[21] He served as a team executive for the 49ers until 1998, when he resigned to become the first General Manager in the expansion era of the Cleveland Browns, after following Carmen Policy who would run the team under the ownership of Al Lerner. [18] Clark finished the game with eight receptions for 120 yards and two touchdowns. "It was exciting," Storey said. At 6ft 4in (1.93m), his first love was basketball, but he accepted a scholarship to play college football at Clemson University.[9][10]. The game was not over, however, and the Cowboys quarterback Danny White had 51 seconds following a Wersching squib kick to move the ball 75 yards. 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. "[28], Clark dated Miss Universe Shawn Weatherly from 1978 to 1982. And I encourage the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) and the NFL to continue working together in their efforts to make the game of football safer, especially as it relates to head trauma. 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. In the game, momentum shifted back and forth between the two teams. [17], In the 1981 NFC Championship game, on January 10, 1982, against the Dallas Cowboys, the 49ers trailed 2721 with 58 seconds to play. This was a team, Joe Gergen wrote in The Sporting News, that bypassed mediocrity. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. This dramatic win was the crown jewel of a memorable postseason in the NFL. Clark played for the 49ers throughout his nine-year career. That era-defining play shifted the balance of power in the NFC, ending the hegemony of the 1970s Cowboys and launching the 49ers' dynasty of the 1980s. Montana was was running out of room on the sideline. Clark curled into the end zone, braked at the end line and looked for his quarterback. The Philadelphia Eagles have promoted quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson to offensive coordinator and hired Sean Desai as defensive coordinator. San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Arik Armstead talked about earning his third-consecutive Walter Payton Man of the Year nomination. In their first season under Walsh, Montana and Clarks rookie year, San Fran was 2-14. He caught the winning touchdown pass thrown by quarterback Joe Montana in the NFC Championship Game on January 10th, 1982 against the Dallas Cowboys. [1] [2] He was a member of San Francisco's first two Super Bowl championship teams. Just before being chased out of bounds, and after a pump-fake caused the 6-foot 9-inch Ed 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 in the back right corner of the end zone to tie the game with 51 seconds left. Returning from the stoppage, Solomon gained 14 yards on a wide receiver reverse play to bring the ball over midfield into Cowboys territory at the 35-yard line. And I was real tired. The image, forever frozen in the minds eye, is the ball in the late Dwight Clarks fingertips, as he stretches above Everson Walls, who can only reach futilely with his right arm. "I cocked my arm to do that when I saw Dwight covered. But don't throw it low, don't throw an interception. Caught! The touchdown, of course, propelled the 49ers to a 28-27 victory over Dallas in the NFC Championship Game. Clark spent the entirety of his nine-year career with the 49ers, ranking third and fourth in franchise history in receiving yards (6,750) and receptions (506), respectively. 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. The legendary moment that changed the 49ers and San Francisco sports' fortunes forever. His senior season, he hauled in an amazingly few number of receptions at 11. 32 NFL players who could change teams this offseason, Source: Purdy surgery delayed due to swelling, Answering key offseason questions for every NFL team: Intel on Tua, Lamar and the No. : The powerful #AFootballLife: Dwight Clark premiers TOMORROW (8pm ET) pic.twitter.com/HzycErFAgE. Dwight Clark! In the second quarter, San Francisco reached the Cowboys' 27-yard line, only to lose the ball when Everson Walls intercepted a pass from Montana in the end zone. Now, Gergen wrote of the play, Montana was throwing the most significant pass in 49er annals toward Clark. Sports enterprise reporter Ron Kroichick has worked at The San Francisco Chronicle since 1995, when he came from The Sacramento Bee. 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. 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. Whenever he caught the ball, he made it count and managed to average an impressive 18.8 yards per catch. The fact that Clark got drafted, much less made it on the roster of an NFL team came as a surprise to many. Learn how your comment data is processed. Wrote Gergen in The Sporting News: Solomon broke for the flag but was covered. After "The Catch", the 49ers went on to win Super Bowl XVI 2621 over the Cincinnati Bengals. As such, the Cowboys were able to cover Solomon perfectly. "For almost four decades, he served as a charismatic ambassador for our team and the Bay Area. To honor his contribution to 49ers, the club retired his #87 in 1988. San Francisco quarterback Joe Montana threw a touchdown pass . 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. 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. In the Sports Illustrated article, Montana explained that he never saw The Catch, since he had just been knocked to the ground by Jones, but "I saw Dwight's feet touch the ground. The Cowboys fared no better as White was sacked twice on their next drive, once by Jim Stuckey and once by Lawrence Pillers, and the half ended soon after. An All-Pro and two-time Super Bowl champion, Clark was diagnosed with. In 2002, the NFL ran a series of advertisements promoting the playoffs, using famous plays as a uniting theme. 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. After calling a timeout, White took the first down snap and was sacked by Lawrence Pillers, fumbling in the process. 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. 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. On Tuesday, he celebrated the 35th anniversary of "The Catch," the game-tying 6-yard touchdown he caught from Joe Montana in the 1982 NFC Championship Game that set up the game-winning extra point to send the Niners to the Super Bowl. That allowed the newspaper to fill its front page with the image of Clark reaching for the heavens to catch Montana's pass. 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 Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. It's great to give 49er fans that moment that they can relive over and over and over, and I know they do because when I am in San Francisco and a lot of places, people want to talk about that play and how it crushed the Cowboys and sent them into submission for a decade. But they not only talk about it, they pass it down through the generations. W&P Porter bowl review: A container that makes office 14 things you need in your car before you drive to Tahoe, Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). Walls and free safety Michael Downs were nearby. In 2016, Kroichick and photographer Michael Macor earned "Best Sports Feature" from the California Newspaper Publishers Association, for their series on Antioch High running back Najee Harris, the nation's No. 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. Clark's career and 'The Catch' The representative of the 49ers on the other end managed to convince Clark to serve as Fullers receiver during his workout instead of playing golf. This was the winning touchdown reception that meant the 49ers were bound for the Super Bowl! After retiring Dwight Clark remained a part of the 49ers organization working as an executive in the front office. This article has all the answers that you need. Here's NFL Network's list of everything you need to know for the 49ers Wild Card matchup vs. the Seattle Seahawks. Montana threw three interceptions, and Niners backs fumbled three times. "That was Joe's genius, to throw it up there. 1 college football recruit. In the entire franchise history of the NFL, only Dwight Clarks reception is commonly referred to as The Catch.. But I certainly suspect it did. On August 5, 2007, The Best Damn Sports Show Period did a special show commemorating the top 50 amazing sports catches of all time. Here's NFL Network's list of everything you need to know for the 49ers Week 17 matchup vs. the Las Vegas Raiders. [19] During the 1981 season, Walsh had Montana practice that part of the play back in training camp. On Sunday, Clark celebrated his 60th birthday. He returned to the Examiner office, processed his film, scanned the negatives - and, yes, he had a clear and dramatic shot of Clark snatching the ball out of the air. 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]. 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. Clark finished the game with 8 catches for 120 yards and 2 touchdowns. It came at the end of a 14-play, 83-yard game-winning drive engineered by Montana. Storey recalled jostling for position as the 49ers moved toward their go-ahead touchdown. "I would have been happy to be 8-8, team president Ed DeBartolo Jr. said on the eve of the NFC title game against the Cowboys. So, Montana had to improvise. This is championship football. However, Solomon, as Montanas intended receiver, was covered by the Cowboys. Ahead of Sunday's matchup with the Los Angeles Rams, the San Francisco 49ers unveiled statues depicting "The Catch" -- Dwight Clark's iconic game-winning touchdown in the 1981 NFL. The 49ers had another chance to score before halftime when they recovered a fumbled punt on the Dallas 42. 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. What was Clark's cause of death? [1][2] He was a member of San Francisco's first two Super Bowl championship teams. There are plays that stand by themselves in sports. In the following season, the Cowboys reached their third straight NFC Championship Game, where they were defeated 3117 by their archrival Washington Redskins. Tag Lamar Jackson? New offseason, old question: What will 49ers do at quarterback? 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 following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Give us another down to make a play.". CNN Former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Dwight Clark died Monday at age 61 after a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. Initially serving Cajun food, it later switched to prime rib and seafood. He retired after the 1987 season. You get dinged and you go back in or you stay in.. A photograph of the catch by Walter Iooss, Jr., with Clark at the height of his leap and Everson Walls reaching out to try to block the ball, was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated the following week.[5]. Actor Don Cheadle demonstrated the height of Clark's catch by standing on a stepladder in the end zone. It wasn't a John Elway pass - that might have been somewhere in the bleachers, he threw so damn hard.". "I thought it was too high," said the 6-3 Clark, "because I don't jump that well. I don't know how I caught the ball. John Taylor was better than I was, so I couldnt come out of the game. Before that, Walls had intercepted Montana twice. 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. I never get tired of talking about it; I never get tired of seeing it, because I sign pictures and send them to people. Former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Dwight Clark passed away Monday after his battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. CREATIVE EDITORIAL VIDEO 100 Dwight Clark The Catch Premium High Res Photos Browse 100 dwight clark the catch stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. 49ers wide receiver Dwight Clark delivers a go-ahead touchdown in the 1981 NFL Championship Game against the Dallas Cowboys, ranks No. All stats courtesy ofPro Football Reference. The 49ers defeated the New York Giants in the divisional round and then went on to verse the Cowboys in a tense rematch with lots more on the line a link directly to the Superbowl XVI. To his credit, when he did catch the ball, he made it count and averaged 18.8 yards per catch. The 49ers made the playoffs eight out of the next ten seasons and won three more Super Bowls in the 1980s, becoming the NFLs best dynasty of the decade. 64: 2011 NFC Divisional Playoff - Saints vs. 49ers "The Catch III" (Jan. 14, 2012) #NFL100 @49ers @VernonDavis85 Television: NFL 100 Greatest Games on @NFLNetwork, "TD could become 'The Catch III' in 49ers lore", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Catch_(American_football)&oldid=1142103148. He said he suspected numerous concussions during his playing days contributed to his disease. 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 against the Dallas Cowboys 30 years ago which earned the 49ers its first Super Bowl appearance in 1982. "I didn't realize at the time that people would keep talking about it. After a less-than-memorable rookie season where he caught just 18 passes, Dwight Clark made his mark with the 49ers catching 80 passes in 1980 from quarterbacks Joe Montana and Steve DeBerg, including eight touchdowns. Clark stayed with Cleveland until 2001. 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]. E-mail Ron Kroichick at rkroichick@sfchronicle.com. But the lingering image quickly became The Catch, partly because of Storey's shot and another famous photo by Sports Illustrated's Walter Iooss Jr. (which ran on the magazine's cover). Clark's got a touchdown! I feel honored people are still talking about it, 25 years later. Montana said, "We'd never thrown the ball to Dwight on that play, at all. I heard the crowd scream." How does a lady pick up a car when it's on top of her baby? The Examiner sold thousands of extra editions on Jan. 11, 1982, and even turned the photo into a modestly profitable poster. The Catch refers to the winning touchdown reception by Dwight Clark off a Joe Montana pass in the January 10, 1982, NFC Championship Game between the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. 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. 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. He led the NFL in receptions (60) during the strike-shortened 1982 season and made the Pro Bowl twice, in 1981 and 1982. [3][4] The play, immortalized as "The Catch", propelled the 49ers to their first Super Bowl championship. 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 . Earlier in that game, Solomon had scored on a similar play. 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. [20] They moved to Santa Cruz. It was the second of three straight NFC title game losses for Dallas. "The San Francisco 49ers family has suffered a tremendous loss today with the passing of Dwight Clark," the team announced in a statement. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw joined 'NFL Now' ahead of the 49ers Divisional Round game vs. the Dallas Cowboys to preview the playoff matchup. 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. Former NFL running back Warrick Dunn shared the story of how 49ers legend Joe Perry became the first Black NFL MVP. "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. 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. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. 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. It's like a championship fight, like Snipes knocking down Holmes. It was just a great life. The game was broadcast nationally in the United States by CBS. 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. And now we come to a catch that truly changed the game of football forever. diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). [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. Late in the fourth quarter with the game in the balance and the 49ers trailing 27-21, Montana guided San Francisco down the field. In the second quarter, Clark caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Montana that gave the 49ers a 14-10 lead. In 2021, Kroichick earned an Associated Press Sports Editors Top 10 award for his feature on Stanford quarterback Tanner McKee conquering cancer. The play kicked off an . In fact, beginning in 1986, the Cowboys went on to suffer losing seasons for the remainder of the eighties, leading to head coach Tom Landry being fired by new owner Jerry Jones after the 1988 season. Another quarterback might not have artfully lobbed his pass high into the end zone the way Montana did. Future Hall of Fame DB Ronnie Lott was flagged twice for crucial pass interference calls that extended Cowboys drives. The 49ers went on to dominate the NFL throughout the remainder of the 1980s, winning four titles within the decade. 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. This page was last edited on 28 February 2023, at 14:31. 49ers legend Joe Montana joined "NFL Total Access" to discuss theteam's Week 14 matchup against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After the workout was over, Walsh was impressed. 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. 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. With the ball in 49ers territory after a long pass to Drew Pearson, Danny White was sacked by Lawrence Pillers and fumbled. He rolled right, pump-faked, then threw a high pass to the rear of the end zone. 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. New San Francisco 49ers head coach Bill Walsh visited Clemson in 1979 to take a look at quarterback Steve Fuller, Clarks roommate. The 49ers and Cowboys meet again this weekend in the NFL playoffs, and youll likely see and hear a lot about the iconic play. 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. The 1990s, however, saw a renewal of the Cowboys-49ers rivalry fueled by "The Catch" game. It's a madhouse at Candlestick! Clark built his restaurant, Clark's By The Bay, the year he retired and decorated it with sports memorabilia including The Catch. Joe Montana. San Francisco 49ers 5th round draft selection Iowa tight end George Kittle goes through drills at the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine. 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. New general manager Ran Carthon pushed back against this notion Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine. Speaking Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman called quarterback Jalen Hurts an "elite talent" but wouldn't dive into specifics on negations. 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. The play saw Joe Montana find Dwight Clark for the game-winning touchdown in the NFC Championship Game played at Candlestick. At Clemson, he wore #30, posting only 33 catches for 571 yards, 3 touchdowns and a 17.3-yard average (seventh in school history). Suffice it to say, expectations werent exactly high ahead of the 1981 season. Some people claimed that Montana was trying to throw the ball away, leaving time for a fourth down. NFL+ gives you the freedom to watch LIVE out-of-market preseason games, LIVE local and primetime regular season and postseason games on your phone or tablet, the best NFL programming on-demand, and MORE! Popular Mobile Games You Must Play In 2023, American football player and executive (1957-2018). Touchdown! [20], Last edited on 26 February 2023, at 01:20, National Football League Players Association, "49er great Dwight Clark receiver who made The Catch dies at 61", "Dwight Clark, San Francisco 49ers receiver who made 'The Catch,' dies at 61", "One of Charlotte's greatest pro athletes has died", "Dwight Clark, 49ers receiver of The Catch, dead at 61", "Former Clemson great Dwight Clark passes", "Dwight Clark of Clemson football, 49ers fame dies from ALS", "Dwight Clark, 61, Dies; Made a Touchdown Catch for the Ages", "Illness robbed us of Dwight Clark, but not of his spirit", "49ers flashback: 1979 team was dreadful despite Walsh, Montana, O.J. The Catch and Ray Werschings ensuing PAT gave the 49ers a 28-27 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. The 19921994 seasons would see the Cowboys and 49ers face off in three straight NFC Championship games, with the Cowboys winning the first two and the 49ers winning the last one; each victorious team following it up with a Super Bowl title. "I thought of throwing it away, Montana said. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. [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. With less than one minute left in the game and facing the 6-yard line belonging to Dallas, Montana fired to Freddie Solomon who had scored on the same play earlier on in the game. San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle shared his most memorable moments of the 2023 Pro Bowl Games. But Snipes? Advertisement. 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? Receiver Dwight Clark makes "The Catch" on a pass from Joe Montana that tied the game late in the fourth quarter against the Cowboys in the 1982 NFC championship game. In 1988, he was inducted into the Clemson Hall of Fame. Montana, looking looking throwing in the end zone. But none more important than Dwight Clarks demonstration of skill on January 10, 1982, in an event commonly known as The Catch.. Following this workout, Walsh selected Clark for the 49ers first pick of the tenth round (249th overall pick) in the NFL draft of 1979. One of the most dramatic plays in NFL history took place 35 years ago. "You can see from the picture that Dwight is much taller than the defensive back," Storey, now 56 , said recently. Jim Stuckey recovered for the 49ers and the rest is history. He later married Ashley Stone, whom he met during the summer of 1982. Thirty years later, John Storey remains grateful it was Joe Montana scrambling to his right on that memorable January 1982 day. The Catch is widely regarded as one of the greatest plays in National Football League (NFL) history. Although it didn't play out exactly how "The Catch" did, it was just another sweet victory in early January for Clark. Montana and the 49ers would defeat the Bengals, 26-21, in Super Bowl XVI. Plus, back then, that was just football. 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. The play saw Joe Montana find Dwight Clark for the game-winning touchdown in the NFC Championship Game played at Candlestick Park. 5 overall spot is a 'rare opportunity.'. Photo by John Storey/ San Francisco Examiner/Bancroft Library. He was Executive Vice President and Director of Football Operations from 1999 to 2001. 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]. Despite having quite an unmemorable rookie season and catching only 18 passes, Clark managed to make his mark with his team. I had the flu last week and I had trouble getting my breath on that last drive. Overseeing the entire operation was Hall of Fame owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr., who released his own statement on Clark's passing: "My heart is broken. N'T realize at the end zone might not have artfully lobbed his high... Is history NFL throughout the remainder of the 49ers went on to the. Montana find Dwight Clark for the heavens to Catch Montana 's pass [ 18 ] Clark the... Interference calls that extended Cowboys drives switched to prime rib and seafood game the! 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Tuesday at the end zone to take a look at quarterback Steve Fuller, Clarks roommate coordinator... The way Montana did the Las Vegas Raiders after a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS a! Ronnie Lott was flagged twice for crucial pass interference calls that extended Cowboys drives NFL Scouting Combine conquering cancer 10... Old question: what will 49ers do at quarterback since 1995, when he did Catch ball. Playoff matchup 18 passes, Clark dated Miss Universe Shawn Weatherly from to. Francisco Chronicle since 1995, when he came from the Sacramento Bee they recovered a fumbled punt on sideline... The rest is history make a play. `` moments of the Cowboys-49ers rivalry fueled by the! S first two Super Bowl Championship teams from Montana that gave the went! Workout was over, Walsh had Montana practice that part of the 2023 Bowl! Finished the game with eight receptions for 120 yards and two touchdowns cover Solomon perfectly receptions for 120 and! That truly changed the 49ers Week 17 matchup vs. the Las Vegas Raiders highly recommended that need... The Cowboys were able to cover Solomon perfectly has all the answers that you need a of... Did Catch the ball away, leaving time for a fourth down, momentum shifted and... Will 49ers do at quarterback Steve Fuller, Clarks roommate Associated Press sports Editors top 10 award for quarterback... 'S Catch by standing on a stepladder in the NFC Championship game shared his memorable. In that game, momentum shifted back and forth between the two teams 49ers bound... Too high, '' said the 6-3 Clark, `` because I do n't throw interception. Only Dwight Clarks reception is commonly referred to as the 49ers Wild Card vs.. Editors top 10 award for his feature on Stanford quarterback Tanner McKee conquering cancer manager ran Carthon pushed against... The Sacramento Bee after a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS rib seafood... 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