"I just played one year with him," Young said during a KNBR interview on Monday. "I threw his last touchdown. I never told him, 'I threw your last touchdown pass your whole career. I thought it was the only one I would ever throw.'"
Young was joking, of course. He did throw Clark's last career touchdown reception but had already thrown touchdowns as a 49ers quarterback. Despite playing just one season with Clark, Young feels like he played 10 years with the Bay Area icon. One thing the former quarterback remembers about Clark is how tough he was on the football field.
"I always describe to people, what is the West Coast Offense? It's third-and-three, Dwight Clark stands up, you throw him the ball, and then he falls forward for three yards," Young said. "That's the West Coast Offense. Why drop back 17 yards and throw the deep end, like the Raiders are doing? Bill (Walsh) just changed that all. But Dwight took a beating! They couldn't stop it. How many slants did Dwight catch and just get nailed?"
Young went on to explain that there was a misconception about the 49ers back then. Opponents believed the team was soft because it didn't play like the New York Giants.
"We'd run circles around them," Young said. "Then [they would] get beat, and they were so frustrated because they kind of felt like, 'Well, you didn't fight me. You just ran around.' But they didn't realize how tough we were. They always didn't understand that, yeah, we had this West Coast Offense. Yeah, it's more about timing and the choreography. But the thing that they always underestimated in us was that we're as tough or tougher than you are. And that's why Dwight, I think, epitomizes that."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Young below.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers' Kyle Shanahan explains Brock Purdy's remarkable success in Seattle
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy earned his first career road start in 2022 with a 21-13 win over the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Since then, he has played three additional games in one of the loudest and most challenging environments in the NFL — and won all... -
These 7 49ers players are inactive vs. Eagles
The San Francisco 49ers have released the list of inactive players for their Wild Card playoff matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. These seven players will not suit up for the game. Inactives: LB Luke Gifford (quadricep) DL Kevin Givens RB Isaac Guerendo CB Chase... -
49ers sign 14 players to reserve/future contracts
The San Francisco 49ers announced they have signed 14 players to reserve/future contracts, securing depth and developmental talent for the upcoming offseason. All 14 players finished the 2025 NFL season on the 49ers' practice squad and will carry over into the 2026 league... -
49ers vs. Seahawks: Keys to Victory and a Trip to the NFC Championship Game
What's going on, Faithful? It's your boy Wayne Breezie, and we're right back at it with everything on the line. The San Francisco 49ers are headed into hostile territory to take on the Seattle Seahawks, the 2025 NFC West champions, with a trip to the NFC Championship Game on...