get hurt again, then the hamstring started, the knee started, everything went downhill,’’ Jacobs said. “I really fought hard to get back out there, but my body just didn’t respond to injuries like it used to do. That’s when I knew it was time to call it.’’

Seahawks fans throw food at 49ers' NaVorro Bowman as he's carted off field (VIDEO)

The 49ers’ NaVorro Bowman suffered a nasty-looking injury (it’s a likely ACL tear) during a goal-line stand late in the fourth quarter, as he got his leg bent under him, apparently twisting his knee. He kept possession of a fumble, but the Seahawks players grabbed it away from him as he lay in pain, and officials awarded the ball to Seattle.

So Bowman, one of the best linebackers in the NFL, was carted off the field, his season apparently over … and as he passed the stands, Seahawks’ fans threw food at him.

San Francisco to dock cable cars for 49er-Seahawks game: Report

Sightseers who planned on riding San Francisco's famous cable cars or streetcars Sunday afternoon during the 49ers-Seahawks game or into the night might want adjust their travel plans.

That's because Muni wants to protect its historic rides from overzealous fans, vandals and other troublemakers who might get a bit too rowdy after the Niners win — or lose  — in Seattle. It also wants to protect joyous celebrants or angry losers from hurting themselves, reports the sfgate.

Talk about a San Francisco mis-treat.

The transit system will use buses on the cable car and some rail lines for at least the latter part of the NFC Championship game and through the night, said Paul Rose, a Municipal Transportation Agency spokesman.

Muni will stop service on the California cable car line at 2 p.m. with the Powell-Hyde and Powell-Mason cable cars running only between Fisherman's Wharf and Chinatown beginning at 4 p.m.

That leaves handling the rowdy crowds up the buses and taxis.

Fox Sports will test infrared camera showing players' body temperatures during NFC title game: Report

Have you ever wondered just how frozen a frost-breathing football player was during a cold weather game while you were curled up on your toasty couch?

Well, now you'll know — Predator-style

Fox Sports has a few surprises lined for next month's cold weather Super Bowl telecast at MetLife Stadium, and the network plans to test them out during the San Francisco 49ers-Seattle Seahawks game at CenturyLink Field this Sunday.

The  network will use this weekend's NFC title game in Seattle to test an infrared camera that will show how players' body temperatures change throughout the game. The thermal-imaging shows a person's body heat with different colors — just how the movie extra-terrestrial saw his prey.

"I don't know what story that tells, but it might make for some pretty cool pictures," Eric Shanks, Fox Sports chief operating officer and executive producer, told the Television Critics Association on Monday.

He said another unspecified device will show how wind affects a quarterback or kicker.

Shanks said the network will also have more high-tech 4K cameras than ever before to zoom in for what he called "that definitive angle."

The network is touting the Feb. 2 game as "the coldest and boldest Super Bowl ever" in its advertising. Shanks said the pre-game timing will be altered slightly because of the temperature so people aren't on the field standing around too long waiting for the players to come out.

"We have spent a lot of time with the league going over contingency plans not unlike what we do for this weekend in Seattle," Shanks said, noting three NFL games on Fox this season were delayed because of weather.

"It's not like football isn't played in the cold. We were just in Green Bay," he added. "The NFL shouldn't be apologizing for a cold-weather Super Bowl. If this goes off well, I think we should give another Super Bowl to a cold-weather city. How great would it be to have a Super Bowl in Green Bay?"