January 10th, 1982. It was the Dallas Cowboys vs. the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park in the 1981 NFC Championship game.
The game was close. With 58 seconds left on the clock, Montana snapped the ball facing 3rd and 3. When pressure closing in, Montana rolled to the right and saw Dwight Clark in the end zone. Montana threw the ball high to avoid the defenders and Clark leaped up and caught it.
The 49ers would win the game, 28 – 27.
‘The Catch’ would become one of the most memorable plays in NFL history. Montana would finish his career with four Super Bowl rings, and become known as one of the greatest quarterbacks in history. At that time and in that era, he was the best.
Not only did the catch start a dynasty, the next Joe Montana was sitting in the stands that day with his father. What’s more, sitting in the end zone as they were, ‘The Catch’ was caught before their very eyes.
Greatness always has a beginning and for Tom Brady the beginning was that day in San Francisco.
https://youtu.be/Plt2ow0A0-Y
