Joe Montana on if he’d play during COVID-19 pandemic: ‘I’m not sure I would’

The Pro Football Hall of Famer & former Notre Dame quarterback spoke to Yahoo Sports’ Vinciane Ngomsi about college football’s decision to play this fall and whether he would decide to suit up. Joe joined Yahoo Sports thanks to Guinness.

Video Transcript

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VINCIANE NGOMSI: So I'm Vinciane Ngomsi with Yahoo Sports, and we're joined here with NFL legend Joe Montana. Thank you so much for joining us, and we appreciate you taking the time today.

JOE MONTANA: My pleasure. Thank you for having me.

VINCIANE NGOMSI: All right, well, we'll just dive right into it. So obviously the biggest news story of the last several days has been the decision to postpone sports. And as we've evidenced on Tuesday, that decision was finalized with the Pac-12 and the Big Ten postponing until definitely the spring. As a student athlete yourself, Joe, would you want to play amid a global pandemic?

JOE MONTANA: You know, [SIGH] I mean, this virus is pretty serious. You know, and it's-- you know, if it was something a little less fatal-- that's without saying something softer-- you know, then-- it's-- and it spreads easy. So I don't think I would-- I'm not sure I would. Even though I love the game, you know, at some point in time-- and maybe I would be, but then at some point in time, you have to have somebody that's responsible to step in and say, you know, this is crazy. You know, how do we keep all these kids safe? You know, the game's crazy enough, and then you add this on top of it.

And you look at baseball, right? Baseball, they can't do it. And it's not even a contact sport. So how do you have people that close to each other all the time and have many people on each team and protect those kids from themselves? You know, obviously they're all excited, and a lot of the seniors especially. I think it's tough to make that decision not to play.

VINCIANE NGOMSI: Absolutely, and I think it's certainly a tough decision. And, you know, we're seeing a lot of these athletes as of late come into their own when it comes to activism, whether it be protesting for or against playing, or even when it comes to other issues in terms of injustice going on over the last several months as well. So with that being said, how do you feel about these athletes using their platforms at arguably a young age to go way beyond sports and try to effect social change at a national level, knowing that there could be repercussions faced because of that?

JOE MONTANA: Well, I think it's great because they do have a platform. And, you know, we all have the right to do things, and especially things that-- for social justices. I mean, everybody has their beliefs, and things need to change, and everybody knows that. And it's great to see these guys coming together to do that and-- and using it in other ways also. Like here you're seeing all these young athletes now wanting to be a part of this coll-- in the college decision or whether they play or not.

And I think they should have a voice at the table. But sometimes when they're trying to make a decision to play or not to play, and that can-- you know, they're going to have-- they have a little bias, I would say.

VINCIANE NGOMSI: Absolutely, yeah.

JOE MONTANA: If you look at the seniors, look at Joe Burrow, right? If he didn't have a senior year, he wouldn't have been the first pick of the draft. And these guys all have ambitions to get into the NFL.

VINCIANE NGOMSI: And there is an incentive there, of course.

JOE MONTANA: Yeah. So I just think that it's nice to hear where they think and what they're thinking and be able to add that to the decision-making process. I don't think they have the ability to think straight when it comes to making that decision because they're going to-- they're going to want-- they're going to want to be on the field and play the game they love and played since they were little kids, and just like everyone else.

NFL a little bit different because they don't-- they're not-- they don't quite have the responsibility that the university does for these kids. And so-- so I think, yeah, I think it's great to see it. I love it. I mean, sports, people look up to these guys, and they hear what their opinions are and then to help change things in this world and make it a better place.

VINCIANE NGOMSI: And I think you are absolutely correct with that. The NCAA is so much different than professional leagues, and with both governing bodies, there are so many different-- there are different decisions that need to be made before ultimately the final one and things that we obviously are privy to. So with that being said, obviously we're out here talking about Guinness and your partnership with them, and of course them becoming the national-- the official beer of Notre Dame Fighting Irish, alumni, and fans.

So outside of winning a national championship with Notre Dame, what's another major memory you have, either from college as a student or as an athlete?

JOE MONTANA: Well, I think one of the things I tried to impress upon my kids when they were in school, and especially, you know, three of them-- two of them went and graduated from Notre Dame. My older son started there. And I go, you know what? You-- you guys love sports. And when you look at Notre Dame and you look at Guinness and the great traditions behind him and their will and desire to not only continue that, but try to bring people together, try to be the best that they can be, and at the same time try to make this world a better place--

VINCIANE NGOMSI: Absolutely.

JOE MONTANA: --I'm happy to be a part of that partnership and look forward to the future of someday being able to celebrate in person and watch those games and enjoy that pint of Guinness. But until then, we'll try to do it responsibly, as always.

VINCIANE NGOMSI: Right.

JOE MONTANA: [INAUDIBLE]. So--

VINCIANE NGOMSI: And I'll hold you to that.