2023 Dwight Clark Legacy Series

During his 9-year NFL playing career, Dwight Clark established himself as one of the greatest players in San Francisco 49ers history. After being selected in the 10th round of the 1979 draft, the former Clemson wide receiver never expected to make the team. Not only did he make it, he ended up making the biggest play in team history in just his third season and launched what would become the 49ers dynasty of the 1980s. 

Joe Montana called Clark “the ultimate teammate” and despite his death from ALS in 2018, Clark’s power to bring people together and support his former teammates lives on through the Dwight Clark Legacy Series, which features lively conversations with current and former 49ers while raising money for The Golden Heart Fund. 

The third annual event, held May 10, 2023 at the California Theatre in San Jose and hosted by NBC Sports Bay Area’s Laura Britt and Matt Maiocco, featured entertaining conversations with 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, John Taylor, Christian McCaffrey and Jerry Rice, Mike Holmgren and TJ Rodgers, and the presentation of the Dwight Clark Award to 49ers linebacker Fred Warner. Warner earned the honor by exemplifying the same teamwork and spirit that Clark brought to the team during his career. 

“Fred is one of the reasons the offseason is so easy,” Shanahan said. “I believe our advantage is this: I don’t believe everyone can always get up for a game. I think we do, I really do. I think that’s why our film looks different from other teams, that’s why that not one team won a game the week after playing us (in 2022). It’s really cool stat. You ever come to our building and you want to see a player out there, it’s going to be Fred. We have to pull Fred off. He only knows one way. He practices that way, he plays that way. All our players try to be like that and if you’re not, you stick out. It all starts with Fred.”

49ers legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Bryant Young presented the award to Warner in front of an energized crowd of more than 500 49ers fans.

“Everyone I talk to just says how infectious Dwight’s personality was, how good of a dude he was,” Warner said. “I only hope to have people say as good of things about me when my time is done. This means the world to me. I try my best each and every day to lead by example and truly care about the people around me. I think the true measure of a leader is a guy who cares about his teammates and not just in between the lines, but outside them as well. This will go in that trophy case for sure.”

McCaffrey, who joined the team midway through the 2022 season, picked up on something very unique about the 49ers organization almost immediately.

“I say this with the utmost respect, this (the 49ers) is a family,” McCaffrey said. “It is the first time I felt like, even with the alumni, it’s special, it’s different. There’s a reason why it’s sustainable and has been for so long. I am just very proud to be a part of this organization.”

More than a dozen former and current 49ers players attended the event and helped raise a record $200,000 for The Golden Heart Fund, a charitable fund that provides services and comprehensive support for former 49ers facing a range of challenges in their lives after football. 

Combine the rabid fan base with the generous support of sponsors, including TJ & Valeta Rodgers, DevCon Construction, Candy & Eddie DeBartolo, San Francisco 49ers, The Ring Family Foundation, The Forever Young Foundation, Champion Charities, Audi of San Francisco, Sunshine Design, Christie’s International Real Estate, Sunshine Design, Tracy Toyota, The San Jose Sports Authority, Agatha & Stephen Luczo, Gino Blefari, and the Dwight Clark Legacy Series has distributed nearly $500,000 to the cause over the last three years.

All photographs below by Terrell Lloyd