On this day in 1982, Joe Montana made a historic throw to wide receiver Dwight Clark, who made an even better catch – “The Catch”.

Montana and Clark’s connection in the back of the end zone with under a minute to play defeated the Cowboys in the 1981 NFC Championship Game, marking the end of one dynasty and the beginning of another.

31 years ago today, his throw to Clark instantly immortalized Montana. He went on to lead the 49ers to victory in Super Bowl XVI that year, and three more Super Bowl titles in the next decade. Check out this segment about “The Catch” as originally presented on “America’s Game: The 1981 San Francisco 49ers”: