Dwight Clark
Encyclopedia
Dwight Edward Clark is a former American Pro Bowl
wide receiver
for the San Francisco 49ers
from 1979
to 1987
. He played college football
at Clemson University
before being drafted by the 49ers in the 10th round of the 1979
entry draft.
, the head coach of the 49ers, Bill Walsh, went to Clemson to evaluate that school's promising quarterback, Steve Fuller. While there, Walsh discovered Clark. According to a story Clark shared while being interviewed on WDNC
radio on July 31, 2007, Walsh had called the number for the dormitory
room where Fuller and Clark were living, hoping to reach Fuller. Instead, Clark, who was on his way out to play golf
, answered the phone. Upon learning that Fuller was not in, Walsh asked Clark to identify himself, and invited Clark to run routes for Fuller so Walsh could watch Fuller more closely.
, and made the Pro Bowl
twice in 1981
and 1982
in his 9 NFL seasons.
After Walsh drafted Clark, he made Clark and quarterback Joe Montana practice a certain 20-yard roll-out "Hail Mary" pass into the end zone at the end of every practice. Walsh wanted to make sure that they could complete that certain pass in the red zone.
, the San Francisco 49ers
were trailing 27–21 in the final minute of play to advance to the Super Bowl
. Clark leaped and caught a six-yard pass from quarterback Joe Montana
in the back of the end zone to give the 49ers a 28–27 victory. That play, one of the most famous in the history in the NFL, has been immortalized as "The Catch" practiced as the "Hail Mary." Clark finished the game with eight receptions for 120 yards and 2 touchdowns.
During the 1981 season, Coach Walsh had Montana and Clark routinely practice the 20-yard end-zone throw after regular practice.
, Dwight Clark retired after 1987 NFL season. Clark was a member of two Super Bowl-winning teams. To honor Clark's contribution to 49ers, the club retired his number 87. After retirement, he has served as a team executive for both the San Francisco 49ers and the Cleveland Browns
.
Clark has also appeared in the video game, All-Pro Football 2K8
.
and graduated from Garinger High School
in Charlotte, North Carolina
.
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
for the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
from 1979
1979 NFL season
The 1979 NFL season was the 60th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XIV when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Los Angeles Rams...
to 1987
1987 NFL season
The 1987 NFL season was the 68th regular season of the National Football League. A 24-day players' strike reduced the 16-game season to 15. The games that were scheduled for the third week of the season were canceled, but the games for weeks 4–6 were played with replacement players...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
before being drafted by the 49ers in the 10th round of the 1979
1979 NFL Draft
The 1979 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held May 3–4, 1979...
entry draft.
Arrival at the 49ers
In 19791979 NFL season
The 1979 NFL season was the 60th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XIV when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Los Angeles Rams...
, the head coach of the 49ers, Bill Walsh, went to Clemson to evaluate that school's promising quarterback, Steve Fuller. While there, Walsh discovered Clark. According to a story Clark shared while being interviewed on WDNC
WDNC (AM)
WDNC is a Sports Talk radio station licensed to Durham, North Carolina but based in Raleigh, North Carolina with a frequency of 620 AM. WDNC and branded 620 the Buzz and is affiliated with the ESPN Radio Network...
radio on July 31, 2007, Walsh had called the number for the dormitory
Dormitory
A dormitory, often shortened to dorm, in the United States is a residence hall consisting of sleeping quarters or entire buildings primarily providing sleeping and residential quarters for large numbers of people, often boarding school, college or university students...
room where Fuller and Clark were living, hoping to reach Fuller. Instead, Clark, who was on his way out to play golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
, answered the phone. Upon learning that Fuller was not in, Walsh asked Clark to identify himself, and invited Clark to run routes for Fuller so Walsh could watch Fuller more closely.
NFL career
Bill Walsh drafted Dwight Clark as the first pick of the 10th round of the 1979 NFL draft. Clark embarked on a stellar career for 49ers in which he had 506 catches for 6750 yards and 48 touchdowns, along with 50 rushing yards. He led the NFL in receptions (60) during the strike-shortened 1982 season1982 NFL season
The 1982 NFL season was the 63rd regular season of the National Football League. A 57-day long players' strike reduced the 1982 season from a 16-game schedule per team to an abbreviated nine game schedule...
, and made the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
twice in 1981
1981 Pro Bowl
The 1981 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was played on February 1, 1981 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The final score was NFC 21, AFC 7. Eddie Murray of the Detroit Lions was the game's MVP. The game was the first NFL game ever played in the month of February....
and 1982
1982 Pro Bowl
The 1982 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was played on January 31, 1982 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The final score was AFC 16, NFC 13. Kellen Winslow of the San Diego Chargers and Lee Roy Selmon of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were the game's MVPs. The referee was Red Cashion....
in his 9 NFL seasons.
After Walsh drafted Clark, he made Clark and quarterback Joe Montana practice a certain 20-yard roll-out "Hail Mary" pass into the end zone at the end of every practice. Walsh wanted to make sure that they could complete that certain pass in the red zone.
"The Catch"
Clark's most memorable touchdown came in the 1982 NFC Playoffs. On January 10, 1982, against the Dallas CowboysDallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
, the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
were trailing 27–21 in the final minute of play to advance to the Super Bowl
Super Bowl XVI
Super Bowl XVI was an American football game played on January 24, 1982, at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan to decide the National Football League champion following the 1981 regular season. It marked the first time that a Super Bowl was held at a cold-weather city...
. Clark leaped and caught a six-yard pass from quarterback Joe Montana
Joe Montana
Joseph Clifford "Joe" Montana, Jr. , nicknamed Joe Cool, Golden Joe, The Golden Great and Comeback Joe, is a retired American football player. Montana started his NFL career in 1979 with the San Francisco 49ers, where he played quarterback for the next 14 seasons...
in the back of the end zone to give the 49ers a 28–27 victory. That play, one of the most famous in the history in the NFL, has been immortalized as "The Catch" practiced as the "Hail Mary." Clark finished the game with eight receptions for 120 yards and 2 touchdowns.
During the 1981 season, Coach Walsh had Montana and Clark routinely practice the 20-yard end-zone throw after regular practice.
Retirement and Legacy
After nine successful seasons with San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
, Dwight Clark retired after 1987 NFL season. Clark was a member of two Super Bowl-winning teams. To honor Clark's contribution to 49ers, the club retired his number 87. After retirement, he has served as a team executive for both the San Francisco 49ers and the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Clark has also appeared in the video game, All-Pro Football 2K8
All-Pro Football 2K8
All-Pro Football 2K8 is a football game for seventh generation consoles and the spiritual successor to the ESPN NFL 2K series. APF2K8 is the first football game to be published by 2K Sports since EA Sports purchased exclusive licenses to the intellectual properties of the NFL and NFLPA. Barry...
.
Personal life
Clark was born in Kinston, North CarolinaKinston, North Carolina
Kinston is a city in Lenoir County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 23,688 at the 2000 census. The population was estimated at 22,360 in 2008. It has been the county seat of Lenoir County since its formation in 1791 . Kinston is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks...
and graduated from Garinger High School
Garinger High School
Garinger High School is a high school located in the Shamrock area of Charlotte, North Carolina. Founded in 1959, it was one of the oldest remaining schools in Charlotte. Garinger was in essence the relocation of Central High School, Charlotte's first high school. That school was founded in 1909...
in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
.