Jan. 10 marked the 40th anniversary of my favorite football memory. The San Francisco 49ers pulled off an 89-yard drive with an impressive play pass, designed by Coach Bill Walsh, in which Dwight Clark literally rose out of the pack in the end zone and made “The Catch.” The 49ers came from behind and won the 1981 NFC championship against the Dallas Cowboys. The 49ers then went on to win Super Bowl XVI against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Clark told reporters following the game that quarterback Joe Montana’s pass was too high “because I don’t jump that well. And I was real tired. I had the flu last week, and I had trouble getting my breath on that last drive. I don’t know how I caught the ball.”
The Catch is widely regarded as one of the most memorable events in NFL history. Sports historians will tell you that is because it ended the Cowboys’ dynasty. For me, it represented all that is right with working and playing on a team.
