"The Catch"

[faceurhell]

"What a sensational game."

1 play later, the game is probably the most historic and important NFC Championship of all-time!

[bracadomus]

If I could go back in time and watch any football game in the history of football I would watch this one. I would take my Grandpa back with me as he is the reason my blood bleeds red and gold!!!

[pactugboat1]

Wow...30 years! Great post. Thank you :)

[rowellroyboy]

30 years ago today. Happy aniversary!

[12alltel12]

funny to think a 4 year old tom brady was in the crowd during this game:)

[beeepizzle]

1:55 check out the pimp!!!

[17kensethrules]

49ers gonna go all da way dis year. I just know it.

[xCH0Px]

i LOVE being a 49er Fan

[blachubear]

CLASSIC!!!

[roblehman1]

Vin Scully is one of my favorte NFL play by play man of all time he was excellent in football like he is in baseball to I wish he could of done some Super Bowls at CBS

[1234343333333333]

Joe Montana= THE BEST..............Tom Brady is a close second, what two important traits these two players had along with their other many talents was................Excellent field vision, they can see the whole field in the backs off their heads, kind of like the opposite is why alot of automobile accidents happen, too many drivers in tunnel vision. This comment is coming from a Cowboys die hard fan since age of 5. I'm 37 now and I still remember watching this play live.

[redmustang03]

Many people don't know this, but if Eric Wright doesn't horse collar Drew Pearson to the ground after The Catch, the 49ers lose. Then the sack fumble on the next play doesn't occur and the 49ers don't make it to the Super Bowl. Just remember that the catch was great, but the tackle by Eric Wright was even greater.

[rowellroyboy]

@redmustang03  I DO remember. I think Eric might of got two fingers on the edge of his colar. Otherwise Pearson is in the end zone and they probably wouldn't even have labeled it "The Catch"

[robidoux87]

That guy in the Saturday Night Fever leisure suit (at a football game!!) is so awesome.

[Dallascowboy321]

im t to mad cowboys are 4-2 againts the 49ers in the nfc championship ;D

[superman93994]

who are the 49ers? are they still around?

[whoyoufoo123]

@superman93994 well ur here watching this clip, so thats a VERY stupid question

[Flynnsox]

I could watch the Catch and Edgar's HR on a loop and never get bored.

[Frozintoe]

they say that it was supposed to be thrown that high....i don't think so, what a catch

[blitzgriek0]

type 'gift' before youtube.com url

[rubicon1983]

I was 13 and fell in love with the Niners during this season/game. My late Father was a die hard Cowboys fan. So many awesome memories of he and I giving each other a hard time over each others team. Priceless memories.

[braunikowski]

@rubicon1983

Exactly, same story as mine...since that day 49ers for life!

:-) what a beautiful story that club has to tell...amazing!

Pure Emotion...greetings from Germany!!!

[officerbarbrady]

if he had caught that today the dumbass refs would have probably called it incomplete citing the calvin johnson rule

[MichaelKazmar]

I love my Philly teams, but this video gives me such a thrill.

The play, the call, the fans!

Wow!

Thanks!

[CELIBERICO]

what a Classic............the Catch.

[Lava1964]

Vin Scully could read the telephone directory and it would be worth listening to!

[SFFOOL76]

@Lava1964

Agreed

It is a SHAME he is not announcing the national baseball games. Even for his age he is more entertaining than Joe Buck and Tim McCarver COMBINED.

[NJYankee920]

its weird seeing vin scully calling football

[StFidjnr]

@NJYankee920 he had called so many big baseball games we lost count but this is the 1st big football game that Vin Scully has called

[IowaRocker1]

Vin Scully called NFL games on CBS from 1975-81. His broadcast partners were the likes of Sonny Jurgensen, Alex Hawkins, Paul Hornug, George Allen and Hank Stram. Scully called the 1975, 1977, and 1981 NFC title games.

[kewlpnay126]

actually the cowboys still have a chance to win the game,but theyre an idiot hahahaah! go 49ers!

[CELIBERICO]

Mike Holmgren was at this game too ! lol !

[CELIBERICO]

Aaron Rodgers loves the 49ers........wanted to play for them so badly u can see it...everytime they play.......

[sfchris]

I'd just like to take this opportunity to say "F the Cowboys". Thanks.

[nandoGdog]

@sfchris No, Thank You my kind Sir!

[westwood123x]

they had some dude called Xracer who posted the whole game. I don't knwo what happened the clip but it seems like they removed it. I want to know if anyone saw that clip and when it dissapeared.

[AgentRaven77]

NFL Network is showing this game at 8pm on 12/24.

[RJBad4urHealth]

This was the catch of the 80's eh? I'm not old enough to remember THAT but i do remember a VERY similar situation in super bowl 43.

[Armorama]

I didn't know Vin Scully did NFL games?

For CBS??

Wow, you learn things all the time. I was just too young to remember this game.

[tumult1138]

Funny that the voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers called perhaps one of the best plays in 49ers history. Go Vin!!!

[GeorgeVreelandHill]

The catch of the 1980's.

I never get tired of watching it.

It started a new era in football.

Enough said.

George Vreeland Hill

[SFFOOL76]

Tom Brady went to this game.

[blachubear]

@SFFOOL76 Hey today's greatest QBs learn from the legends.

[2SANFRANCISCO]

Everson Walls was a very good corner,- but Clark goes airborn and Walls doesn't have a prayer. Only to be followed up by Pearson's great catch and Eric Wright's game saving tackle. Classic.

[Gossage54]

Funny I was going to say I like the pimp in the white suit and then I scroll down to the comments and I've been beat to it.

[louiev2000]

R.I.P Bill Walsh. and thanks peterDC for uploading this. The greatness of Joe Montana I will never tire of.

[Tommy6583]

This was Vin Scully's last football game he called in his great sportscasting career. Great call.

[fouronefivah]

WIN OR LOSE, 49ERS 4 LIFE!!!!!

[chaltainm]

david tyree's catch was way better

[Joobs0917]

Bill Walsh was a genius

[jamezpackerfan]

pimp suit 1:55

[lovwhitemeat]

Hell I thought that WAS a pimp

[ScottInVa1760]

That was truly one of the greatest games of all time in my book.

[azbaldy5]

What everyone forgets is THERE WAS STILL 58 SECONDS LEFT more than enough time for dallas to drive into field goal range. IF ERIC WRIGHT DOES NOT GRAB DREW PEARSONS COLLAR HE'S GONE ! The game saving play.

[nandoGdog]

To this day I still get goosebumps watching this. Thanx for posting!

[seanpatf]

In today's rules, Eric Wright would have been called for a horse collar on Drew Pearson on the subsequent posession which would have put the Cowboys on the niner 35 yard line with time left to get closer to kick a FG.

[GeorgeVreelandHill]

Thanks for the memories!

This is a major blast from the past.

George Vreeland Hill

[someymehra]

God I'm in tears!!! Go Niners or Die!!!!!!!

[cotrackguy]

I'll still take The Drive over the The Catch anyday.

Then again, I'm very, very biased, and I admit it.

[anepales]

Didn't you guys end up losing that Superbowl? No offense but the drive was for nothing.

[Bigbadben7]

I wouldn't say Elway's drive was for nothing I mean it did send them in to OT in the AFC Championship game which they ended up winning.

Conference Championships are not for nothing.

They are hard to come by, just ask Cleveland.

[jayfey77]

the catch was at first a drive thats what made it special.

[buckpoe]

I worked for the entertainment department and was on the field for this game. Everytime I watch this it gives me the chills.. The good ol days

[offtackle24]

ITS A MADHOUSE AT CANDLESTICK!

[atenza544]

Even the cops on the field at 3:24 who are there to keep order are jumping/cheering... everyone was into it!

[atenza544]

Love watching over and over that female Cowboys fan at 1:45 (white jacket with camera). If you listen carefully the mic picks up her voice saying "God dammit".

[DarkFlarePrince]

it wasn't that great

[mcgurkryans]

I love the pimp in white at 1:55!

[untexan]

Every time I watch this video I'm very amused at the guy around the 1:55 mark, who clearly did not get the memo that the 70s had ended.

[SFFOOL76]

Hey jan. of 82, there was still a 70's hangover.

[tamalie2]

Vin Scully is on play by play and Hank Stram on color commentary.

[penske369]

who are these announcers?

[mcgurkryans]

"Behind the bag!"

[SFFOOL76]

Vin Scully and Hank Stram

[tubetubby500]

dallas has beat us 3 times in the nfc championship game...but anytime i see this play those loses mean nothing

[BettuhThunYou]

Sucks to be you?

[lothartheviking]

im personally an eagles fan but im a big fan of joe montana. i know the eagles arent the greatest but.............. the niners are cool to. they were best, in my opinion, when joe montana was leading their offence one year and jerry rice another.

[2SANFRANCISCO]

Cowboys= HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHA­!!!!!!!!!! LOSERS. That entire organization is an Embarassment to the NFL. From Jerry the plastic faced popcorn eating asswipe, down to the last thug piece of shit wannabe player. Demarcus Ware should demand a trade. Cowboys got 6 turnovers IN THIS GAME,- they were supposed to win,- 'americas team',- blah,blah,blah. LMAO! CAN'T MESS WITH THE GREATEST TEAM OF ALL TIME. GO NINERS!

[anw510]

GO NINERS. All the way from the Bay Area. Cowboys SUCKS!

[McPavan]

Go Cowboys!!!! screw them 49ers.. The 49ers seriously should have lost easiely ....after danny whie fumble....,because if the defense if have got white 1 second later , he would have threw another 10 yards pass ... and they would have nailed the feild goal SF 28 DAL 30 FINAL score in 1981 champion game....THE END

[McPavan]

Jayfey77 the cowboys had 3 tds and 3 field goals. Where did u get the 1981 original dvd .... if possible can u post it on You tube...i like to see the full video...

[JBSchmoov]

Go Niners!

[highlander2000]

Amazing!!! Even by today's standards (perhaps even more so). Great avoidance of the defense's leap by Montana.

And how happy everyone in the stadium is! Hugging and high-fiving and patting backs and cheering 'till there was no tomorrow. Great fans (and great fashion). And what a great team celebration by the 49ers. Truly a team, to the very letter.

[nandoGdog]

Too bad the entire drive was'nt uploaded that was a hell of a drive, the Niners started deep in their side of the field.

[jayfey77]

this game should have gone to overtime but the dallas kicker septian missed an extra point who knows what would have happened if it went to overtime.septian cost them this game.

[bigbilly2006]

Good point!

[InDenverSoon]

Septien didn't miss an extra point. He got two field goals and three XPs following Dallas TDs

[jayfey77]

wrong i have the entire game on dvd he missed an extra point after the cowboys scored a touchdown.

[nymike06]

septien did not miss an extra point. cowboys had 3 TD's and 2 FG's. i don't recall septien missing any FG's. as a cowboys fan, i know. too bad the 'boys didn't win that game.

[jayfey77]

i have the game recorded you retard,septian missed an extra point in the first half,i knew it would come back to haunt them and that they would lose by one point and i was right.

[jayfey77]

well maybe it wasnt the first half it was when the cowboys scored and should have gone up 21 but only had 20 due to septian missing the extra point.

[jayfey77]

i grew up in texas and my dad and all my family were cowboys fans so naturally i was a 49ers fan,i always go against the crowd im no bandwagoner.

[nymike06]

i'm swear to you. septien never missed an extra point. i can send you the box score of you want.

[jayfey77]

i swear to you he did miss an extra point i have the game on dvd.you are wrong and whoever put up the box scroe is wrong too it needs to be corrected,i mean you find errors all the time on wikki.

[jayfey77]

seeing is believing and the video i post will prove you and ur box score wrong.

[nymike06]

super. where is the video?

[jayfey77]

i will message you when i put it up you obviously dont understand how long it takes to put videos up on youtube,you have to transfer the video tape to dvd then transfer the dvd to avi file then upload the avi file to youtube it takes a long time to do all this.

[nymike06]

take your time, it's cool. i appreciate the effot no matter how long it takes.

[RyHart9991]

Where is Ed Hochuli when you need him lol

[niners1always]

SIX turnovers and the 49er EMPIRE still won!! Imagine the scrore if they had no turnovers!! Can you call it a old fashion kick A@@!! It was 45-14 in the regular season.

FIRST TO FIVE!! GO 49ers!!

[vitoduval]

Steeler might be first to 6, hell if SF won 3 more games they might have been playing Sunday instead of Arizona

[MandNman]

BOOOO 49ers!!!!!!

[cfoster81]

The play that started the legacy of the Forty-Niners dynasty in the 80's.

[RYbarra106]

A couple of very important points about the end of this video and game. First, Dallas had 52 seconds left and was moving down the field. I believe cornerback Eric Wright brought down receiver Drew Pearson by a horse collar tackle. Second, when Danny White fumbled the ball it was a tuck, not a fumble! Just like Tom Brady when they played the Raiders. Dallas would have won that game! I wish you would show the whole end of the game.

[soiaiam]

Yeah, Dallas would have won the game if they would have just ignored the 1982 rulebook and used the 2008 rulebook; what biased officiating.

[GuanRy]

hahaha! Great call, soiaiam!

[ScottInVa1760]

Woulda, coulda, shoulda.

[kkk666420]

lol ROOKIE!

[conanzam]

La atrapada es tan grandiosa que hasta los policías festejaron.

[CatW2Kidz]

I was mad as hell as a 10 year old, especially after Dallas had the ball with the lead and was close to a game clinching field goal when they had to give the ball back to Montana for that last drive. But as I'd discover and admit over the coming years, Montana was the best and I always rooted for the 49ers to beat the Giants and Redskins, which they usually did

[gntluvr]

steve young's pass to owens in the 98 wildcard game was better

or at least it looked better

[Seastorm21]

I never get tired of watching it. I have always refered to that game as the zenith of football.

[sarniatownreggae]

What is easily forgotten is how close the 49ers came to blowing it. Dallas QB Danny White completed a pass to Drew Pearson at midfield. Had Pearson not been grabbed by the scruff of his jersey he would have gone in for a TD. They still would have been in position to kick the winning FG. But on the next play, White was sacked, coughed up the ball, and the 49ers recovered to win the game. The Catch might have been completely forgotten if Dallas had pulled off another Hail Mary.

[dynastywho]

not that great, pretty easy catch

[hmgamer555]

Kinda. It was pretty up there. Plus this catch is special, if you know the history.

[Andrew16280]

Goosbumps...

[Seastorm21]

I never get tired of watching it. Thanks Peter.

[RealVerdad]

That sounds like Vin Scully. I didn't know he did football once upon a time.  And, I sure didn't know he did this game. Damn, makes me wish I had a copy of the entire game with him calling it.

[KNS1996DFS]

He called this game on CBS Television, but called Super Bowl XVI on CBS Radio. He resented being elbowed out of the #1 NFL gig by Summerall, and so shortly hereafter signed with NBC. NBC and ABC about this time signed a contract extension with baseball for substantially more money. And NBC decided that, instead of Joe Garagiola, they would use a professionally-trained pxp announcer to consecrate their new contract. And in '83, ABC made Al Michaels their #1 in favor of Keith Jackson.

[RealVerdad]

Thanks KNC. Pre-1983 is a bit before my time. Which is why I remember Mr. Scully from those days on NBC. As I watched pitch by pitch the games he called On Saturday afternoons, plus the 1986 and 1988 World Series.

The only time I remember Keith Jackson calling baseball was when he was assigned to do the 1986 NLCS for ABC. I had no idea Mr. Jackson had been the primary announcer for ABC baseball coverage before Michaels.

[KNS1996DFS]

You know what, Scully didn't call Super Bowl XVI on radio. CBS Radio didn't have the rights. But he was miffed about not getting the assignment.

[KNS1996DFS]

Check that. CBS Radio did have the rights, but Jack Buck called it.