Dwight Clark, who started an NFL dynasty with ‘The Catch’, dead at 61

Dwight Clark, who helped launch a dynasty for San Francisco with his iconic catch that despatched the 49ers to their first Tremendous Bowl, has died one yr after revealing he had ALS. He was 61. Clark mentioned in March 2017 that he had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s illness), which assaults cells that management muscle mass. He suspected taking part in soccer may need brought on the sickness. The group mentioned he died Monday surrounded by family and friends. “My coronary heart is damaged,” former 49ers proprietor Eddie DeBartolo Jr. mentioned in a press release. “Right this moment, I misplaced my little brother and considered one of my finest mates. I can’t put into phrases how particular Dwight was to me and to everybody his life touched. He was an wonderful husband, father, grandfather, brother and a terrific pal and teammate. He confirmed super braveness and dignity in his battle with ALS and we hope there’ll quickly be a remedy for this horrendous illness. I’ll all the time bear in mind Dwight the way in which he was — bigger than life, good-looking, charismatic and the one one who may pull off carrying a fur coat at our Tremendous Bowl parade. He was liable for some of the iconic performs in NFL historical past that started our run of Tremendous Bowl championships, however to me, he’ll all the time be an extension of my household I really like him and can miss him terribly.” Clark received two Tremendous Bowls with the 49ers throughout a nine-year profession that led to 1987. He memorably pulled down the successful landing cross from Joe Montana within the 1981 NFC championship sport towards the Dallas Cowboys, a play remembered merely as “The Catch.” It is thought-about some of the vital performs in NFL historical past and despatched the Niners to their first of 5 Tremendous Bowl titles in a span of 14 seasons. The play occurred on Jan. 10, 1982, when the upstart 49ers hosted the Cowboys within the NFC title sport. With the 49ers going through a 3rd down at the Dallas 6 with lower than a minute to play, coach Invoice Walsh known as “Dash Proper Choice.” Montana rolled out and retreated beneath stress from Ed “Too Tall” Jones and Larry Bethea earlier than lofting the ball towards the again of the top zone. Clark leaped to make a fingertip catch over Everson Partitions and the 49ers went on to win the sport 28-27 after which their first Tremendous Bowl two weeks later towards Cincinnati. “Begin of a dynasty,” mentioned former 49ers president Carmen Coverage, who later employed Clark as common supervisor of the Cleveland Browns. “I do not let myself go down the highway of what would have occurred if he would not make that catch? As Joe Montana says, what would have occurred if I did not throw that pinpoint cross completely angled to be in the one spot the place he ought to catch and nobody else would be capable to intervene with it. However with out that play, I’m wondering the place we’d have been. And I ended excited about it, as a result of a lot occurred after that. And but, Dwight appeared to deal with it in stride and the 2 of them, The Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Child, they used to have enjoyable taking part in off of one another, or who would take the credit score, and this and that and so forth. However it was a big day.” Clark joined the Niners as a 10th spherical select of Clemson in 1979 in the identical draft class that introduced Joe Montana to San Francisco. He obtained there by luck after solely 33 catches in three faculty seasons as former 49ers coach Invoice Walsh wanted somebody to catch passes from Steve Fuller at a pre-draft exercise. Clark impressed Walsh sufficient to get drafted and ultimately made the group even when he by no means felt snug regardless of taking part in on two Tremendous Bowl winners, making two Professional Bowls and catching 506 passes for six,750 yards and 48 touchdowns in 9 seasons with San Francisco. “He is meant the world to me for therefore a few years,” Montana mentioned final yr after a avenue close to the positioning of the Candlestick Park was named for him. “We got here into the league collectively and we snicker about issues that he did on a regular basis. I do not assume he ever unpacked. By his rookie yr he all the time left the playbook on his mattress simply in case he ever obtained lower. He saved making an attempt to inform me he was getting lower each day, I saved making an attempt to inform him, `what are you doing? You are loopy.”‘ Clark made his final public look in October when the 49ers hosted “Dwight Clark Day” at Levi’s Stadium. Clark spoke to the group from a collection that afternoon in a weakened voice, calling his illness a “little factor” he was dealing with at the time. He additionally thanked the followers and dozens of teammates who got here again for the occasion. DeBartolo just lately hosted a reunion in Montana the place lots of Clark’s former teammates got here for one closing goodbye. “For nearly 4 many years, he served as a charismatic ambassador for our group and the Bay Space,” the 49ers mentioned in a press release. “Dwight’s persona and his humorousness endeared him to everybody he got here into contact with, even throughout essentially the most making an attempt instances. The power, perseverance and style with which he battled ALS will lengthy function an inspiration to so many. Dwight will all the time carry a particular place in our hearts and his legacy will dwell on as we proceed to battle this horrible illness.” Clark is survived by his spouse, Kelly, and three youngsters, daughter Casey, and sons Riley and Mac, from a earlier marriage. “I am heartbroken to let you know that immediately I misplaced my finest pal and husband,” Kelly Clark mentioned on Twitter. “He handed peacefully surrounded by most of the individuals he cherished most. I’m grateful for all of Dwight’s mates, teammates and 49ers followers who have despatched their love throughout his battle with ALS.” http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/nfl/dwight-clark-the-catch-49ers-obituary-1.4691592?cmp=rss