Dwight Clark

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Dwight Clark
refer to caption
Clark in 2015
No. 87
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born:(1957-01-08)January 8, 1957
Kinston, North Carolina, U.S.
Died:June 4, 2018(2018-06-04) (aged 61)
Whitefish, Montana, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:212 lb (96 kg)
Career information
High school:Garinger (Charlotte, North Carolina)
College:Clemson (1975–1978)
NFL draft:1979 / Round: 10 / Pick: 249
Career history
As a player:
As an executive:
  • San Francisco 49ers (1990–1991)
    Executive administrative assistant
  • San Francisco 49ers (1992–1994)
    Vice president of player personnel
  • San Francisco 49ers (1995–1998)
    Vice president & director of football operations
  • Cleveland Browns (1999–2001)
    Executive vice president & director of football operations
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:
506
Receiving yards:6,750
Receiving touchdowns:48
Rushing yards:50
Games played:134
Games started:97
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Dwight Edward Clark (January 8, 1957 – June 4, 2018) was an American professional football player who was a wide receiver for nine seasons with the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL) from 1979 to 1987.[1][2] He was a member of San Francisco's first two Super Bowl championship teams.

He caught the winning touchdown pass thrown by

1979 NFL Draft.[5] He served as the general manager of the 49ers from 1995 to 1998 and in the same capacity with the Cleveland Browns
from 1999 to 2001.

Early life

Clark was born on January 8, 1957, in Kinston, North Carolina.[6] He graduated from Garinger High School in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he played quarterback.[7][8]

College career

At 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m), Clark's first love was basketball, but he accepted a scholarship to play college football at Clemson University.[9][10]

As a freshman, Clark was moved to

strong safety, but he disliked the position and left school to go back to his hometown in Charlotte instead. Clark was unhappy and considered transferring to play basketball at Appalachian State University, until he was finally allowed to play offense.[11] After returning to the team, he was a backup wide receiver
and finished with five receptions for 99 yards and a 19.8-yard average.

As a junior, Clark 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. He was third on the team with 17 receptions for 265 yards and one touchdown.

In Clark's senior season in

University of Maryland
that helped the Tigers win the ACC Championship.

At Clemson, Clark wore #30, posting only 33 catches for 571 yards, three touchdowns and a 17.3-yard average (seventh in school history).[11] Unheralded as a collegian playing alongside wide receiver Jerry Butler, Clark felt fortunate to get to the NFL.[12]

In 1988, Clark was inducted into the Clemson Hall of Fame. In 2018, he was inducted into the South Carolina Football Hall of Fame.

Professional career

The

undrafted free agent.[13] New head coach Bill Walsh had visited Clemson to scout quarterback Steve Fuller, Clark's roommate. When the 49er contingent arrived on campus, Clark answered the phone by chance on his way out to play golf and was convinced to participate as Fuller's pass catcher at the workout, where Walsh was impressed with his receiving skills.[3][7][14]

The 49ers were 2–14 in 1978 and had the same record in 1979.[15] But they soon greatly improved, winning the Super Bowl at the ends of the 1981 and 1984 seasons, and, starting in 1981, making the playoffs every year Clark was with them except 1982.

Clark tallied 506 catches for 6,750 yards and 48 touchdowns, along with 50 rushing yards in his nine NFL seasons with the 49ers. He led the NFL in receptions (60) during the strike-shortened 1982 season and made the Pro Bowl twice, in 1981 and 1982.[16] Sports Illustrated writer Paul Zimmerman named Clark his Player of the Year for 1982.[17]

The Catch

Main article: The Catch (American football)

In the 1981 NFC Championship game, on January 10, 1982, against the Dallas Cowboys, the 49ers trailed 27–21 with 58 seconds to play. On 3rd-and-3, Clark leaped and caught a 6-yard pass from quarterback Joe Montana in the back of the end zone to tie the score, and Ray Wersching's extra-point kick advanced the 49ers to Super Bowl XVI.[3][4] That play, one of the most famous in the history of the NFL, has been immortalized as "The Catch".[18] Clark finished the game with eight receptions for 120 yards and two touchdowns.[19] During the 1981 season, Walsh had Montana practice that part of the play back in training camp. Montana said, "We'd never thrown the ball to Dwight on that play, at all."[20] In the early 1990s, Clark's catch had become the most requested clip in the archives of NFL Films, which was charging up to $5,000 for its use.[11]

Retirement and legacy

After nine seasons with the 49ers, Clark retired following the 1987 season. He was a member of two Super Bowl-winning teams (XVI and XIX). To honor his contribution to 49ers, the club retired his #87 in 1988.[21] He served as a team executive for the 49ers until 1998, when he resigned to become the first general manager in the expansion era of the Cleveland Browns, after following Carmen Policy who would run the team under the ownership of Al Lerner. In their first draft in 1999, the Browns went for quarterback Tim Couch, deciding to reject the calls from the Saints that offered their entire array of draft picks in order to try and draft Ricky Williams.[22] He was executive vice president and director of football operations from 1999 to 2001.[23] 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.[24] In the 2018 NFL Films documentary Dwight Clark: A Football Life, he was quoted as saying that it was probably a mistake to have accepted the position.[25] He would later return to North Carolina to run his real estate business.

Clark built his restaurant, Clark's By The Bay, the year he retired and decorated it with sports memorabilia including The Catch. Initially serving Cajun food, it later switched to prime rib and seafood.[26] Located in Redwood City, California, the restaurant was sold in 1993.[27]

Media appearances

Clark joined his 49er teammates Joe Montana,

Comcast SportsNet Bay Area in 2011 as an analyst for 49ers Postgame Live. Post-retirement, Clark expressed remorse about the end of Candlestick Park, saying that "It was a dump [but] it was our dump, so we could talk bad about it, but we didn't want anybody else to talk bad about it."[30]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Led the league
Won the Super Bowl
Bold Career high
Year Team Games Receiving Fum
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Y/G
1979 SF 16 3 18 232 12.9 30 0 14.5 0
1980 SF 16 12 82 991 12.1 71 8 61.9 2
1981 SF 16 16 85 1,105 13.0 78 4 69.1 0
1982 SF 9 8 60 913 15.2 51 5 101.4 1
1983 SF 16 13 70 840 12.0 46 8 52.5 0
1984 SF 16 14 52 880 16.9 80 6 55.0 0
1985 SF 16 14 54 705 13.1 49 10 44.1 0
1986 SF 16 14 61 794 13.0 45 2 49.6 0
1987 SF 13 3 24 290 12.1 40 5 22.3 1
Career 134 97 506 6,750 13.3 80 48 50.4 4

[31]

Personal life

Clark dated Miss Universe Shawn Weatherly from 1978 to 1982.

Clark met Ashley Stone in 1982; they married the following year.[32][33] He had three children with Stone: a daughter, Casey, and two sons, Riley and Mac.[16][34] They divorced in 2009.[citation needed]

Clark married Kelly Radzikowski in 2011.[20] They moved to Santa Cruz.[11]

Illness and death

On March 19, 2017, Clark announced that he had been diagnosed with

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.[35] He stated that he believed he developed ALS as a result of playing football; he suffered three concussions during his playing career.[36] "I've been asked if playing football caused this," Clark wrote. "I don't know for sure. But I certainly suspect it did. And I encourage the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) and the NFL to continue working together in their efforts to make the game of football safer, especially as it relates to head trauma."[18]

Clark died of the disease on June 4, 2018.

Radicava before it became available in the United States.[20]

References

  1. Hearst Corporation
    . Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  2. ^ a b Ballard, Chris (May 2, 2018). "The last huddle". Sports Illustrated. New York City: Meredith Corporation. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c Zimmerman, Paul (January 18, 1982). "Off on the wrong foot". Sports Illustrated. New York City: Meredith Corporation. p. 18. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Clark's catch caps comeback". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington: Cowles Company. Associated Press. January 11, 1982. p. 15. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  5. ^ "NFL Nation". ESPN.com. United States: ESPN Inc. July 11, 2014. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
  6. ^ News services and staff reports (June 5, 2018). "Dwight Clark, San Francisco 49ers receiver who made 'The Catch,' dies at 61". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C.: WP Company and Nash Holdings. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  7. ^
    The McClatchy Company
    . Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  8. MediaNews Group
    . Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  9. ^ "Former Clemson great Dwight Clark passes". Clemson Tigers football. Clemson, South Carolina: Clemson Tigers. June 4, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
  10. The McClatchy Company
    . Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  11. ^ a b c d Goldstein, Richard (June 5, 2018). "Dwight Clark, 61, Dies; Made a Touchdown Catch for the Ages". The New York Times. New York City. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  12. Tronc, Inc. Boca Raton News
    . p. 5C. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  13. ^ Cohn, Lowell (June 4, 2018). "Illness robbed us of Dwight Clark, but not of his spirit". The Press Democrat. Santa Rosa, California: Sonoma Media Investments. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  14. ^ McDonald, Jerry (October 28, 2016). "49ers flashback: 1979 team was dreadful despite Walsh, Montana, O.J. and Al Cowlings". The Mercury News. San Jose, California: Digital First Media. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  15. ^ Brown, Daniel (October 23, 2017). "49ers icon Dwight Clark: 'I need your prayers and thoughts'". The Mercury News. San Jose, California: Digital First Media. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  16. ^ a b "Dwight Clark Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. United States: Sports Reference. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
  17. ^ Murphy, Austin (January 10, 1983). "The Cream Of A Sour Season". Sports Illustrated. United States: Meredith Corporation. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
  18. ^
    Gannett Company
    . Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  19. ^ "NFC Championship – Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers – January 10th, 1982". Pro-Football-Reference.com. United States: Sports Reference. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  20. ^ a b c Maiocco, Matt (June 4, 2018). "49ers legend Dwight Clark, 61, dies of ALS". NBC Sports. Stamford, Connecticut: NBC Sports Group. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  21. Hearst Corporation
    . Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  22. ^ Wood, Matt (January 11, 2010). "A Look Back: 1999 NFL Draft". Dawgs By Nature. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  23. ^ Cabot, Mary Kay (June 4, 2018). "Former Browns GM Dwight Clark dies after battle with ALS". Cleveland.com. Cleveland: Advance Publications (Newhouse Newspapers). Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  24. ^ "Dwight Clark leaving Browns". The Blade. Toledo, Ohio: Block Communications. May 14, 2002. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  25. ^ "Dwight Clark". A Football Life. Season 8. Episode 6. November 2, 2018. NFL Network.
  26. ^ Benson, Lee (January 16, 1994). "CATCH THAT CHANGED 49ER HISTORY REVISITED". Deseret News. Utah. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  27. ^ Zimmerman, Steve (1996). "Clark's by the Bay". www.restaurantrealty.com. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  28. ^ Irwin, Corey (January 21, 2022). "When Huey Lewis Recruited 49ers Stars as Backup Singers". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  29. ^ "Kindergarten Ninja (1993)". Rotten Tomatoes. United States: Fandango Media. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  30. Hearst Corporation
    . Retrieved March 20, 2017.
  31. ^ "Dwight Clark Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  32. ^ Farber, Nancy (January 21, 1985). "San Francisco's Top Receiver Dwight Clark, Thinks His Best Catch May Be His Wife, Ashley". People. United States: Meredith Corporation. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  33. ^ Goronja, Ariel (June 5, 2018). "Dwight Clark's Family & Wife: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Heavy.com. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  34. ^ "The Catch looms larger than life". Boca Raton News. Boca Raton, Florida: South Florida Media Company. January 18, 1985. Retrieved February 15, 2011.
  35. ^ Mano, Daniel (March 19, 2017). "49ers legend Dwight Clark announces ALS diagnosis". The Mercury News. San Jose, California: Digital First Media. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  36. ^ Maiocco, Matt (February 27, 2018). "Dwight Clark stands by his statement that playing football gave him ALS". NBC Sports. Stamford, Connecticut: NBC Sports Group. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  37. ^ Brown, Daniel (June 4, 2018). "Dwight Clark, former 49ers wide receiver, dead at 61". The Mercury News. San Jose, California: Digital First Media. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
  38. ^ Reed, Jesse (June 4, 2018). "Kelly Clark announces Dwight Clark has passed away". MSN. United States: Microsoft. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
  39. Hearst Corporation
    . Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  40. ^ Dougherty, Pete (October 14, 2011). "Promise of more game time lures defenseman to Devils". Times Union. Colonie, New York: Hearst Communications. Retrieved April 28, 2014.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dwight_Clark&oldid=1219002242"