Even football immortals experience the normal ebb and flow of the human condition. Which leads us to the sprawling estate owned by former football great Joe Montana and his wife, Jennifer, whose four children have all left home for college and beyond.

That’s right: Joe Montana‘s empty nest is feeling so empty lately that the Hall of Fame QB has dropped the price of the 500-acre, wine country estate that’s so big, it sprawls over two counties. Originally listed in January 2010, the Calistoga, CA home‘s price was set at a whopping $49 million.

However, according to listing broker Avram Goldman of Pacific Union International, the Montanas were willing to consider new information about the Sonoma real estate market and make a change.

“When the property first came on the market, there were no sales in that price range. But late last year, there was a sale in Sonoma for $30 million. It was a similar-size property, with maybe a few improvements in terms of extra (structures) on the property, which had a little less acreage,” Avram said.

“While no two properties are exactly alike, it’s tough to try and break all the parts up come up with a market value without having that comp, so with that available now, the owners could take that into consideration,” he said.

As for motivation? The Montana’s youngest child, Nick, red-shirted at the University of Washington last season, but the family’s Seattle days are over. On January 6, the Seattle Times noted that the youngest Montana will transfer to a junior college in Texas in order to then make the jump to another Division I school in two years.

That means the Montana family will be stretched from Missoula MT, where Nate Montana is a quarterback with the Grizzlies, to Texas for Nick’s games and the Bay Area, where the Hall of Famer continues his ties with the 49ers, who last week lost to the New York Giants in the NFC Championship game.

“I think the needs of the family have changed as the kids have gotten older,” Avram said. “They still gather at the home for holidays. As for what they’ll do next, I think they’ll wait until after the property sells.”

The price drop is significant, considering the land and the home, dubbed “Villa Montana” — a 9,700 sq ft Tuscan villa-style estate which was inspired by the Montana’s love of Italy.

The home sits on 500 acres of lush, wine country land, with creeks, wide-open views and even a private pond stocked with fish. The grounds also include an equestrian center, a full-sized basketball court, skeet shooting range, gym, pool and spa.