Joe Montana on ‘The Catch’ statues: ‘An honor to be remembered forever’

In a bittersweet ceremony that was held less than five months after Dwight Clark’s death, the 49ers unveiled statues of Clark and Joe Montana on Sunday morning immortalizing The Catch.

Montana addressed the intimate crowd comprised largely of 49ers alumni, officials and family members for about five minutes in a plaza inside Levi’s Stadium.

A black curtain came off Montana’s statue rather unceremoniously during the 20-minute event, while there was a dramatic buildup for Clark’s unveiling. Clark died at 61 in June about 15 months after announcing he had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

"I always tell Dwight that he didn’t have to make it so dramatic," Montana said, smiling. "Kick his legs up. Throw his hands out. ‘Just catch the ball.