NFL legend Joe Montana has definitely got game.

Here's the 25-year-old four-time Super Bowl champion quarterback in 1981 (left) -- and 30 years later, the 55-year-old a couple of months ago (right).

They don't call him Golden Joe for nothing.

Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana needed several stitches to close a gash above his eye after crashing an all-terrain vehicle on his Northern California ranch this weekend.



According to local reports, Montana was not seriously injured -- but the damage to his eye will keep him from appearing in front of the Santa Clara City Council tonight.

Montana was scheduled to discuss plans to build a new hotel, restaurant and sports bars near the proposed new 49ers stadium.

Joe Montana's son Nathaniel Joseph Montana -- currently a quarterback at the University of Montana -- was arrested on suspicion of DUI early this morning ... in Missoula, Montana.



Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, 21-year-old Nathaniel was arrested shortly before 4 AM -- and released soon after on $685 bond.

We're told Nathaniel was originally stopped for speeding -- with several other people in the vehicle -- and after cops pulled him over, he flunked a field sobriety test.

Nathaniel -- who transferred from Notre Dame in February to vie for the starting QB position at U. Montana -- is due back in court this afternoon.

Joe Montana is wrong about "Rudy" -- according to a member of the 1975 Notre Dame football team ... who claims the guys weren't "playing around" when they famously hoisted Daniel Ruettiger onto their shoulders.



TMZ spoke to #79 Jay Achterhoff -- who literally participated in Rudy's legendary quarterback sack ... and dude insists the events in the movie are "98% true."

Achterhoff tells us, "Rudy was carried off the field that day ... but not as a joke -- but because he finally got to play."  He added. "You've never in your life seen a guy who wanted to be on the field more."

Achterhoff -- now a regional manager for a trucking company -- also says he's "disappointed that [Montana] wasn't more supportive of Rudy" during the shocking interview with Dan Patrick yesterday.

So how does Rudy feel about Montana's comments? His rep told us, "The movie is based on his story. Other than that ... no comment."

Joe Montana has some issues with the way his former college team was portrayed in "Rudy" -- because the former Notre Dame superstar just insinuated Rudy Ruettiger was more of a joke than an inspiration.



Montana -- who played on the 1975 Fighting Irish squad with Ruettiger -- appeared on DirecTV's Dan Patrick Show this morning and said of the flick, "It's a movie remember ... not all that's true."

After a dismissive sigh, Montana undermined some of the main storylines in the movie saying, "The crowd wasn’t chanting … nobody threw in their jerseys."

Montana acknowledged that the real Rudy did play in the final home game ... and did get a sack -- but stated that when the players carried Rudy off the field, they were "kinda playin' around ... I won't say as a joke, but playing around."

Joe finished, "He worked his butt off to get where he was ... but not any harder than anybody else."

The most impressive thing about Joe Montana isn't his NFL career ... it's his stellar genes.



Not to be outdone by her hunky younger brother Nate, Joe's daughter Elizabeth Montana showed off her God-given talents in Hawaii too.

The 22-year-old really is gifted.

Joe Montana's 19-year-old son Nate has all the right moves.



While in Hawaii on Tuesday, the Notre Dame freshman scored by showing off his ripped arms, pecs and abs.

He should have no problem getting lei'd.

Dad is a '49er, but his kid is a frickin' 10.




Joe Montana, 52, may have won 4 Super Bowls, 3 Super Bowl MVPs, and is arguably the greatest quarterback of all-time -- but he never had a body like his son Nate.

When your dad is considered by many as the best quarterback in NFL history, it's probably best to just play hockey or tennis or something.

Joe Montana and his four Super Bowl rings watched his son Nick (#5) toss the pigskin around at his high school football game on Friday night.

With all of young Hollywood still burnt out from partying in Malibu on the 4th, L.A. was flooded with a few more wrinkles and sunspots than usual last night.

TMZ spotted "Price is Right" contender John O'Hurley, 56, with his wife and adorably chubby seven-month-old baby son leaving Il Sole last night, followed moments later by football Hall of Famer, Joe Montana. A "peace" happy Francis Fisher (who has at least six films coming up) and Cheryl Tiegs -- still looking fantastic at 56 -- were caught leaving the restaurant as well, which apparently wasn't letting anyone in without an AARP card.

Other long lost greats out last night included T.K. Carter (Hey Punky, remembuh him?) and Jonathan Silverman, with no Bernie in sight.

All this and more in today's alta cocker edition of Star Catcher.