Dallas Dean Clark(born June 12, 1979) is an American former professionalfootballplayer who was atight endfor 11 seasons in theNational Football League(NFL), primarily for theIndianapolis Colts.He playedcollege footballfor theIowa Hawkeyes,earningunanimous All-Americanhonors and recognition as the top college tight end in the nation. He was selected by Indianapolis in the first round of the2003 NFL draftand he was a member of theirSuper Bowl XLIchampionship team against theChicago Bears.He also played in the NFL for theTampa Bay Buccaneersand theBaltimore Ravens.
 Clark in 2007 | |||||||||
| No. 44, 87 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Tight end | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | June 12, 1979 Sioux Falls, South Dakota,U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 252 lb (114 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Twin River Valley (Bode, Iowa) | ||||||||
| College: | Iowa(1998–2002) | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 2003/ round: 1 / pick: 24 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Early life
editClark was born inSioux Falls, South Dakota.[1]He graduated from Twin River Valley High School inBode, Iowa,where he was a multi-sport star. He earned four letters infootball,basketball,and track and 3 letters inbaseball.As a high schooler, he earned honorable mention all-conference honors in football and was second-team all-conference as a sophomore. As a junior, Clark was named his team's most valuable player and a first-team all-conference and honorable mention all-state selection after recording 140 tackles. He was team captain and MVP again as a senior, recording 160 tackles, and earned first-team all-conference and second-team all-state honors.
College career
editClark attended theUniversity of Iowa,where he played for theIowa Hawkeyes footballteam from 1999 to 2002. He did not see action during the 1999 season, but he finally saw the field in 2000. He played on special teams and made six tackles during the season as a linebacker. Prior to the 2001 season, the Iowa coaching staff decided to move Clark to the tight end position.
Clark started 10 games at tight end for Iowa in 2001, catching 38 passes for 539 yards and four touchdowns on the season. He also played special teams, recovering an on-side kick to clinch a win againstPenn Stateand recording five tackles on the year. Clark was named honorable mentionAll-Big Ten Conference.
After being granted a scholarship for 2002, Clark started all 13 games as he helped lead Iowa to its first undefeated conference season in 80 years. Clark was the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week againstPurdue,when he caught three passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns. His first touchdown came in the third quarter, when he broke a Purdue tackle and raced 95 yards for a touchdown. It was the longest pass play inKinnick Stadiumhistory and the second longest in school history. Clark's second touchdown came with 1:07 left in the game. With the Hawkeyes trailing, 28–24, Clark caught a seven-yard pass on fourth and goal from quarterbackBrad Banksto give Iowa a 31–28 win.[2]On the year, Clark finished with 43 catches for 742 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Clark was the 2002 recipient of theJohn Mackey Awardwhich is presented to the most outstanding tight end in college football, a first-teamAll-Big Tenselection, and a unanimous first-team All-American.[3]He won the Kenny Yana Award at the end of the 2002 season as well, as he helped lead Iowa to theBig Tentitle and an 11–2 record. Although he had one more year of eligibility remaining, Clark decided to enter the 2003 NFL Draft. He left Iowa with 1,281 career receiving yards in just two years at the tight end position.
Professional career
edit| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | Vertical jump | Broad jump | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft3+3⁄8in (1.91 m) |
257 lb (117 kg) |
32 in (0.81 m) |
10+1⁄8in (0.26 m) |
4.65 s | 37.5 in (0.95 m) |
10 ft 3 in (3.12 m) | ||||||
| All values fromNFL Combine[4][5] | ||||||||||||
Indianapolis Colts
edit
Clark was chosen in the first round of the2003 NFL draftby theIndianapolis Coltswith the 24th overall pick.[6]When drafted, the Colts called Clark a "perfect fit" for their system, eventually replacingMarcus PollardandKen Dilgerat the position.[7]He started 10 games as a rookie and had 340 receiving yards before suffering a broken leg against theNew England Patriots.He started 15 games in 2004 and had 423 yards receiving with five touchdown receptions.
Clark started 15 games in 2005 and caught 37 passes for 488 yards and four touchdowns. He started in 11 games in the 2006 season before suffering a knee injury in the November 26 home game against thePhiladelphia Eagles.He returned for the playoffs and played very well leading up to the Colts' firstSuper Bowlberth since moving to Indianapolis. In the Colts' three playoff games, he caught a total of 17 passes for 281 yards as a member of the 2006Super BowlChampion Indianapolis Colts. In the 29–17 victory over theChicago Bears,he caught four passes for 36 yards and rushed the ball once for a one-yard gain. In 15 starts in 2007 season, Clark had 58 receptions for 616 yards, shatteringJohn MackeyColts record for receptions for a tight end (55) and touchdowns (11).[7]
On February 19, 2008, the Colts placed thefranchise tagon Clark. The next day, the Colts signed him to a six-year contract extension, with his salary averaging $4.5 million per year ($41 million in total), making him the highest paid tight end in the NFL.
On December 28, 2008, Clark broke the Colts' franchise record, held by Hall of FamerJohn Mackey,for yards in a season by a tight end (848). On September 21, 2009, Clark had career high 183 receiving yards and a touchdown in just seven receptions at theMonday Night Footballmatch up againstMiami Dolphins,this is also the fourth highest receiving yards ever for aTight endinNFLhistory. On November 8, 2009, against theHouston TexansClark caught 14 balls; a career-high for him.[8]He was named AFC Offensive Player-of-the-Week because of his performance against Houston.[9]On January 3, 2010, against theBuffalo Bills,Clark caught his 100th reception of the season, the second tight end to do so in NFL history. He ended the 2009 season with 100 catches for 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns.
On October 17, 2010, Clark sustained a wrist injury playing theWashington Redskinsand was put on injured reserve on Friday, October 22, 2010, after season-ending wrist surgery. He completed the season with 37 catches for 347 yards and three touchdowns.[10]He was ranked 78th by his fellow players on theNFL Top 100 Players of 2011.[11]
Clark's surgically repaired wrist would again hinder his production in the 2011 regular season, limiting him to 34 receptions for 357 yards and two touchdowns in only 11 games. This was also the first season Clark played without quarterbackPeyton Manning,who missed the entire season rehabbing from offseason neck surgery. Clark was released on March 7, 2012.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
editClark signed a one-year contract with theTampa Bay Buccaneerson May 21, 2012.[12]He finished the season with 47 receptions for 435 yards and 4 touchdowns.[13]
Baltimore Ravens
editOn August 13, 2013, Clark signed a one-year contract with theBaltimore Ravens.[14]He finished the season with 31 receptions for 343 yards and 3 touchdowns.[15]
Retirement
editOn June 18, 2014, Clark signed a one-day contract with the Colts, so that he could retire as a member of the team.[16]
NFL career statistics
edit| Year | Team | GP | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | IND | 10 | 29 | 340 | 11.7 | 42 | 1 |
| 2004 | IND | 15 | 25 | 423 | 16.9 | 80 | 5 |
| 2005 | IND | 15 | 37 | 488 | 13.2 | 56 | 4 |
| 2006 | IND | 12 | 30 | 367 | 12.2 | 40 | 4 |
| 2007 | IND | 15 | 58 | 616 | 10.6 | 39 | 11 |
| 2008 | IND | 15 | 77 | 848 | 11.0 | 33 | 6 |
| 2009 | IND | 16 | 100 | 1,106 | 11.1 | 80 | 10 |
| 2010 | IND | 6 | 37 | 347 | 9.4 | 50 | 3 |
| 2011 | IND | 11 | 34 | 352 | 10.4 | 21 | 2 |
| 2012 | TB | 16 | 47 | 435 | 9.3 | 33 | 4 |
| 2013 | BAL | 12 | 31 | 343 | 11.1 | 45 | 3 |
| Career | 143 | 505 | 5,665 | 11.2 | 80 | 53 | |
Personal life
editClark and his wife, Karen, reside with their three children inLivermore, Iowa.They also hold residence inZionsville, Indiana.[18]
Clark guest starred in theCBShit showCriminal Mindsas San Diego Police officer Austin Kent in the episode "The Stranger", fulfilling an acting dream ".[10]
References
edit- ^Indianapolis Colts, Team, Roster,Dallas ClarkArchivedApril 2, 2018, at theWayback Machine.Retrieved February 25, 2012.
- ^Clark's Iowa Hawkeye BioArchivedSeptember 1, 2006, at theWayback Machine
- ^2011 NCAA Football Records Book,Award Winners,National Collegiate Athletic Association, Indianapolis, Indiana, p. 11 (2011). Retrieved June 22, 2012.
- ^"Dallas Clark, Iowa, TE, 2003 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football".draftscout.com.RetrievedAugust 27,2021.
- ^"Dallas Clark, Combine Results, TE – Iowa".nflcombineresults.com.RetrievedAugust 27,2021.
- ^"2003 NFL Draft Listing".Pro-Football-Reference.com.RetrievedMarch 28,2023.
- ^abMarot, Michael (September 27, 2007)."Dallas Clark getting more chances to make impact on Colts offense".USA Today.Associated Press.RetrievedJune 1,2013.
- ^"Indianapolis Colts at Miami Dolphins 2009 REG 2 – Game Center".NFL.com.
- ^"Dallas Clark player profile".Archived fromthe originalon January 4, 2015.RetrievedOctober 13,2013.
- ^abKuharsky, Paul (March 16, 2011)."Dallas Clark 'happy' with progress".ESPN.ESPN.com.RetrievedMay 29,2013.
- ^"2011 NFL Top 100".Pro-Football-Reference.com.RetrievedMarch 18,2024.
- ^"Buccaneers sign Dallas Clark".NBC Sports.May 21, 2012.RetrievedJuly 24,2024.
- ^2012 Dallas Clark Stats
- ^Wilson, Aaron (August 13, 2013)."Ravens make it official, sign Dallas Clark, cut Gary Walker".The Baltimore Sun.Archived fromthe originalon March 25, 2014.RetrievedAugust 15,2013.
- ^"Dallas Clark 2013 Game Log".Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^"Dallas Clark to Retire a Colt:" It's So Special I Can't Even Express How Awesome It Is. "".Archived fromthe originalon June 19, 2014.RetrievedJune 17,2014.
- ^"Dallas Clark Stats".ESPN Internet Ventures.RetrievedMarch 25,2014.
- ^Indianapolis Colts BioArchivedJune 12, 2006, at theWayback Machine
External links
edit
- Career statistics fromESPN·Yahoo Sports