On second-and-ten, Elliot ran the ball for six yards, to the Dallas six yard line, setting up a third and four for the 49ers, with a possible first down to be made at the 2-yard line and the ball spotted between the hashmarks as the team called their second timeout.[2]. Nine and a half yards deep in the end zone! 49ers wide receiver Dwight Clark delivers a go-ahead touchdown in the 1981 NFL Championship Game against the Dallas Cowboys, ranks No. In 2017, Clark shocked the sports world when he announced that he had been diagnosed with Lou Gehrigs Disease or ALS. 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. If that doesnt work, then keep rolling, you can run in if it's open. Throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s, the play was immortalized in advertisements for Kodak film: a television commercial using a snippet of Barbra Streisand's "The Way We Were" as its jingle and featuring The Catch as shown by NFL Films, and a magazine ad featuring a photo still of The Catch, accompanied by the caption, "The 49ers grab a TD and a title.". The representation of Clark, with his hands outstretched, will extend 11 . Dwight Clark. [19] During the 1981 season, Walsh had Montana practice that part of the play back in training camp. 49ers wide receiver Dwight Clark delivers a go-ahead touchdown in the 1981 NFL Championship Game against the Dallas Cowboys, ranks No. 5 overall spot is a 'rare opportunity.'. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. One minute into the fourth quarter, Septin kicked a 22-yard field goal that cut the scoring difference down to 1 point at 2120. "It was exciting," Storey said. Five seasons after The Catch, Clark took a job in the 49ers' front office, where he won three more rings. The San Francisco 49ers defense is the Nickelodeon MVP of Week 13, 2022. 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. 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? In a game where the lead shifted back and forth repeatedly, the 49ers took over the ball at their own 11-yard line . The Niners would go on to win Super Bowl XVI, the first professional sports championship the city of San Francisco had ever experienced. 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. But don't throw it low, don't throw an interception. What Clark displayed during the workout was something the 49ers and no other team had seen on tape. The team retired his jersey in 1988. Third and three. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. Coincidentally, 40-plus years later, the same teams will play on CBS this Sunday in an NFC Wild-Card Game. In the third quarter, San Francisco had another scoring opportunity when Dwight Hicks returned a punt 12 yards to midfield. After suffering through several losses early on in the 1981 season, the Montana-led 49ers cruised straight into the playoffs with an impressive record. Walls and free safety Michael Downs were nearby. Programming note: Watch "Joe Montana: Cool Under Pressure," a documentary chronicling the life of the legendary 49ers QB, exclusively on Peacock TV. Because Solomon, the first option, was covered, Montana was supposed to look to Clark as his second option. In the Eastern time zone, Renfrow scored his touchdown on Jan. 10, exactly 35 years after Clark made "The Catch.". Elliot then set up a third-and-four with a six-yard run. Watch 49ers Arik Armstead work out at the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine. Barnwell forecasts offseason moves for all 32 NFL teams, Supplemental Privacy Policy for Singapore, Covered Rams for nine years for stlouisrams.com, Previously covered University of Missouri football, Member of Pro Football Writers of America. The Cowboys had Solomon covered. But he landed a priceless shot - that's former Chronicle columnist Ray Ratto in the background, incidentally, wearing a white tie and looking mighty young - and a cool memory. The Catch is listed as #17. After a 15-yard illegal block penalty on Clark, Montana lost a fumble while being sacked by Harvey Martin. I may sit and think about that moment couple of times a year, and how awesome it was to be a part of that play and to be a part of the 49ers in the '80s. "You can see from the picture that Dwight is much taller than the defensive back," Storey, now 56 , said recently. 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). 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. You won't want to miss a moment of the 2022 season! He was Executive Vice President and Director of Football Operations from 1999 to 2001. 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 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. He was responsible for one of the most iconic plays in NFL history that began our run of Super Bowl championships, but to me, he will always be an extension of my family. Bob Hille is a senior content consultant for The Sporting News. Apr 14, 2015. 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. Later, in the locker room, he expressed his amazement at how high Clark had jumped. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Solomon caught a quick sprintout pass from Montana for an 8-yard score. 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. 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. As for the height of the catch, Montana has said that he didn't feel that he threw the ball very high. 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 analyst Brian Baldinger explained what he loved about San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy's first NFL start and how the offense gelled against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 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 2 on the "NFL 100 Greatest" ranking of the top 100 plays of all time. Caught! And then Dwight Clark might not have made The Catch. San Francisco wide receiver Dwight Clark made a leaping grab in the back of the end zone to complete a 6-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Joe Montana, enabling the 49ers to defeat the Cowboys, 28-27. Clark tallied 506 catches for 6,750 yards and 48 touchdowns, along with 50 rushing yards in his nine NFL seasons with the 49ers. "The San Francisco 49ers family has suffered a tremendous loss today with the passing of Dwight Clark," the team announced in a statement. [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. I cannot put into words how special Dwight was to me and to everyone his life touched. His wife . Jim Stuckey recovered for the 49ers and the rest is history. In 2021, Kroichick earned an Associated Press Sports Editors Top 10 award for his feature on Stanford quarterback Tanner McKee conquering cancer. Jim Stuckey recovered the dropped ball, giving the 49ers offense possession near midfield, and allowing Montana to kneel down twice and run out the clock. Walsh invited the receiver to come along and catch passes for his roommate. How did he die?. Clark built his restaurant, Clark's By The Bay, the year he retired and decorated it with sports memorabilia including The Catch. When asked about his team's success with the play, GM Howie Roseman said "All I know is everything we're doing is legal and works.". 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. "Everybody says they were there," Storey said of The Catch. To his credit, when he did catch the ball, he made it count and averaged 18.8 yards per catch. : The powerful #AFootballLife: Dwight Clark premiers TOMORROW (8pm ET) pic.twitter.com/HzycErFAgE. The fact that Clark got drafted, much less made it on the roster of an NFL team came as a surprise to many. "I cocked my arm to do that when I saw Dwight covered. With the ball in 49ers territory after a long pass to Drew Pearson, Danny White was sacked by Lawrence Pillers and fumbled. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw joined 'NFL Now' ahead of the 49ers Divisional Round game vs. the Dallas Cowboys to preview the playoff matchup. Your email address will not be published. He was an amazing husband, father, grandfather, brother and a great friend and teammate. Clark played his entire nine-year career with the 49ers and earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors in 1982. 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. Although Pete Carroll seems to want QB Geno Smith back in 2023, the Seahawks HC said Tuesday that picking at the No. That would be Renaldo Snipes, who in November 1981 gave Holmes a surprisingly tough bout in Pittsburgh, including, by one account, a perfectly timed overhand right (that) connected cleanly with Holmes chin and caused the champions legs to fold up like a defective lawn chair collapsing under an unsuspecting party guest.. 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. [1], Montana started the drive with 89 yards to reach the end zone. He caught the winning touchdown pass thrown by quarterback Joe Montana in the NFC Championship Game on January 10th, 1982 against the Dallas Cowboys. 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]. He rolled right, pump-faked, then threw a high pass to the rear of the end zone. He showed tremendous courage and dignity in his battle with ALS and we hope there will soon be a cure for this horrendous disease. Before that, Walls had intercepted Montana twice. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. 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. 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. We won't call this on fourth down. After nine seasons with the 49ers, Clark retired following the 1987 season. "The Catch" - January 10, 1982 Before "The Catch" 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. "For almost four decades, he served as a charismatic ambassador for our team and the Bay Area. The Catch and Ray Werschings ensuing PAT gave the 49ers a 28-27 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Some people claimed that Montana was trying to throw the ball away, leaving time for a fourth down. Clark was not the intended receiver on the play call. 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. 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. And now we come to a catch that truly changed the game of football forever. Montana and the 49ers would defeat the Bengals, 26-21, in Super Bowl XVI. When Walsh called to arrange a workout for Fuller, Clark happened to answer the phone. [36] He was the father-in-law of former NHL defenseman Peter Harrold. In the October 16, 2001 episode "My Old Lady" of the American television sitcom/medical drama Scrubs, when a dying patient David asks if anyone has ever heard of The Catch, Turk comes in and says, "Niners-Cowboys, Joe Montana to Dwight Clark deep in the end-zone, zero time left. Their record improved, as did Montana and Clark, in 1980, going 6-10. In 2018, he was inducted into the South Carolina Football Hall of Fame. On the first play from scrimmage, White hit Drew Pearson for a 31-yard reception, bringing the Cowboys over the midfield line and leaving them only 10 to 15 yards to reach field goal range. Dwight Clark catches the ball! 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. 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! On October 21, 2018, the 49ers unveiled a statue outside Levi's Stadium depicting The Catch. However, Clark leaped as high as he could only to get his fingertips on the ball. The 49ers went on to dominate the NFL throughout the remainder of the 1980s, winning four titles within the decade. This article has all the answers that you need. [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 way I remember it is, we had practiced it during practice maybe once, and then Bill [Walsh] kept Joe and I after practice during training camp, and he said, "This is what were going to do; were going to try to pick the defender thats covering Freddie, hit him, touchdown. He said he suspected numerous concussions during his playing days contributed to his disease. Despite having quite an unmemorable rookie season and catching only 18 passes, Clark managed to make his mark with his team. 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