American Football · 1982 · San Francisco, USA
The Catch
With under a minute left in the NFC Championship, Joe Montana throws high towards the back of the end zone, and Dwight Clark somehow gets a hand to it.
49ers 28-27 Cowboys
Result
51 seconds
Time remaining at score
49ers' first Super Bowl berth
Outcome
San Francisco were 27-21 down to the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Championship on 10 January 1982, needing a touchdown in the last minute to reach the first Super Bowl in the franchise's history. On third down from the Dallas six-yard line, Joe Montana rolled right with Cowboys rushers closing and, an instant before being hit, put the ball high towards the back corner of the end zone.
Dwight Clark had not been the primary target on the play. He timed his jump to its very peak and took the ball on his fingertips over the outstretched arms of the Dallas defensive back Everson Walls. The extra point made it 28-27, and the San Francisco defence saw out the rest.
It has been known simply as The Catch ever since. It sent the 49ers to Super Bowl XVI, which they won for the franchise's first championship, and began the dynasty that collected four Super Bowl titles across the decade.
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