SANTA CLARA — Three months ago, at Dwight Clark’s “celebration of life” ceremony, Terrell Owens discovered Clark was “instrumental” in bringing him to San Francisco.
Clark, a member of the front office at the time, pushed for the 49ers to select Owens in the 1996 NFL Draft. Eleven receivers were drafted before Owens, a relatively unknown receiver out of University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. Owens appreciated Clark believing in him.
“Before Dwight passed, I know during the course of my career, we had a few conversations here and there and he was alway very, very supportive, always said I had a bright future early on in my career,” Owens said Thursday.
Owens was present during the Clark-Joe Montana statue unveiling two weeks ago. Just as he did then, Owens wore his gold Pro Football Hall of Fame jacket — he was inducted as a member of the 2018 class — Thursday evening, about one hour before the 49ers’ home matchup with the Oakland Raiders.
Owens will receive his Hall of Fame ring of excellence during halftime.