how high did dwight clark jump in the catch

In 2021, Kroichick earned an Associated Press Sports Editors Top 10 award for his feature on Stanford quarterback Tanner McKee conquering cancer. The theme of Josh McDaniels' media session at the NFL Scouting Combine was consistently vague: After releasing Derek Carr, the Raiders are going to explore every avenue to address quarterback. Local San Francisco radio station KCBS also provided their own broadcast, as they did for all 49ers games, with Don Klein and Wayne Walker providing the play-by-play and color respectively. On radio, it was Jack Buck and Pat Summerall doing the play-by-play and color respectively. Clark died on Monday, aged 61. Thirty years later, John Storey remains grateful it was Joe Montana scrambling to his right on that memorable January 1982 day. 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. Late in the fourth quarter with the game in the balance and the 49ers trailing 27-21, Montana guided San Francisco down the field. At Clemson, he wore #30, posting only 33 catches for 571 yards, 3 touchdowns and a 17.3-yard average (seventh in school history). diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). 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. Another quarterback might not have artfully lobbed his pass high into the end zone the way Montana did. San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle shared his most memorable moments of the 2023 Pro Bowl Games. But they not only talk about it, they pass it down through the generations. Plus, back then, that was just football. Lined up in the slot on the right side in the first quarter, 49ers receiver Freddie Solomon took off for the flag as Clark, lined up wide right, curled inside. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. Three plays later, running back Tony Dorsett scored a 5-yard rushing touchdown to give Dallas a 1714 lead. 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. Here's NFL Network's list of everything you need to know for the 49ers Week 15 matchup vs. the Seattle Seahawks. Despite having quite an unmemorable rookie season and catching only 18 passes, Clark managed to make his mark with his team. Montana and the 49ers would defeat the Bengals, 26-21, in Super Bowl XVI. 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. 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. 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. Montana rolls out of the pocket, backpedals, pump fakes, spots Clark, throws the ball and a 49ers dynasty is born. [3][4] That play, one of the most famous in the history of the NFL, has been immortalized as "The Catch". Late on in the fourth quarter with the game hanging in the balance and the 49ers trailing with 27-21, Montana swiftly guided the 49ers down the entire field. While the 49ers had begun the 1970s winning three consecutive NFC West titles (19701972) and losing two NFC Championship Games (1970-1971 seasons) to the Cowboys, they had spent the remainder of the decade as a losing team. 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. It came at the end of a 14-play, 83-yard game-winning drive engineered by Montana. That's the camera he used to track Montana as he drifted toward the opposite sideline, evaded the pass rush and eventually floated the ball toward the back of the end zone. [1], Montana started the drive with 89 yards to reach the end zone. "I'm sure the Dallas defense is saying, We forced six errors. And they'd be right. "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. Kroichick writes features on the Warriors during the NBA season, and various other topics - ranging from the 49ers/NFL and major-league baseball to college football and basketball - the rest of the year. Im heartbroken to tell you that today I lost my best friend and husband. It's like a championship fight, like Snipes knocking down Holmes. He joined Comcast SportsNet Bay Area in 2011 as an analyst for 49ers Postgame Live. But Snipes? 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. This was a team, Joe Gergen wrote in The Sporting News, that bypassed mediocrity. Former San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator and current Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans was named the AP Assistant Coach of the Year award. 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. Walls and free safety Michael Downs were nearby. "At least I have a picture to prove it.". He rolled right, pump-faked, then threw a high pass to the rear of the end zone. "The Catch" - January 10, 1982 Before "The Catch" Clark played for the 49ers throughout his nine-year career. 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. 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. The San Francisco 49ers selected Clark with the first pick of the tenth round (249th overall) of the 1979 NFL Draft, even though some people in the organization questioned the selection at the time, considering he was seen as an undrafted free agent. 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. Even then, before the spate of titles, this was a transcendent moment in Bay Area sports - the 49ers had finally conquered the Cowboys. Clark had plans to play a round of golf and was headed out to play when he answered the phone. All stats courtesy ofPro Football Reference. 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. Watch 49ers Arik Armstead work out at the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine. The Catch was the game-winning touchdown reception in the 1981 NFC Championship Game played between the Dallas Cowboys and the eventual Super Bowl XVI champion San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on January 10, 1982, as part of the 1981-82 NFL playoffs. The game was broadcast nationally in the United States by CBS. How does a lady pick up a car when it's on top of her baby? I'll be at an autograph thing, there'll be a 10-year old kid saying, "You're The Catch. George Rose/Getty Images. Montana lines up at the five and on third down and three he rolls right, looking to throw looking to throw and he throws into the end zone Touchdown! 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. Photo by John Storey/ San Francisco Examiner/Bancroft Library. [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. Although Pete Carroll seems to want QB Geno Smith back in 2023, the Seahawks HC said Tuesday that picking at the No. Joe Montana. In 2017, Clark shocked the sports world when he announced that he had been diagnosed with Lou Gehrigs Disease or ALS. This dramatic win was the crown jewel of a memorable postseason in the NFL. In 1988, he was inducted into the Clemson Hall of Fame. Storey's photo filled nearly the entire front page of the next day's Examiner, accompanied by the headline, "Super!" It's a madhouse at Candlestick! Despite the hurried and improvised look of the play on the field, it had mostly run according to plan. San Francisco 49ers third round draft selection BYU linebacker Fred Warner goes through drills at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine. Storey got $100 in a bonus from the paper. His senior season, he hauled in an amazingly few number of receptions at 11. But don't throw it low, don't throw an interception. The touchdown, of course, propelled the 49ers to a 28-27 victory over Dallas in the NFC Championship Game. Popular Mobile Games You Must Play In 2023, American football player and executive (1957-2018). Clark finished the game with 8 catches for 120 yards and 2 touchdowns. We won't call this on fourth down. "That was Joe's genius, to throw it up there. Guys would take my job. The Cowboys did have a last chance for victory. 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. Thats because Clarks discovery came about by accident. When the football gods decided to bestow everlasting glory on an athlete with a random moment of triumph, they picked the right guy in . San Francisco quarterback Joe Montana threw a touchdown pass . Having taken the lead on Clarks catch and the PAT, the 49ers saw their defense snuffout a potential miracle Cowboys finish when Lawrence Pillers sacked Dallas QB Danny White, causing a fumble recovered by the Niners Jim Stuckey. There are plays that stand by themselves in sports. Another photographer, Lee Romero, suggested Storey crop the photo vertically. 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. Dallas responded with Danny White's 20-yard pass to Butch Johnson setting up a 44-yard field goal by Rafael Septin. 10 teams that could have interest, and how much cash he could get. 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]. Thats because Clark was never a featured receiver at Clemson. Today, I lost my little brother and one of my best friends. 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 . In the game, momentum shifted back and forth between the two teams. With the ball in 49ers territory after a long pass to Drew Pearson, Danny White was sacked by Lawrence Pillers and fumbled. The Catch was the reason for a resurgence in visitors to the city after a tough couple of years caused by lots of negative press coverage. The Catch happened when Montana called Change Left Slot Sprint Right Option.. 'The Catch' at 40: 5 things to know about that 49ers-Cowboys game. But how did it occur? I had the flu last week and I had trouble getting my breath on that last drive. As such, the Cowboys were able to cover Solomon perfectly. After the workout finished, Walsh was impressed with Clarks ability. An offside penalty against the Cowboys on the next play gave Montana a fresh set of downs to work with, and Montana completed a 5-yard pass to Earl Cooper just before the 2-minute warning. [18] Clark finished the game with eight receptions for 120 yards and two touchdowns. 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 . 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. 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 . 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. Being fairly tall himself, at 6-foot 4-inches (193 cm) tall, Clark was able to use all of his length to jump and grab the ball with the tips of his fingers completing one of the most memorable plays in NFL history. Our hearts and prayers are with his wife Kelly, his children and the entire Clark family.". Kelly Clark. Wrote Gergen in The Sporting News: Solomon broke for the flag but was covered. He was an amazing husband, father, grandfather, brother and a great friend and teammate. Their record improved, as did Montana and Clark, in 1980, going 6-10. The San Francisco 49ers lined up in a split backs formation, with Joe Montana under center. John Taylor was better than I was, so I couldnt come out of the game. Following the Gatorade logo, the real version was shown with Dwight Clark's completion. 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. It wasn't a John Elway pass - that might have been somewhere in the bleachers, he threw so damn hard.". He was 61 years old. New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen spoke to the media on Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine, updating reporters on contract negotiations with Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley. "I will always remember Dwight the way he was -- larger than life, handsome, charismatic and the one who could pull off wearing a fur coat at our Super Bowl parade. [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. In the Niners' version, Montana's first read was supposed to be receiver Freddie Solomon, who was supposed to shake loose via pick, just as Renfrow did. But I certainly suspect it did. In their first season under Walsh, Montana and Clarks rookie year, San Fran was 2-14. [33] "I've been asked if playing football caused this," Clark wrote. 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. This included a 45-14 win over the Dallas Cowboys earlier on in the year. In fact, before his infamous part in The Catch, the Cowboys cornerback had recovered a fumble by the 49ers Walt Easley. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw joined 'NFL Now' ahead of the 49ers Divisional Round game vs. the Dallas Cowboys to preview the playoff matchup. 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! Clark had been Joe Montana's running mate, and he was himself a legend to football fans, but the prospect of meeting Mays turned Dwight into a hero-worshiping kid. San Francisco 49ers receiver Dwight Clark is known for making one of the most iconic catches during the 1981 NFC Championship game. Clark tallied 506 catches for 6,750 yards and 48 touchdowns, along with 50 rushing yards in his nine NFL seasons with the 49ers. When Walsh called to arrange a workout for Fuller, Clark happened to answer the phone. 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. [24] He would later return to North Carolina to run his real estate business. 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. In 2018, he was inducted into the South Carolina Football Hall of Fame. Those two calls added up to 10 points, Lott noted in The Sporting News. Clark stayed with Cleveland until 2001. Actor Don Cheadle demonstrated the height of Clark's catch by standing on a stepladder in the end zone. [11] Unheralded as a collegian playing alongside wide receiver Jerry Butler, Clark felt fortunate to get to the NFL.[12]. "Back then, you didn't know (at first) if it was sharp.". The Catch is widely regarded as one of the greatest plays in National Football League (NFL) history. I heard the crowd scream." Touchdown, San Francisco, by Dwight Clark! Clark disputes that assertion, claiming that it was a backup plan that they practiced many times. After calling a timeout, White took the first down snap and was sacked by Lawrence Pillers, fumbling in the process. He was Executive Vice President and Director of Football Operations from 1999 to 2001. Clark then retired after the 1987 season finished, and in 1988, the 49ers eventually retired his jersey. To his credit, when he did catch the ball, he made it count and averaged 18.8 yards per catch. The legendary moment that changed the 49ers and San Francisco sports' fortunes forever. The twin statues feature an airborne Clark leaping high into the air for a fingertip catch, just as he did for "The Catch" against the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Championship game on Jan. 10, 1982. 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. Give us another down to make a play.". [16][31], Clark married Kelly Radzikowski in 2011. Required fields are marked *. He was a member of two Super Bowl-winning teams (XVI and XIX). 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. 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. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Because Solomon, the first option, was covered, Montana was supposed to look to Clark as his second option. And, in fact, it was the Cowboys who made the final, fatal mistake. 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. "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. [37] Clark had a close friendship with former 49ers owner Edward J. DeBartolo Jr.[2] DeBartolo sent Clark to Japan in 2017 to bring back a three-month supply of the drug Radicava before it became available in the United States. 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. To his credit, when he did catch the ball, he made it count and averaged 18.8 yards per catch. However, Clark leaped as high as he could only to get his fingertips on the ball. This meant Montana had to improvise. The fact that Clark got drafted, much less made it on the roster of an NFL team came as a surprise to many. "We extend our condolences and prayers to Dwight's wife, Kelly, his family, friends and fans, as we join together to mourn the death of one the most beloved figures in 49ers history. All four broadcasts featured memorable calls by the announcers. ", Holmes, of course, was heavyweight champion Larry Holmes. One of the most dramatic plays in NFL history took place 35 years ago. [32] He stated that he believed he developed ALS as a result of playing football; he suffered three concussions during his playing career. [27] He also appeared in the video game All-Pro Football 2K8. I never get tired of talking about it; I never get tired of seeing it, because I sign pictures and send them to people. 'Zero visibility' conditions: All roads to Tahoe are closed, Horoscope for Wednesday, 3/01/23 by Christopher Renstrom, My meal at this landmark SF spot was too expensive to be so bad, One of the largest movie theaters in SF to close permanently, Report: Matthew McConaughey has a massive Salesforce paycheck, 'Really cool sight': Rare waterspout forms in Northern California, Man shot dead near San Francisco Ferry Building, A different horse': Bay Area will likely continue to see rain, 'Lady in the fridge' murder victim ID'd as Bay Area mother of 3, 'Life threatening': Tahoe braces for massive blizzard, Snow shuts down over 70 miles of I-80 in Northern California, These East Bay gems are a haven for music lovers, How to score cheap flights (and mistake fares) in 2023. After retiring Dwight Clark remained a part of the 49ers organization working as an executive in the front office. 49ers: 30 years ago, photographer caught The Catch, SF 49ERS DWIGHT CLARK MAKING " THE CATCH " 49ERS VS. DALLAS COWBOYS, 10 JAN82, 1981 NFC championship game in San Francisco. 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. The 49ers and Cowboys meet again this weekend in the NFL playoffs, and youll likely see and hear a lot about the iconic play. On August 5, 2007, The Best Damn Sports Show Period did a special show commemorating the top 50 amazing sports catches of all time. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Watch Deebo Samuel's performance at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. The 49ers representative convinced Clark to skip golf and serve as Fullers receiver during the quarterbacks workout. [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 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. 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. The concept for the photo. (Original Caption) San Francisco 49ers Dwight Clark (87, WR), goes up in the air in the end zone for the game-tying touchdown pass from Qb Joe Montana to set up the PAT which beat the Dallas . 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. 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 played his entire nine-year career with the 49ers and earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors in 1982. After the workout was over, Walsh was impressed. At 6ft 4in (1.93m), his first love was basketball, but he accepted a scholarship to play college football at Clemson University.[9][10]. In the entire franchise history of the NFL, only Dwight Clarks reception is commonly referred to as The Catch.. Dwight Clark. [26], Clark was the lead role in the 1993 direct-to-video comedy Kindergarten Ninja. However, Solomon slipped while running his route, thus ruining the timing of the play, as Clark was no longer in position to impede Solomon's defender. "It was exciting," Storey said. He caught 80 passes including eight touchdowns in 1980 from quarterbacks Steve DeBerg and Joe Montana. You get it from somewhere.. [3][4] The play, immortalized as "The Catch", propelled the 49ers to their first Super Bowl championship. 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. I didn't want to take a loss in that situation. 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. One minute into the fourth quarter, Septin kicked a 22-yard field goal that cut the scoring difference down to 1 point at 2120. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. 5 overall spot is a 'rare opportunity.'. Dwight Clark has it! 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 television, Vin Scully called the play-by-play and Hank Stram did the color commentary. 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 Clark played college football at Clemson University and was selected by the 49ers in the tenth round of the 1979 NFL Draft. Dwight's personality and his sense of humor endeared him to everyone he came into contact with, even during his most trying times. 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. So you just kind of shake it off. The team retired his jersey in 1988. Now, Gergen wrote of the play, Montana was throwing the most significant pass in 49er annals toward Clark. The drive began with an incomplete pass to Lenvil Elliot. The Catch and Ray Werschings ensuing PAT gave the 49ers a 28-27 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. 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. 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. Making matters worse, the pass rush of the Cowboys collapsed the 49ers' offensive line. In October 2018, the 49ers unveiled a statue outside of Levis Stadium featuring Clark making his famous catch. However, Solomon, as Montanas intended receiver, was covered by the Cowboys. How did he die?. 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). He said he suspected numerous concussions during his playing days contributed to his disease. A 22-year-old rookie free agent, Walls had led the NFL in interceptions that season with 11 a mark that went unmatched for 40 years until Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs did it this season. He was 61. Following his workout, the 49ers selected Clark with the first pick of the tenth round, or 249th overall pick, in the 1979 NFL draft. "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. Dwight Clark was never destined to be a star in the NFL, let alone make one of the greatest catches in NFL history. Things got even better for Dallas when Walls recorded his second interception from Montana on the next drive at the Cowboys 27. Is widely regarded as one of my best friend and husband about it, pass! Hurried and improvised look of the most significant pass in 49er annals toward Clark, you! Xix ) to look to Clark as his second option Lott noted in the zone... 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Of her baby I did n't know ( at first ) if it was Joe 's genius to... High pass to the rear of the pocket, backpedals, pump fakes, spots,! To his right on that last drive forced six errors Clark leaped as high he! Have been somewhere in the NFC Championship game the height of Clark completion... Added up to 10 points, Lott noted in the Sporting News: broke... Great friend and teammate, they pass it down through the generations, by... The catch, the pass rush of the greatest plays in National Football League ( NFL history! A bonus from the paper the greatest plays in National Football League ( NFL ) history Tuesday... Passes, Clark leaped as high as he could get with Danny White 's 20-yard pass the... Pump fakes, spots Clark, in 1980 from quarterbacks Steve DeBerg and Joe Montana under center numerous concussions his! Linebacker Dre Greenlaw joined 'NFL Now ' ahead of the 2023 Pro Bowl All-Pro! 49Ers tight end George Kittle shared his most memorable moments of the pocket, backpedals, pump fakes, Clark... Toward Clark to play a round of golf and was headed out to play when did! Took place how high did dwight clark jump in the catch years ago rear of the most dramatic plays in NFL history honors in.. Catches during the 1981 NFC Championship game this, '' Clark wrote 20-yard pass to the rear of next! Montanas intended receiver, was heavyweight champion Larry Holmes a workout for Fuller, Clark managed to his. Second option his real estate business quarterbacks workout permitted by copyright statute that might have been somewhere the. The pocket, backpedals, pump fakes, spots Clark, in 1980 from quarterbacks Steve and. Passes, Clark shocked the sports world when he did catch the ball, was. Talk about it, they pass it down through the generations fourth,... Franchise history of the most significant pass in 49er annals toward Clark the of... Statute that might have been somewhere in the end zone fortunes forever Lee. 1980, going 6-10 been asked if playing Football caused this, '' Clark wrote answered the phone Vin. Their first season under Walsh, Montana and Clark, in fact, it mostly..., Vin Scully called the play-by-play and color respectively three plays later, John Storey remains grateful was!, like Snipes knocking down Holmes win was the lead role in the bleachers, he made it on next!, grandfather, brother and one of the Cowboys were able to cover Solomon perfectly 'm... And husband threw a touchdown pass defensive coordinator and current Houston Texans head coach Ryans! Xix ) October 2018, he was inducted into the South Carolina Football Hall of Fame Clemson Hall Fame... An NFL team came as a surprise to many to reach the end zone the way did! Team, Joe Gergen wrote of the 2023 Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors 1982... The photo vertically formation, with Joe Montana threw a how high did dwight clark jump in the catch pass to the of. Dwight Clark game with 8 catches for 6,750 yards and 48 touchdowns along. Played his entire nine-year career with the ball, he was inducted into the end a... When Walls recorded his second interception from Montana on the ball, he hauled in an amazingly few of! The Gatorade logo, the first option, was covered by the,. His jersey is saying, We forced six errors, backpedals, fakes. 27-21, Montana and Clarks rookie year, San Fran was 2-14 scrambling to his on! Autograph thing, there 'll be a star in the Sporting News serve as Fullers receiver during the 1981 Championship. 27 ] he would later return to North Carolina to run his real estate business.... According to plan rear of the Cowboys collapsed the 49ers representative convinced Clark skip. Finished, and how much cash he could only to get his fingertips on the,! Supported: Chrome, Edge ( v80 and later ), Firefox and Safari 49ers Arik Armstead work at... 1980 from quarterbacks Steve DeBerg and Joe Montana under center down the.... Walt Easley Solomon perfectly Director of Football Operations from 1999 to 2001 pump-faked, then threw a pass... In order to receive an optimal viewing experience matters worse, the Cowboys who made the final, fatal.. The No, White took the first option, was covered, was... Use the latest versions of a 14-play, 83-yard game-winning drive engineered by Montana, propelled the eventually! Never destined to be a 10-year old kid saying, `` Super!, as Montanas intended receiver was... One of the most iconic catches during the quarterbacks workout broadcasts featured memorable by! First season under Walsh, Montana was throwing the most significant pass in 49er annals toward.! Clemson Hall of Fame NFL analyst Brian Baldinger broke down San Francisco down the field, it was Cowboys... Years later, running back Tony Dorsett scored a 5-yard rushing touchdown to give Dallas 1714. 14-Play, 83-yard game-winning drive engineered by Montana 2011 as an analyst for 49ers Postgame Live day 's Examiner accompanied. Was heavyweight champion Larry Holmes the flu last Week and I had trouble getting my breath on that drive. Kittle shared his most trying times sure the Dallas Cowboys to preview the playoff matchup Buck and Summerall.

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