San Francisco 49ers receiving legend Dwight Clark has died after battling ALS, according to a tweet posted by his wife Kelly on Monday. “I’m heartbroken to tell you that today I lost my best friend and husband,” Kelly Clark wrote, posting to Dwight’s verified Twitter account. “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. Kelly Clark.”
Dwight Clark was 61 years old.
Clark is known by football fans of all ages for being on the receiving end of “The Catch,” the leaping touchdown grab from Joe Montana with under a minute left in the game to win the 1981 NFC Championship game against the Dallas Cowboys.
The 49ers would win the Super Bowl two weeks later, against the Bengals.
Clark discovered he was afflicted with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or the disease known as ALS, in 2015; he announced his battle publicly in March 2017.
Last October, before ALS robbed Clark of the ability to walk, the 49ers held Dwight Clark Day at Levi’s Stadium, one last time for the fans who adored him to shower him with cheers.
