The TACKLE That LAUNCHED a DYNASTY: San Francisco cornerback Eric Wright made the tackle in the 1981 NFC Championship Game that preserved the 49ers lead after Dwight Clark's famous catch and propelled his team on to Super Bowl XVI.

The article focuses on the historic rivalry between the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys, highlighting key moments in the early 1970s and early 1980s that shaped both franchises. It emphasizes the 1981 NFC Championship Game, where “The Catch,” a famous touchdown reception by Dwight Clark, and a critical tackle by 49ers cornerback Eric Wright preserved San Francisco’s narrow victory and propelled them to Super Bowl XVI. The piece also discusses the subsequent struggles and eventual resurgence of the 49ers under coach Bill Walsh, contrasting it with the Cowboys’ decline through the 1980s. Wright’s tackle is presented as a pivotal but often overlooked play that contributed significantly to the 49ers’ rise as an NFL dynasty.