Former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Dwight Clark dies Monday at 61.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. —
Dwight Clark, the former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver whose leaping touchdown catch from Joe Montana in 1982 is one of the greatest plays in team lore and perhaps the most iconic moment of the modern NFL era, passed away Monday from complications of ALS. He was 61.
His wife, Kelly, broke the news on Clark’s Twitter account, which he used in March of last year to publicly announce that he had been diagnosed with
ALS, which stands for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, an incurable neuro-muscular ailment that impairs the muscles needed to move, speak, eat and breathe. Clark began experiencing symptoms in September 2016.
“I’m heartbroken to tell you that today I lost my best friend and husband,” Kelly Clark wrote. “He passed peacefully surrounded by many of the people he loved most. I am thankful for all of Dwight’s friends, teammates and 49ers fans who have sent their love during his battle with ALS.”
Clark spent the last year visiting with friends and former teammates and reliving the memories of the team’s glorious past. Those visits began at the Clarks’ home in Capitola, Calif., before they moved in the spring to Whitefish, Mont.
His soaring, fingertip catch on Jan. 10, 1982 — known forever as The Catch — propelled the 49ers over their bitter rivals, the Dallas Cowboys, and toward their first Super Bowl victory. The 49ers retired Clark’s No. 87 jersey in 1988, one year after his final season, and he was part of the inaugural class in the 49ers’ Hall of Fame in 2009. Former 49ers owner Eddie
DeBartolo, Jr., issued a statement following his friend’s death.
“My heart is broken,” he said. “Today, I lost my little brother and one of my best friends. I cannot put into words how special Dwight was to me and to everyone his life touched. He was an amazing husband, father, grandfather, brother and a great friend and teammate. He showed tremendous courage and dignity in his battle with ALS and we hope there will soon be a cure for this horrendous disease. I will always remember Dwight the way he was — larger than life, handsome, charismatic and the only one who could pull off wearing a fur coat at our Super Bowl parade.”