With a blend of sadness and resolve, former 49ers receiver Dwight Clark announced his battle with ALS on Sunday night. In a heartfelt open letter, the receiver behind “The Catch” wrote that he is no longer physically able to button his shirt.
“I have ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease,” Clark wrote. “Those words are still very hard for me to say.”
Clark, 60, said he was diagnosed recently with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, but began feeling symptoms back in 2015, problems he initially dismissed as remnants of his playing days.
He said he is “still trying to wrap my head around the challenge I will face” but went public Sunday night with the backing of his old teammates. His letter was posted in conjunction with former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo, and included words of support from fellow stars such as Joe Montana, Jerry Rice and Ronnie Lott.
Clark wrote bluntly of his ordeal. After visits to six neurologists and three ALS specialists, Clark was told he had the terminal neuromuscular condition which affects control of muscles needed to move, speak, eat and breathe.
“The one piece of good news is that the disease seems to be progressing more slowly than in some patients,” Clark wrote. “While I’m still trying to wrap my head around the challenge I will face with this disease over the coming years, the only thing I know is that I’m going to fight like hell and live every day to the fullest.”
About 6,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with the disorder every year and an estimated 20,000 may be living with ALS in the U.S. at any given time, according to the ALS Association.
“Dwight has been an integral part of my family’s life for almost four decades. We are absolutely devastated,” DeBartolo, the Pro Football Hall of Famer wrote in a statement. “We vow to do everything in our power to support Dwight and Kelly and help them fight this horrible disease.”
Weakness in Clark’s left hand in September 2015 tipped him off to the possibility of something being wrong — though the first diagnosis was a B-12 vitamin deficiency, which can mirror the ALS symptoms.
“I was mildly paying attention to it because since my playing days, I’ve constantly had pain in my neck,” Clark wrote. “I was thinking it was related to some kind of nerve damage because it would just come and go.”
Clark will forever be known for “The Catch,” his soaring, finger-tip grab of a 6-yard pass from Montana at Candlestick Park. That touchdown catch, on Jan. 10, 1982, toppled the Dallas Cowboys 28-27, propelled San Francisco into its first Super Bowl and launched an NFL dynasty.
But Clark was no one-catch wonder. The two-time All-Pro selection was so prolific over his nine-year career that before Jerry Rice came along, he held the franchise record for career catches. His 6,750 receiving yards still rank third in franchise history, behind only Rice and Terrell Owens
“I’ve been asked if playing football caused this. I don’t know for sure. But I certainly suspect it did,” he wrote. “And I encourage the NFLPA and the NFL to continue working together in their efforts to make the game of football safer, especially as it relates to head trauma.”
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Clark categorized his condition as debilitated.
“I can’t run, play golf or walk any distances. Picking up anything over 30 pounds is a chore,” he wrote. “In addition to losing strength in my left hand – which makes opening a pack of sugar or buttoning my shirt impossible – I have now experienced weakness in my right hand, abs, lower back and right leg.”
In conjunction with the letter, the DeBartolo Holdings website shared reaction from several notable players from the 49ers glory years. Montana said he was “saddened” by the diagnosis and implored fans to be cognizant of Clark’s desire for privacy.
“This is a difficult time for Dwight, Kelly and all of us who love him,” Montana said in a statement. “He is family, and in our continual thoughts and prayers.”
Roger Craig said: “Dwight is like a brother to me. This news crushed me. I’ve vowed to him to be here for whatever he needs from me. Whenever or wherever. He deserves all our heartfelt support.”
Lott said: “I’m asking all of us to not only send their prayers but I’m asking you to do whatever you can to fight this disease,” Lott said. “Dwight will be a champion, which he has been able to show since I met him, since the first time he’s hugged me and to this day moving forward.”
Clark’s announcement was noticed by Steve Gleason, a former Saints player with ALS, who retweeted Clark’s post about his diagnosis. A documentary about Gleason released last summer sheds light on the difficulty of living with ALS.
Clark sounded as if he was bracing for the road ahead Sunday, as he wrote extensively about those who are supporting him, starting with his wife.
“What I do know is I have a huge battle in front of me and I’m grateful for the strength and unconditional love from my wife Kelly. She has been my rock,” Clark wrote. “She keeps thinking positive and convinces me each day that we can beat this, as does my daughter Casey and my son Mac. My brother Jeff, his wife Debra and their family also have been unwavering with their love and support.”
Clark called DeBartolo “the Boss” and said the former owner has already given him a pep talk.
“His support has been incredible. So rest assured, I know I’m not alone in this fight,” Clark said of DeBartolo. “Every single one of my 49ers teammates that has contacted me has said whatever I need, anytime I need it, they will help. That’s just the kind of guys they are. They were so giving as players and now they are the same as friends.”
Clark also thanked the “great” 49ers fans.
“Your support over the last 35 years has allowed me to remain connected to you,” Clark added. “Rarely does a day go by when I’m not asked about ‘The Catch.’”
As for what comes next, Clark asked for privacy.
“I’ve got to devote all my energy preparing for this battle and I would hope you can respect my family’s privacy as I begin this challenge,” Clark wrote. “My ultimate hope is that eventually I can assist in finding a cure for ALS, which disrupts the lives of so many and their loved ones.”
