Al Clark (American football)
{{Short description|American football player (1948–2004)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Al Clark
| image =
| number = 21, 44
| position = Defensive back
| birth_date = {{birth date|1948|2|29}}
| birth_place = Bogalusa, Louisiana, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2004|06|04|1948|02|29|df=y}}
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 0
| weight_lbs = 185
| high_school = Greenville (Park Hammond, LA)
| college = Eastern Michigan
| draftyear = 1971
| draftround = 3
| draftpick = 72
| pastteams =
- Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|1971}})
- Los Angeles Rams ({{NFL Year|1972}}–{{NFL Year|1975}})
- Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|1976}})
| pfr = C/ClarAl20
}}
Al Clark (February 29, 1948 – June 4, 2004) was an American professional football defensive back who played six seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Rams, and Philadelphia Eagles.
Early life
Clark was born in Bogalusa, Louisiana and attended Greenville Park High School in Hammond.{{cite web | url=http://www.profootballarchives.com/clar00400.html | title=Al Clark | publisher=profootballarchives.com | access-date=November 14, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129015635/http://www.profootballarchives.com/clar00400.html | archive-date=2014-11-29 | url-status=dead }} He enrolled and played college football at Grambling State University before transferring to Northern Arizona University and lastly Eastern Michigan University.
Professional career
Clark was selected by the Detroit Lions in the third round of the 1971 NFL draft, 72nd overall. After one year with the Lions as a cornerback and kick returner, Clark signed with the Rams, where he stayed for four years. His final year was with the Eagles in 1976.
On December 10, 1972, Clark was on the field when St. Louis Cardinals' quarterback Jim Hart completed a pass to Bobby Moore (later known as Ahmad Rashad), who caught the ball on the run near his own 40-yard line. After Gene Howard, Jim Nettles, Marlin McKeever, and Dave Elmendorf missed tackles, Clark brought down Moore on the Rams' one-yard line, making it the longest non-scoring pass play in National Football League history.{{cite web|title=1972 Week 13: Bobby Moore (Ahmad Rashad) 98 yard catch|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YkIunWE83s|website=YouTube|date=March 18, 2017|access-date=April 8, 2022}}
Clark was a stellar special teams players for the Rams, making many big plays with blocked kicks and speed on the defensive side of the ball in the Los Angeles Coliseum. Made Rams jersey #44 a threat on the field and bolstered the Rams special teams and defense.{{cn|date=December 2024}}
Later life
Clark died June 4, 2004, of undisclosed causes.{{cite web|title=Al Clark|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/ClarAl20.htm|website=Pro Football Reference|access-date=April 8, 2022}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Lions1971DraftPicks}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clark, Al}}
Category:Players of American football from Louisiana
Category:American football defensive backs
Category:Grambling State Tigers football players
Category:Northern Arizona Lumberjacks football players
Category:Eastern Michigan Eagles football players
Category:Detroit Lions players
Category:Los Angeles Rams players
Category:Philadelphia Eagles players
Category:Sportspeople from Bogalusa, Louisiana