THE CATCH The fans at Candlestick Park were on their feet Their San Francisco 49ers had the ball late in the fourth quarter of the 1981 National Football Conference NFC Championship Game They trailed 27 21 Young quarterback Joe Montana stood at his 11 yard line He looked out at the Dallas Cowboys defense It all came down to this drive The winner was headed to the Super Bowl
Joe Montana left goes back to pass during the 1981 NFC Championship Game
FAST FACT Dwight Clark's touchdown remains one of the most famous plays in National Football League NFL history Fans know it simply as The Catch DOWNS CLARK
Montana led the 49ers down the field They reached Dallas 6 yard line with 58 seconds to go Montana took the snap He rolled to his right The Dallas rush was on Montana heaved the ball It was a high throw Receiver Dwight Clark leaped as high as he could and snatched it out of the air for the touchdown The 49ers were going to the Super Bowl Dwight Clark 87 uses his fingertips to reel in The Catch
