I don't know how I caught the ball. Bob Hille is a senior content consultant for The Sporting News. Programming note: Watch "Joe Montana: Cool Under Pressure," a documentary chronicling the life of the legendary 49ers QB, exclusively on Peacock TV. I am honored to be able to be a part of a play that was kind of the culmination of just this incredible surprise season. 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. 2 on the "NFL 100 Greatest" ranking of the top . I am thankful for all of Dwights friends, teammates and 49ers fans who have sent their love during his battle with ALS. The ensuing extra point by kicker Ray Wersching gave the 49ers a 2827 lead. Since Clark was lined up near Solomon, he was supposed to position himself to get in the way of Solomon's defender (known as a "pick" or "rub" play), and then release and head for the end zone on his own pattern, providing Montana with a second option. Three plays later, running back Tony Dorsett scored a 5-yard rushing touchdown to give Dallas a 1714 lead. What was Clark's cause of death? [16] Sports Illustrated writer Paul Zimmerman named Clark his Player of the Year for 1982. [1][2] He was a member of San Francisco's first two Super Bowl championship teams. I feel honored people are still talking about it, 25 years later. The Catch is widely regarded as one of the greatest plays in National Football League (NFL) history. And I was real tired. Clark caught it! But Snipes? When the 49er contingent arrived on campus, Clark answered the phone by chance on his way out to play golf and was convinced to participate as Fuller's pass catcher at the workout, where Walsh was impressed with his receiving skills.[3][7][14]. According to Clark, Jones reacted to the play by stating "You just beat America's Team" to Montana after the pass was caught, to which Montana replied, "Well, you can sit at home with the rest of America and watch the Super Bowl."[6]. At Clemson, he wore #30, posting only 33 catches for 571 yards, 3 touchdowns and a 17.3-yard average (seventh in school history). ", Holmes, of course, was heavyweight champion Larry Holmes. Jim Stuckey recovered for the 49ers and the rest is history. The team retired his jersey in 1988. His wife, Kelly, announced his passing on. 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. ", 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.". Caught! The NFL has many notable moments. diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Clark finished the game with 8 catches for 120 yards and 2 touchdowns. 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. On August 5, 2007, The Best Damn Sports Show Period did a special show commemorating the top 50 amazing sports catches of all time. And high, as the play was intended. Kid, please, don't insult me." Dallas responded with Danny White's 20-yard pass to Butch Johnson setting up a 44-yard field goal by Rafael Septin. The Bengals, who were 6-10 in 1980 and beat them to the honor by about four hours, defeating San Diego Chargers, 27-7, in the AFC Championship. What Clark displayed during the workout was something the 49ers and no other team had seen on tape. But I certainly suspect it did. After the workout finished, Walsh was impressed with Clarks ability. Things got even better for Dallas when Walls recorded his second interception from Montana on the next drive at the Cowboys 27. Clark disputes that assertion, claiming that it was a backup plan that they practiced many times. He passed peacefully surrounded by many of the people he loved most. It came at the end of a 14-play, 83-yard game-winning drive engineered by Montana. He scored a pair of touchdowns. Montana looking, looking, throwing in the end zone Clark caught it! [20] They moved to Santa Cruz. He also won another Super Bowl in 1984. 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. [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. Dwight Clark, who made one of the most famous catches in NFL history, died Monday -- 15 months after he announced he had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as 49ers hero Dwight Clark's ashes laid to rest next to same goal post from 'The Catch' And this is Dwight Clark's stone in proximity to where he did make 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. You won't want to miss a moment of the 2022 season! 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. Before that, Walls had intercepted Montana twice. I didn't want to take a loss in that situation. Two subsequent touchdown passes by the 49ers to win home playoff games with the team trailing and facing 3rd and 3 with less than a minute to go have also been named after The Catch: 1981 NFC Championship Game: NFL Full Game, Last edited on 28 February 2023, at 14:31, 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship, "Jim jividen: Every NFC Championship Game in San Francisco 49ers History-Part 1", "1982 San Francisco 49ers offensive playbook", "49ers finally put away Cowboys To begin their Super Bowl run", "The backstory to Walter Iooss' photo of", "New England Patriots vs. Oakland Raiders Recap", "Joe Montana on 'The Catch' statues: 'An honor to be remembered forever', "100 Greatest Plays: Numbers 5-1 | NFL 100", @NFL: "No. He was second on the team with 11 receptions for 207 yards and 2 touchdowns, including a career-high 68-yard touchdown catch against the University of Maryland that helped the Tigers win the ACC Championship. The strength, perseverance and grace with which he battled ALS will long serve as an inspiration to so many. Whenever he caught the ball, he made it count and managed to average an impressive 18.8 yards per catch. The Niners unveil The Catch statue outside of Levis Stadium in memory of Dwight Clark ? Walsh invited the receiver to come along and catch passes for his roommate. 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. 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. Clark then retired after the 1987 season finished, and in 1988, the 49ers eventually retired his jersey. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Dallas managed to pick up a few first downs, but were forced to punt, and White's kick gave San Francisco the ball at their own 11 with 4:54 left in the game and three timeouts. He showed tremendous courage and dignity in his battle with ALS and we hope there will soon be a cure for this horrendous disease. "Back then, you didn't know (at first) if it was sharp.". 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. However, the Cowboys soon returned the favor with Danny White's interception to linebacker Bobby Leopold, and this time the 49ers converted, regaining the lead at 2117 with a 2-yard touchdown run by running back Johnny Davis. Montana was flushed from the pocket, and as he faded backward and was hit, he lofted a high pass to Clark in hopes he could come down with it. In 2018, he was inducted into the South Carolina Football Hall of Fame. The concept for the photo. Clark's career and 'The Catch' The fact that Clark got drafted, much less made it on the roster of an NFL team came as a surprise to many. The touchdown, of course, propelled the 49ers to a 28-27 victory over Dallas in the NFC Championship Game. He was unhappy and considered transferring to play basketball at Appalachian State University, until he was finally allowed to play offense. He's also The Chronicle's golf columnist, covering the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and all major championships in Northern California. Dwight Clark, the receiver with movie-star looks and charisma whose iconic catch launched a San Francisco 49ers NFL dynasty, died Monday, less than two years after revealing he had. When the football gods decided to bestow everlasting glory on an athlete with a random moment of triumph, they picked the right guy in . Ryan Tannehill's injuries, Tennessee's struggles and the existence of 2022 third-round pick Malik Willis have prompted many to wonder whether the veteran quarterback's time with the Titans is nearing an end. Dwight Clark, a receiver for the San Francisco 49ers, is best known for making what is now seen as one of the most iconic catches during the 1981 NFC Championship. I love him and will miss him terribly. Holmes survived the knockdown, as would the Niners against the Cowboys. His wife . "The Catch" - January 10, 1982 Before "The Catch" In 2019, in celebration of the NFL's 100th season, NFL Films ranked The Catch second on its list of the 100 Greatest Plays.[9]. [27] He also appeared in the video game All-Pro Football 2K8. Clark, while discussing The Catch in America's Game: The Super Bowl Champions documentary about the 1981 49ers, said: It's humbling, really. I'll be at an autograph thing, there'll be a 10-year old kid saying, "You're The Catch. Touchdown! How's this for an autograph gem: San Francisco 49ers legend Dwight Clark drawing up the play that was called on the famous "The Catch" in the 1981 playoffs. 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]. Touchdown! Montana and the 49ers would defeat the Bengals, 26-21, in Super Bowl XVI. He was 61 years old. Except this time Montana, sprinting right, away from dominant Cowboys pass rusher Harvey Martin, faced a decision. Following this workout, Walsh selected Clark for the 49ers' first pick of the tenth round (249th overall pick) in the NFL draft of 1979. Former NFL running back Warrick Dunn shared the story of how 49ers legend Joe Perry became the first Black NFL MVP. 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