Around the 49:47 minute mark of the video, Sanders and Fontes are captured having a conversation on the sidelines during what seems to be the Week 2 matchup between the Lions and the Seattle Seahawks this NFL season. A day earlier, Sanders’ status was revealed outside of Ford Field, aligning with Fontes’ visit for Sanders’ special ceremony. During their exchange, Fontes remarked to Sanders that as an organization, they covered “every piece but the quarterback,” during their time together, prompting Sanders to respond with a skeptical “You think so?”

After a brief laugh, Fontes dropped a surprising revelation: then San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana had reached out to him about joining the Lions. Given Montana’s eventual departure from San Francisco, along with extra tidbits in the conversation, it can be inferred that he contacted Fontes sometime after the conclusion of the 1992 NFL season.

“He called me and said, ‘I’d love to play with you and Barry Sanders,’” Fontes shared, leaving Sanders visibly shocked. Fontes hurriedly approached then Lions general manager Chuck Schmidt to convey Montana’s interest in coming to Detroit. However, Schmidt dismissed the idea, deeming Montana too old—fair considering Montana would have been 37 years old at the time.