NFL great Montana and wife foil apparent kidnap attempt

(FILES) In this file photo taken on January 31, 2020 Former NFL player Joe Montana speaks onstage during day 3 of SiriusXM at Super Bowl LIV in Miami, Florida. – Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana and his wife, Jennifer, rescued their infant grandchild from an apparent kidnapping attempt at their home in Malibu, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said September 27, 2020. (Photo by Cindy Ord / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)

Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana and his wife, Jennifer, rescued their infant grandchild from an apparent kidnapping attempt at their home in Malibu, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said Sunday.

A suspect, identified by authorities as Sodsai Dalzell, entered the Montanas’ home on Saturday evening, removed the nine-month-old from a playpen in the living room and was holding the child in her arms when the Montanas confronted her.

“Mr. Montana, and his wife, Jennifer, confronted the female, attempted to de-escalate the situation, and asked for the suspect to give back their grandchild,” the sheriff’s report said.

“A tussle ensued and Mrs. Montana was able to safely pry the child out of the suspect’s arms.”

Dalzell fled the house, but Montana was able to flag down sheriff’s deputies in the area and she was subsequently taken into custody on suspicion of kidnapping and burglary.

“Thank you to everyone who has reached out,” Montana tweeted on Sunday. “Scary situation, but thankful that everybody is doing well. We appreciate respect for our privacy at this time.”

Montana, 64, retired after the 1994 NFL season. He played 13 of his 15 seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, guiding them to four Super Bowl titles.