Dallas Clark

Clark was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.Indianapolis Colts, Team, Roster, [http://www.colts.com/team/roster/Dallas-Clark/be149574-dcab-47b2-b1ce-3a6233709226 Dallas Clark] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402184846/http://www.colts.com/team/roster/Dallas-Clark/be149574-dcab-47b2-b1ce-3a6233709226 |date=April 2, 2018 }}. Retrieved February 25, 2012. He graduated from Twin River Valley High School in Bode, Iowa, where he was a multi-sport star. He earned four letters in football, basketball, and track and 3 letters in baseball. 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.

Clark attended the University of Iowa, where he played for the Iowa Hawkeyes football team 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 against Penn State and recording five tackles on the year. Clark was named honorable mention All-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 against Purdue, 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 in Kinnick Stadium history 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 quarterback Brad Banks to give Iowa a 31–28 win.[http://hawkeyesports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/clark_dallas00.html Clark's Iowa Hawkeye Bio] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060901103551/http://hawkeyesports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/clark_dallas00.html |date=September 1, 2006 }} On the year, Clark finished with 43 catches for 742 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Clark was the 2002 recipient of the John Mackey Award which is presented to the most outstanding tight end in college football, a first-team All-Big Ten selection, and a unanimous first-team All-American.2011 NCAA Football Records Book, [https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20120516105427/http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2011/Awards.pdf Award Winners], National Collegiate Athletic Association, Indianapolis, Indiana, p. 11 (2011). Retrieved June 22, 2012. He won the Kenny Yana Award at the end of the 2002 season as well, as he helped lead Iowa to the Big Ten title 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.

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| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=323&DraftYear=2003 |title=Dallas Clark, Iowa, TE, 2003 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football |website=draftscout.com |access-date=August 27, 2021}}{{Cite web |url=https://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?i=6511 |title=Dallas Clark, Combine Results, TE – Iowa |website=nflcombineresults.com |access-date=August 27, 2021}}

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File:Dallas clark.jpg media day.]]

Clark was chosen in the first round of the 2003 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts with the 24th overall pick.{{Cite web |title=2003 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2003/draft.htm |access-date=March 28, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} When drafted, the Colts called Clark a "perfect fit" for their system, eventually replacing Marcus Pollard and Ken Dilger at the position.{{cite news|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/football/2007-09-27-2825060845_x.htm|title=Dallas Clark getting more chances to make impact on Colts offense|last=Marot|first=Michael|date=September 27, 2007|work=USA Today|publisher=Associated Press|access-date=June 1, 2013}} He started 10 games as a rookie and had 340 receiving yards before suffering a broken leg against the New England Patriots.{{Cite web |title=Dallas Clark 2003 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/ClarDa00/gamelog/2003/ |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} 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 the Philadelphia Eagles. He returned for the playoffs and played very well leading up to the Colts' first Super Bowl berth 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 2006 Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts. In the 29–17 victory over the Chicago 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, shattering John Mackey Colts record for receptions for a tight end (55) and touchdowns (11).

On February 19, 2008, the Colts placed the franchise tag on 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 Famer John 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 the Monday Night Football match up against Miami Dolphins, this is also the fourth highest receiving yards ever for a Tight end in NFL history. On November 8, 2009, against the Houston Texans Clark caught 14 balls; a career-high for him.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2009092100/2009/REG2/colts@dolphins|title = Indianapolis Colts at Miami Dolphins 2009 REG 2 – Game Center| website=NFL.com }} He was named AFC Offensive Player-of-the-Week because of his performance against Houston.{{Cite web |url=http://www.colts.com/team/roster/dallas-clark/be149574-dcab-47b2-b1ce-3a6233709226/ |title=Dallas Clark player profile |access-date=October 13, 2013 |archive-date=January 4, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150104112402/http://www.colts.com/team/roster/Dallas-Clark/be149574-dcab-47b2-b1ce-3a6233709226 |url-status=dead }} On January 3, 2010, against the Buffalo 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 the Washington Redskins and 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=6220944|title=Dallas Clark 'happy' with progress|last=Kuharsky|first=Paul|date=March 16, 2011|work=ESPN|publisher=ESPN.com|access-date=May 29, 2013}} He was ranked 78th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2011.{{Cite web |title=2011 NFL Top 100 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/2011-nfl-top-100.htm |access-date=2024-03-18 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}

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 quarterback Peyton Manning, who missed the entire season rehabbing from offseason neck surgery. Clark was released on March 7, 2012.

Clark signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on May 21, 2012.{{cite web | title=Buccaneers sign Dallas Clark | website=NBC Sports | date=2012-05-21 | url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/buccaneers-sign-dallas-clark | access-date=2024-07-24}} He finished the season with 47 receptions for 435 yards and 4 touchdowns.[http://www.nfl.com/player/dallasclark/2505664/profile/ 2012 Dallas Clark Stats]

On August 13, 2013, Clark signed a one-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens.{{cite news |first=Aaron |last=Wilson |title=Ravens make it official, sign Dallas Clark, cut Gary Walker |url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/ravens-insider/bal-ravens-make-it-official-sign-dallas-clark-cut-gary-walker-20130813,0,1161405.story |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=August 13, 2013 |access-date=August 15, 2013 |archive-date=March 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325192123/http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/ravens-insider/bal-ravens-make-it-official-sign-dallas-clark-cut-gary-walker-20130813,0,1161405.story |url-status=dead }} He finished the season with 31 receptions for 343 yards and 3 touchdowns.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/ClarDa00/gamelog/2013/|title = Dallas Clark 2013 Game Log| website=Pro-Football-Reference.com }}

On June 18, 2014, Clark signed a one-day contract with the Colts, so that he could retire as a member of the team.{{Cite web |url=http://www.colts.com/news/article-1/Dallas-Clark-to-Retire-a-Colt--Its-So-Special-I-Cant-Even-Express-How-Awesome-It-Is/dc146f30-3df2-41f6-8692-af9fe4857efe |title=Dallas Clark to Retire a Colt: "It's So Special I Can't Even Express How Awesome It Is." |access-date=June 17, 2014 |archive-date=June 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140619142231/http://www.colts.com/news/article-1/Dallas-Clark-to-Retire-a-Colt--Its-So-Special-I-Cant-Even-Express-How-Awesome-It-Is/dc146f30-3df2-41f6-8692-af9fe4857efe |url-status=dead }}

Clark and his wife, Karen, reside with their three children in Livermore, Iowa. They also hold residence in Zionsville, Indiana.[http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=bio&player_id=195 Indianapolis Colts Bio] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060612223152/http://colts.com/sub.cfm?page=bio&player_id=195 |date=June 12, 2006 }}

Clark guest starred in the CBS hit show Criminal Minds as San Diego Police officer Austin Kent in the episode "The Stranger"; Clark said of the experience, "This is fulfilling a dream of mine of being an actor."

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Category:1979 births

Category:Living people

Category:All-American college football players

Category:American football tight ends

Category:Baltimore Ravens players

Category:Iowa Hawkeyes football players

Category:Indianapolis Colts players

Category:People from Humboldt County, Iowa

Category:Sportspeople from Zionsville, Indiana

Category:Players of American football from Indianapolis

Category:Players of American football from Iowa

Category:Players of American football from Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Category:Tampa Bay Buccaneers players