Dwight Clark
Clark built a reputation as a big-game player during his nine-year NFL career. His “Catch” against the Dallas Cowboys in the 1981 NFC Championship Game propelled the 49ers into Super Bowl XVI. Trailing the Cowboys, 27-21, in the final minute, Clark made a leaping, fingertip grab of a Joe Montana pass in the back of the end zone to give the 49ers a 28-27 victory, and advance to Super Bowl XVI.
He was a member of all five of the 49ers’ Super Bowl winning teams, helping the club to victory in Super Bowl’s XVI and XIX as a player and Super Bowl’s XXIII, XXIV, and XXIX as a member of the front office. He was voted to two Pro Bowl appearances (1981 and 1982) by his peers and was also named to the 1982 first team All Pro Teams by Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association, Football Weekly, Football Digest and Sports Illustrated. Sports Illustrated alsohonored Dwight Clark as the NFL Player of the Year in 1982.
Clark was one of the most popular players in 49er history and retired as the club’s all-time leading receiver with 506 catches and all-time leading receiving yardage with 6,750 receiving yards and 48 touchdowns. He ranks seventh all-time in 49er history in yards from scrimmage with 6,800 total yards (including 50 by rushing). He was only the 20th player in NFL history to reach the 500-catch milestone. His jersey #87 was retired by the 49ers organization before 65,000 cheering Bay Area fans.
A 24-year veteran in the NFL, Clark spent 19 years with the San Francisco 49ers (1979-1987 - on the field and 1987-1997 - in the front office) and later four years in the front office with the Cleveland Browns.
Drafted by San Francisco in the 1979 Draft, Clark was a four-year letterwinner at Clemson University. He was inducted into the Clemson Hall of Fame in 1988 and is also a member of the North Carolina Hall of Fame and also the South Carolina Hall of Fame.
Following his playing career, Clark moved into 49ers management and served as marketing consultant, executive administrative assistant, and as coordinator of football operations and player personnel before being named vice president/director of football operations in 1995, a position he held for four years until joining the Browns in 1998. Before leaving the Browns in 2002, Mr.Clark was executive vice president and director of football operations.
Clark is currently involved in the “Custom Home” building business in Charlotte, NC. (Dwight Clark Development, LLC) He is an active investor and has taken an interest and active role in several companies including Golfers.com (On-line tee times), Targeted Golf Solutions (Simplified golfing philosophy), and the Seraph Group (Investment Club). Clark plays in over 30 charity golf tournaments a year, including several Celebrity Players Tour events. His promotions company (Dwight Clark Promotions, Inc.) handles his appearances, autograph sessions, trade shows, speaking engagements, radio and television appearances, in addition to the golf tournaments.
Born in Kinston, North Carolina, Clark grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he attended Garinger High School. He and his wife, Ashley, have three children: daughter Casey, 21, and sons Riley, 20, who both attend college in the Boston area, and Mac, 12 and a sixth grader.
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