Former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Dwight Clark passed away at the age of 61. Clark’s passing comes after his battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
What happened?
Clark’s wife Kelly confirmed the news of her husband’s passing on Monday from his official Twitter account:
“I’m heartbroken to tell you that today I lost my best friend and husband. He passed peacefully surrounded by many of the people he loved most. I am thankful for all of Dwight’s friends, teammates and 49ers fans who have sent their love during his battle with ALS. Kelly Clark.”
In addition to his wife, Clark is also believed to be survived by their three children.
According to Fox 5, Clark played for the San Francisco 49ers from 1979 to 1987; during this time, he was named to two Pro Bowls. He ultimately would retire from the NFL in 1987. As a tribute, Clark’s number 87 jersey was retired by the 49ers the following year.
Clark previously announced his ALS diagnosis on March 19, 2017. According to Clark’s official website, he issued the following statement concerning his condition:
“In September of 2015, I started feeling weakness in my left hand. I was mildly paying attention to it because since my playing days, I’ve constantly had pain in my neck. I was thinking it was related to some kind of nerve damage because it would just come and go.”
“After months of tests and treatment, I got some bad news. I was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. I have ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Those words are still very hard for me to say.”
“While I’m still trying to wrap my head around the challenge I will face with this disease over the coming years, the only thing I know is that I’m going to fight like hell and live every day to the fullest.”
What is Dwight Clark’s official cause of death?
At this time, Clark’s official cause of death does not appear to be released to the public.
As this story is developing, more information will be updated as made available.