[15] But they soon greatly improved, winning the Super Bowl at the ends of the 1981 and 1984 seasons, and, starting in 1981, making the playoffs every year Clark was with them except 1982. The 350-pound statues of Dwight Clark and Joe Montana will be placed exactly 23 yards apart, just as the two 49ers were during the famous play. [36] He was the father-in-law of former NHL defenseman Peter Harrold. Im heartbroken to tell you that today I lost my best friend and husband. In 2017, Clark shocked the sports world when he announced that he had been diagnosed with Lou Gehrigs Disease or ALS. This is also done with Derek Jeter's "flip play" going wide of home plate and Michael Jordan's famous buzzer-beater against Cleveland going off the rim. "Theres all kinds of versions of how we had practiced it, where we practiced it, when -- everybody remembers it a little bit different," Clark told the 49ers website in 2013. Bill Walsh, the new 49ers coach, visited Clemson in 1979 to take a close look at Clarks roommate Steve Fuller. With under a minute remaining and facing 3rd-and-3 from the Dallas 6-yard line, Montana rolled right, pump-faked, then fired to Clark, who made a leaping grab in the back of the end zone. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. In the following season, the Cowboys reached their third straight NFC Championship Game, where they were defeated 3117 by their archrival Washington Redskins. If that doesnt work, then keep rolling, you can run in if it's open. The play saw Joe Montana find Dwight Clark for the game-winning touchdown in the NFC Championship Game played at Candlestick Park. It also set in motion a series of events that established the Niners as one of the NFL's dominant franchises for the better part of the two decades that followed. Clark finished the game with 8 catches for 120 yards and 2 touchdowns. He was Executive Vice President and Director of Football Operations from 1999 to 2001. Following his workout, the 49ers selected Clark with the first pick of the tenth round, or 249th overall pick, in the 1979 NFL draft. After nine seasons with the 49ers, Clark retired following the 1987 season. Late in the fourth quarter with the game in the balance and the 49ers trailing 27-21, Montana guided San Francisco down the field. Storey quickly whirled to follow the pass - he didn't change cameras, given the distance - and snapped away as the ball settled into Clark's hands. San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk dove and caught a pass from Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins in the second half of the Pro Bowl flag finale. Former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Dwight Clark passed away Monday after his battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. AP Photo/Dallas Morning News, Phil Huber). This article has all the answers that you need. SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- For former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Dwight Clark, there's something about ringing in the new year that brings good fortune. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. After a couple of early-season losses in 1981, San Francisco, with Montana in charge, cruised into the playoffs with a 13-3 record, which included a 45-14 thumping of the Dallas Cowboys earlier in the year. [16][31], Clark married Kelly Radzikowski in 2011. Storey got $100 in a bonus from the paper. On Sunday, Clark celebrated his 60th birthday. Two weeks later, they beat Cincinnati to win their first Super Bowl title and launch an incomparable stretch of five championships in 14 seasons. Dwight Clarks The Catch is now immortalized in the sporting world. In 2005, a commercial for the Gatorade sports drink, known as "The Winning Formula", portrayed an alternate version of The Catch, in which the ball bounced out of Clark's fingertips. Touchdown, San Francisco, by Dwight Clark! Then he moved home to Charlotte, N.C., and began building luxury spec houses. The "Good Morning Football" crew revealed New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley, San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith for Comeback Player of the Year finalists. An All-Pro and two-time Super Bowl champion, Clark was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease, in March of 2017. Yikes. Clark's got a touchdown! Then Walls recovered a fumble from running back Walt Easley at midfield to set up White's 21-yard touchdown pass to tight end Doug Cosbie, giving Dallas a 2721 advantage. Montana completed two quick passes to Clark and Solomon respectively and the 49ers called a timeout with the ball on the Dallas 12. The 49ers were 214 in 1978 and had the same record in 1979. The 49ers and Cowboys meet again this weekend in the NFL playoffs, and youll likely see and hear a lot about the iconic play. Dwight Clark leaves a Dallas defender in his dust after making. 1/10/1981 - This day in 1981 During the NFC Championship Game between The San Francisco 49ers and The Dallas Cowboys , with 58 seconds left in the game Dwight Clark makes the famous touchdown catch thrown from Joe Montana to give the Niners a 28-27 win and helping them advance to the superbowl . ", On Monday night, after watching Renfrow haul in the national-title-winning catch while playing the role of Solomon, Clark told CSN Bay Area that the player in his position never had a chance -- much like Solomon didn't -- in 1982 because the player running his route "got pushed to the ground.". [1], Montana started the drive with 89 yards to reach the end zone. Turk later joins David in watching the game. This dramatic win was the crown jewel of a memorable postseason in the NFL. Storey suspected he had a good shot of The Catch, but he didn't know with certainty for several hours. When Montana took the snap, the play, officially named in the 49ers playbook "Change Left Slot Sprint Right Option",[3] was intended to set up quick pass to Solomon; earlier in the game, Solomon had scored a touchdown on the same play. Clark's career and 'The Catch' But I certainly suspect it did. 3 of 5 4 of 5 Photographer John Storey visits Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif. on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012, where he captured the iconic image of Dwight Clark's famous touchdown catch . In a game where the lead shifted back and forth repeatedly, the 49ers took over the ball at their own 11-yard line . Clark, while discussing The Catch in America's Game: The Super Bowl Champions documentary about the 1981 49ers, said: It's humbling, really. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. [8] Clark's catch was a popular photo location among Clemson Tigers fans during their 4416 win over Alabama in the 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship held at Levi's Stadium. The representation of Clark, with his hands outstretched, will extend 11 . With Brock Purdy and Jalen Hurts facing off in the NFC Championship this weekend, relive their 2019 high-scoring Big 12 clash as Iowa State took on Oklahoma. The play saw Joe Montana find Dwight Clark for the game-winning touchdown in the NFC Championship Game played at Candlestick. He was third on the team with 17 receptions for 265 yards and one touchdown. Now, Gergen wrote of the play, Montana was throwing the most significant pass in 49er annals toward Clark. "Everybody says they were there," Storey said of The Catch. The strength, perseverance and grace with which he battled ALS will long serve as an inspiration to so many. I just dont think I would change anything.? Reddit . The 49ers had another chance to score before halftime when they recovered a fumbled punt on the Dallas 42. 49ers quarterback Joe Montana went on to gain a reputation for his last-minute heroics, and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000, his first year of eligibility. It was the second of three straight NFC title game losses for Dallas. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Clarks catch was featured on TV shows and commercials and was even on the cover of Sports Illustrated gaining global notoriety for all the right reasons, and bringing widespread attention to the sport. The Catch happened when Montana called Change Left Slot Sprint Right Option.. Dwight Clark! "Back then, you didn't know (at first) if it was sharp.". [17], In the 1981 NFC Championship game, on January 10, 1982, against the Dallas Cowboys, the 49ers trailed 2721 with 58 seconds to play. The fact that Clark got drafted, much less made it on the roster of an NFL team came as a surprise to many. The Catch: How one of the most iconic plays in NFL history tied Dwight Clark and Everson Walls together forever ORG XMIT: [NS_9Clark's Catch ] Headline: Caption: 1-9-95--- Dwight Clarks's catch in . One of the most dramatic plays in NFL history took place 35 years ago. Your email address will not be published. Another photographer, Lee Romero, suggested Storey crop the photo vertically. But just then I saw Dwight getting away from the coverage.". Three of the Cowboys' defenders, defensive ends Ed "Too Tall" Jones and Larry Bethea and linebacker D. D. Lewis, chased a backpedalling Montana toward the sideline, and seemed certain to either send him out of bounds or sack him. [22] On May 14, 2002, he resigned from his position with the Browns after new head coach Butch Davis requested the right to make personnel decisions. Meanwhile, the Cowboys, one of the most successful NFC teams in the 1970s with five Super Bowl appearances and two wins, never made it back to the Super Bowl in the 1980s. The San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals shared a moment of support for Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin before the teams' Week 18 matchup at Levi's Stadium. "That was Joe's genius, to throw it up there. Guys would take my job. After a 15-yard illegal block penalty on Clark, Montana lost a fumble while being sacked by Harvey Martin. New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, a Bay Area native who ultimately grew up idolizing Montana on his way to his own successful NFL career including seven Super Bowl wins, attended the game as a four-year-old and aspired to become a 49er.[7]. Today, I lost my little brother and one of my best friends. And as if all of that wasn't enough, the play call that ended with Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson hitting wide receiver Hunter Renfrow for the game-winning 2-yard touchdown against Alabama on Monday looked awfully familiar. San Francisco 49ers legend Dwight Clark passed away Monday at the age of 61, his family confirmed. "[18], Clark died of the disease on June 4, 2018. With Brock Purdy and Trey Lance coming off injuries, San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch didn't rule out adding a veteran signal-caller this offseason. The Buccaneers are planning to release RB Leonard Fournette when the new league year begins on March 15, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported Tuesday. The Catch, 40 years ago this week, capped a magnificent 89-yard drive, a breathtaking 6-yard pass play, designed by coach Bill Walsh and executed spectacularly by quarterback Joe Montana and Clark, to make the 49ers NFC champions on Jan. 10, 1982, at Candlestick Park. The Catch and Ray Werschings ensuing PAT gave the 49ers a 28-27 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Former San Francisco 49ers receiver Dwight Clark died on Monday after a long battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Wrote Gergen in The Sporting News: Solomon broke for the flag but was covered. The Catch is widely regarded as one of the most memorable events in NFL history. Sep 20, 2019. Kelly Clark. CNN Former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Dwight Clark died Monday at age 61 after a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. The 49ers defeated the New York Giants in the divisional round and then hosted the Cowboys in a rematch with much more on the linea berth in Super Bowl XVI. On radio, it was Jack Buck and Pat Summerall doing the play-by-play and color respectively. Its the same play Niners QB coach Sam Wyche called from the coaches booth on third and 3 from the Cowboys 6 with 58 seconds to play. He was 61 years old. John Taylor was better than I was, so I couldnt come out of the game. He retired after the 1987 season. The ensuing extra point by kicker Ray Wersching gave the 49ers a 2827 lead. Touchdown! [13] New head coach Bill Walsh had visited Clemson to scout quarterback Steve Fuller, Clark's roommate. Former NFL running back Warrick Dunn shared the story of how 49ers legend Joe Perry became the first Black NFL MVP. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. And now we come to a catch that truly changed the game of football forever. He scored a pair of touchdowns. Walls and free safety Michael Downs were nearby. Although it didn't play out exactly how "The Catch" did, it was just another sweet victory in early January for Clark. I cannot put into words how special Dwight was to me and to everyone his life touched. Vin Scully described the play on CBS Television: Meanwhile, Jack Buck had the call over on CBS Radio: Meanwhile, Don Klein called the play locally for the 49ers on KCBS: Finally, Verne Lundquist called the play locally for the Cowboys on KRLD: This game was a watershed in the historic fortunes of both the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys. The team retired his jersey in 1988. Not only did the winning touchdown catch lift the 49ers to their first-ever Super Bowl, but it has made history as one of the greatest catches in the history of the NFL. I'll be at an autograph thing, there'll be a 10-year old kid saying, "You're The Catch. A big, physical target at 6-foot-4, Clark emerged as Hall of Famer Joe Montana's go-to receiver as Bill Walsh's West Coast offense reigned supreme throughout the 1980s. This was the winning touchdown reception that meant the 49ers were bound for the Super Bowl! Clark disputes that assertion, claiming that it was a backup plan that they practiced many times. [3][4] The play, immortalized as "The Catch", propelled the 49ers to their first Super Bowl championship. Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin has several contracts and extensions to weigh as Cincinnati looks to stay a Super Bowl favorite in 2023, and he's been unwilling to give a concrete answer on running back Joe Mixon's future. Sports enterprise reporter Ron Kroichick has worked at The San Francisco Chronicle since 1995, when he came from The Sacramento Bee. With the ball in 49ers territory after a long pass to Drew Pearson, Danny White was sacked by Lawrence Pillers and fumbled. [19] During the 1981 season, Walsh had Montana practice that part of the play back in training camp. After his initial move, Clark's pattern called for him to cut diagonally left across the end zone, stop, and immediately reverse his path, running right along the back boundary of the end zone. San Francisco quarterback Joe Montana threw a touchdown pass . Because Solomon, the first option, was covered, Montana was supposed to look to Clark as his second option. One is The Catch, which happened 40 years ago on Jan. 10, 1982. "At least I have a picture to prove it.". His senior season, he hauled in an amazingly few number of receptions at 11. diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). To honor his contribution to 49ers, the club retired his #87 in 1988. Dallas responded with an 80-yard drive, including a controversial pass interference penalty on 49ers defensive back Ronnie Lott which nullified his interception and gave the Cowboys a 35-yard gain to the San Francisco 12-yard line. Clark caught it! Local Dallas radio station KRLD also provided their own broadcast, as they did for all Cowboys games, with Verne Lundquist and Brad Sham providing the play-by-play and color respectively. In his senior season in 1978, the Tigers were 111, won the Gator Bowl over Ohio State, and finished sixth in the final AP poll. 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