Bill Walsh Dynasty Beginnings
The play that launched a dynasty.
The San Francisco 49ers' rise as an NFL dynasty in the 1980s began with The Catch, the game-winning touchdown reception in the 1981 NFC Championship Game against the Dallas Cowboys on January 10, 1982.
Quick Facts
- Head coach
- Bill Walsh
- Offensive system
- West Coast Offense
- First super bowl
- Super Bowl XVI (1982)
- Key quarterback
- Joe Montana
- Hall of fame induction
- Bill Walsh (2007)
Lore & Background
The Catch was a 6-yard touchdown pass from Joe Montana to Dwight Clark with 58 seconds left in the game, enabling the 49ers to defeat the Cowboys 28–27. It came at the end of a 14-play, 89-yard game-winning drive. The play symbolized the end of the Cowboys' domination in the NFC and the beginning of the 49ers' dynasty.
Reader's Guide
The 49ers' final drive started at their own 11-yard line with 4:54 left. Montana completed passes to Freddie Solomon, Earl Cooper, and Dwight Clark, and ran the ball with Lenvil Elliot. The drive set up third-and-four at the Cowboys' 6-yard line. On the play, Montana rolled right and threw a high pass to the back of the end zone, where Clark made a leaping fingertip catch, landing in-bounds for the touchdown.
Did You Know?
- Dwight Clark finished the game with 8 catches for 120 yards and 2 touchdowns.
- A photograph of the catch by Walter Iooss, Jr. was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated the following week.
More in Club History & Eras
Elsewhere in San Francisco 49ers
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced