They’re both from Pittsburgh, and they both have their own wine.
But, of course, that’s not the only thing that NFL legends Dan Marino and Joe Montana have in common.
Marino, who is co-hosting “Kickoff By The Bay: A CNN-Bleacher Report Special” with CNN’s Chris Cuomo, sat down this week with Montana ahead of Super Bowl 50 for a toast and a conversation.
The last time the Bay Area hosted a Super Bowl was January 20, 1985, at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, California. The teams in Super Bowl XIX were Montana’s San Francisco 49ers and Marino’s Miami Dolphins. It was the second of Montana’s four Super Bowl rings, as the 49ers won 38-16. Montana also was named the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player in that game, an award he won three times.
“It was a pretty good day for you, not so good for me,” Marino said to Montana.
“I’m not going to lie — that was a pretty dang good defensive team,” Montana replied.
“That makes me feel a little bit better,” Marino said, and the two laughed.
Both players are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and they know that Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning likely will join them in Canton, Ohio — and maybe soon. On Sunday, the Broncos face the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50 (6:30 p.m. ET, 3:30 p.m. local time) at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, and this could be Manning’s final game of his 18-year career.
Following Denver’s win over New England in the AFC Championship, NFL Films picked up the audio of Manning telling Patriots head coach Bill Belichick at midfield, “This might be my last rodeo.” Manning since has said that he hasn’t made up his mind about retirement, but Montana said that if health is a factor, then this could be it for Manning.
“If that’s the case, I think yeah, it’s probably his last game,” Montana said. “I’d love to see him win on the way out the door.”
Since their retirement from football, Marino and Montana now have their names in the wine industry.
Marino and Damon Huard, who was a backup quarterback for the Dolphins, talked of having their own winery one day.
Today, they’re business partners. Passing Time was founded in Woodinville, Washington, in 2014. Marino lends his name to the enterprise while Huard runs the day-to-day operations. The Passing Time 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon is critically acclaimed, receiving a 93 from Wine Spectator and a 94 from The Wine Advocate, according to Sports Illustrated.
Meanwhile, Montana has found success in winemaking as well. He and Ed Sbragia collaborated to create a Cabernet Sauvignon called Montagia. It, too, has positive reviews: The 2007 Montagia rated 93 by Wine Advocate and 93 by Wine Access.
It’s even become a family affair for Montana.
“As the years went on, we started taking our kids in to help blend when they got old enough,” Montana said. “And so our oldest daughters got to blend. The boys didn’t get to blend, haven’t blended yet. They drink too much.”