[19] During the 1981 season, Walsh had Montana practice that part of the play back in training camp. AP Photo/Dallas Morning News, Phil Huber). He was a member of two Super Bowl-winning teams (XVI and XIX). "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. Just before being chased out of bounds, and after a pump-fake caused the 6-foot 9-inch (206 cm) "Too Tall" Jones to leave his feet, Montana threw a high pass to the back of the end zone that seemed to be heading out of bounds until Clark, closely covered by Cowboys defender Everson Walls, made a leaping catch with his fingertips, and landed just in-bounds at the back right corner of the end zone to score the touchdown and tie the game with 51 seconds left. In a moving tribute to Clark's legacy, NFL Network's Michael Silver wrote last September that the former player and executive "carried an aura of awesomeness into his post-football existence: Handsome, charming and perpetually cheerful, the man lit up a room without acting as though he owned it. Clark and Montana re-enacted The Catch in observance of the 25th anniversary of the play as part of San Francisco alumni day activities at halftime of the Minnesota game November 5, 2006, at Candlestick Park. Future Hall of Fame DB Ronnie Lott was flagged twice for crucial pass interference calls that extended Cowboys drives. Storey, then a 26-year-old photographer for the San Francisco Examiner (following and preceding stints at The Chronicle), watched it all unfold from the side of the end zone. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. The drive began with an incomplete pass to Lenvil Elliot. "At least I have a picture to prove it.". And, in fact, it was the Cowboys who made the final, fatal mistake. E-mail Ron Kroichick at rkroichick@sfchronicle.com. Even then, before the spate of titles, this was a transcendent moment in Bay Area sports - the 49ers had finally conquered the Cowboys. The NFL has many notable moments. Here's NFL Network's list of everything you need to know for the 49ers Week 17 matchup vs. the Las Vegas Raiders. [3][4] That play, one of the most famous in the history of the NFL, has been immortalized as "The Catch". Some people claimed that Montana was trying to throw the ball away, leaving time for a fourth down. He scored a pair of touchdowns. This ended a remarkable period that saw the Cowboys play in 10 of 13 conference championship games, while Danny White, who had become Dallas' starting quarterback in 1980, drew criticism for "not being able to win the big game," despite leading the team to successful winning seasons. So, Montana had to improvise. Touchdown! The statue features two life-size figures, Montana with his arms in the air celebrating the touchdown and, 23 yards away, Clark leaping to make The Catch. It's a madhouse at Candlestick! Statement from @nflcommish on the passing of 49ers legend Dwight Clark pic.twitter.com/Wuaw1ceKsC, The Philadelphia Eagles converted 90% of QB sneaks this season and while the push play has been legal since 2005, no team employed it with as much dominance as the 2022 Eagles. 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. He passed peacefully surrounded by many of the people he loved most. After suffering through several losses early on in the 1981 season, the Montana-led 49ers cruised straight into the playoffs with an impressive record. They might not have finished the job without big plays from Eric Wright (game-saving tackle), Lawrence Pillers (forced fumble) and Jim Stuckey (fumble recovery) on Dallas' last-chance drive. 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. Of all the impressive receptions ever made in the 100 years of the NFL, only Clarks reception from Joe Montana is called The Catch.He played his entire career for the San Francisco 49ers before retiring after the 1987 season. Clark spiked the ball. John Taylor was better than I was, so I couldnt come out of the game. 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. "That was Joe's genius, to throw it up there. The 49ers representative convinced Clark to skip golf and serve as Fullers receiver during the quarterbacks workout. Dwight Clark was never destined to be a star in the NFL, let alone make one of the greatest catches in NFL history. The Catch symbolized the end of the Cowboys' domination in the NFC since the conference's inception in 1970, and the beginning of the 49ers' rise as an NFL dynasty in the 1980s. Now, Gergen wrote of the play, Montana was throwing the most significant pass in 49er annals toward Clark. In the second quarter, Clark managed to catch a 20-yard touchdown pass from Joe Montana that provided the 49ers with a slight 14-10 lead. When the football gods decided to bestow everlasting glory on an athlete with a random moment of triumph, they picked the right guy in . 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. Here's NFL Network's list of everything you need to know for the 49ers Week 15 matchup vs. the Seattle Seahawks. And now we come to a catch that truly changed the game of football forever. In the Eastern time zone, Renfrow scored his touchdown on Jan. 10, exactly 35 years after Clark made "The Catch.". [16][31], Clark married Kelly Radzikowski in 2011. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 5 overall spot is a 'rare opportunity.'. Clark played his entire nine-year career with the 49ers and earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors in 1982. Although it didn't play out exactly how "The Catch" did, it was just another sweet victory in early January for Clark. [1] [2] He was a member of San Francisco's first two Super Bowl championship teams. Dwight will always carry a special place in our hearts and his legacy will live on as we continue to battle this terrible disease.". Before that, Walls had intercepted Montana twice. The San Francisco 49ers defense is the Nickelodeon MVP of Week 13, 2022. In retirement, Clark expressed remorse about the end of Candlestick Park, saying that "It was a dump [but] it was our dump, so we could talk bad about it, but we didn't want anybody else to talk bad about it. NFL analyst Brian Baldinger broke down San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy's four-touchdown performance against the Seattle Seahawks in Super Wild Card Weekend. Coincidentally, 40-plus years later, the same teams will play on CBS this Sunday in an NFC Wild-Card Game. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. NFL Network broke down why WR Brandon Aiyuk and LB Dre Greenlaw are under-the-radar players to watch for in the NFC Championship Game. After retiring Dwight Clark remained a part of the 49ers organization working as an executive in the front office. An All-Pro and two-time Super Bowl champion, Clark was diagnosed with. When Walsh called to arrange a workout for Fuller, Clark happened to answer the phone. 4 Share 165 views 1 year ago 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. Clark curled into the end zone, braked at the end line and looked for his quarterback. Despite occurring over 40 years ago, the game-winning touchdown play remains one of the most impressive NFL moves in the history of the sport. He rolled right, pump-faked, then threw a high pass to the rear of the end zone. The ensuing extra point by kicker Ray Wersching gave the 49ers a 2827 lead. As a junior, he was named a starter at wide receiver and was part of the team that qualified Clemson to the Gator Bowl, its first bowl game in 18 years. All the TV and radio calls you can handle from Harper, Stott clutch homers on Sunday, Shooters Radio: ECW One Night Stand 05 deep dive. 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. In October 2018, the 49ers unveiled a statue outside of Levis Stadium featuring Clark making his famous catch. As a sophomore, he was named the starter at strong safety, but he disliked the position and left school to go back to his hometown in Charlotte instead. 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. Getty Dwight Clark Dwight Clark, the beloved wide receiver for the the San Francisco 49ers during the 1980s, died on Monday. Holmes survived the knockdown, as would the Niners against the Cowboys. Elliot then set up a third-and-four with a six-yard run. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. San Francisco 49ers 5th round draft selection Iowa tight end George Kittle goes through drills at the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine. And how did it impact football? The 49ers and Cowboys meet again this weekend in the NFL playoffs, and youll likely see and hear a lot about the iconic play. He joined Comcast SportsNet Bay Area in 2011 as an analyst for 49ers Postgame Live. [16] Sports Illustrated writer Paul Zimmerman named Clark his Player of the Year for 1982. And high, as the play was intended. The touchdown, of course, propelled the 49ers to a 28-27 victory over Dallas in the NFC Championship Game. Learn how your comment data is processed. CNN Former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Dwight Clark died Monday at age 61 after a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. Montana threw three interceptions, and Niners backs fumbled three times. Thanks For Watching and bless uP !Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the copyright act 1976, allowance is made for fair use for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, scholarship, and research. This is championship football. The San Francisco 49ers lined up in a split backs formation, with Joe Montana under center. Following this workout, Walsh selected Clark for the 49ers' first pick of the tenth round (249th overall pick) in the NFL draft of 1979. [5] He served as the general manager of the 49ers from 1995 to 1998 and in the same capacity with the Cleveland Browns from 1999 to 2001. 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. [4] Montana was supposed to roll to his right and find Solomon, who would run a short "square out" pattern that he would catch just past the first down marker, and either step out of bounds, giving the 49ers a fresh set of downs, or would turn upfield and score himself. The fact that Clark got drafted, much less made it on the roster of an NFL team came as a surprise to many. Kid, please, don't insult me." Dwight Edward Clark (January 8, 1957 - June 4, 2018) was an American professional football player who was a wide receiver for nine seasons with the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL) from 1979 to 1987. And I was real tired. 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 . Clark's got a touchdown! If that doesnt work, then keep rolling, you can run in if it's open. Clark's leap and fingertip grab remains one of the most famous plays in NFL history for not only its degree of difficulty, but also for how clutch it was in a big moment. On 3rd-and-3, Clark leaped and caught a 6-yard pass from quarterback Joe Montana in the back of the end zone to tie the score, and Ray Wersching's extra-point kick advanced the 49ers to Super Bowl XVI. He also earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in 1982 and won an additional Super Bowl in 1984. Yet the largest ripple effect of The Catch wasnt necessarily felt on the football field, but in the heart of the city of San Francisco itself. Initially serving Cajun food, it later switched to prime rib and seafood. 1 pick, 49ers figuring out how to take next step in Super Bowl quest, Ideal landing spots for the NFL's top 50 free agents: Here's where each player fits best, From Baroque to the big game: The fine art of the NFL playoffs, Where could Derek Carr land now? This article has all the answers that you need. and Al Cowlings", "49ers icon Dwight Clark: 'I need your prayers and thoughts', "Dwight Clark, 49ers great famous for 'The Catch,' dies at 61 from ALS", "NFC Championship Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers January 10th, 1982", "49ers legend Dwight Clark, 61, dies of ALS", "The 8th 49er to Have His Number Retired", "Former Browns GM Dwight Clark dies after battle with ALS", "CATCH THAT CHANGED 49ER HISTORY REVISITED", "Dwight Clark: Leaving Candlestick Park is "bittersweet" Niner Insider", "San Francisco's Top Receiver Dwight Clark, Thinks His Best Catch May Be His Wife, Ashley", "49ers legend Dwight Clark announces ALS diagnosis", "Dwight Clark stands by his statement that playing football gave him ALS", "Dwight Clark, former 49ers wide receiver, dead at 61", "Kelly Clark announces Dwight Clark has passed away", "Dwight Clark's death leaves a void in San Francisco's heart", "Promise of more game time lures defenseman to Devils", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dwight_Clark&oldid=1141634867, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 26 February 2023, at 01:20. It's an extraordinary, enduring image - and, as Storey pointed out, it conveys Montana's touch as much as Clark's leaping ability. In the entire franchise history of the NFL, only Dwight Clarks reception is commonly referred to as The Catch.. He led the NFL in receptions (60) during the strike-shortened 1982 season and made the Pro Bowl twice, in 1981 and 1982. Touchdown! With 58 seconds left in the game, the 49ers faced 3rd down and 3 yards to gain on the Cowboys' 6-yard line. The representation of Clark, with his hands outstretched, will extend 11 . San Francisco 49ers third round draft selection BYU linebacker Fred Warner goes through drills at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine. Clark then retired after the 1987 season finished, and in 1988, the 49ers eventually retired his jersey. 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. 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