Dallas Clark
Encyclopedia
Dallas Dean Clark is an American football
tight end
for the Indianapolis Colts
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Colts 24th overall in the 2003 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at the University of Iowa
. He has been called a hybrid tight end for the Colts due to his ability to transform into both wide receiver and tight end in the game.
, earning four letters in football
, basketball
, and track and five letters in baseball
. As a freshman, he earned honorable mention all-conference honors in football and was second team all-conference as a sophomore.
As a junior, Clark was first team all-conference and honorable mention all-state after recording 140 tackles and being named team MVP. He was his high school team MVP and team captain as a senior, recording 160 tackles. Clark was first team all-conference and second team all-state as a senior.
Clark comes from an athletic family. He grew up a fan of the New York Mets
, and still is to this day. His brother, Darrick, played linebacker at Iowa State University
from 1996–97, his other brother, Dan, played baseball and football at Simpson College
.
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.
Clark was not only selected first team All-Big Ten
, but he was also a consensus first team All-American
and 2002 recipient of the John Mackey Award
which is presented to the most outstanding Tight End in college football by the Nassau County Sports Commission
. 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.
by the Indianapolis Colts
with the 24th pick. He started 10 games as a rookie and had 340 receiving yards before suffering a broken leg against the New England Patriots
. He started 15 games in 2004 and had 423 yards receiving with 5 receptions for touchdowns.
Clark started 15 games in 2005 and caught 37 passes for 488 yards and 4 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 in 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 1 yard gain. In 15 starts in 2007 season, Clark had 58 receptions for 616 yards, and a single season team record for a tight end 11 touchdowns.
On February 19, 2008, the Colts placed the franchise tag
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. 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 receiving a season-ending wrist surgery. He completed the season with 37 catches for 347 yards and three touchdowns.
. They also hold residence in Zionsville, Indiana.
hit show Criminal Minds
as San Diego Police officer Austin Kent in the episode 6x21 "The Stranger."
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
for the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted by the Colts 24th overall in the 2003 NFL Draft
2003 NFL Draft
The 2003 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft was held April 26–27, 2003 at the Theatre at...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
. He has been called a hybrid tight end for the Colts due to his ability to transform into both wide receiver and tight end in the game.
Early years
Clark was a multi-sport star at Twin River Valley High School in Bode, IowaBode, Iowa
Bode is a city in Humboldt County, Iowa, United States. The population was 327 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bode is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, earning four letters in football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, and track and five letters in baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. As a freshman, he earned honorable mention all-conference honors in football and was second team all-conference as a sophomore.
As a junior, Clark was first team all-conference and honorable mention all-state after recording 140 tackles and being named team MVP. He was his high school team MVP and team captain as a senior, recording 160 tackles. Clark was first team all-conference and second team all-state as a senior.
Clark comes from an athletic family. He grew up a fan of the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
, and still is to this day. His brother, Darrick, played linebacker at Iowa State University
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
from 1996–97, his other brother, Dan, played baseball and football at Simpson College
Simpson College
Simpson College is a four-year, coeducational liberal arts institution situated in Indianola, Iowa, USA, and affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Simpson, which has been fully accredited by North Central Association since 1913, is a small school with approximately 1,400 full-time students...
.
College career
Clark 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
Penn State Nittany Lions football
The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the...
and recording five tackles on the year. Clark was named honorable mention All-Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
.
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
Purdue Boilermakers football
The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of...
, 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
Kinnick Stadium
Kinnick Stadium, formerly known as Iowa Stadium, and known in the area simply as Kinnick, is a stadium located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the home stadium of the University of Iowa Hawkeyes, in the sport of college football...
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
Brad Banks
Brad Banks is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was originally signed by the Washington Redskins...
to give Iowa a 31-28 win.
Clark was not only selected first team All-Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
, but he was also a consensus first team All-American
College Football All-America Team
The College Football All-America Team is an honor given annually to the best American college football players at their respective positions. The original usage of the term All-America seems to have been to the 1889 College Football All-America Team selected by Casper Whitney and published in This...
and 2002 recipient of the John Mackey Award
John Mackey Award
The John Mackey Award is presented annually to college football's most outstanding tight end.The award is given to the collegiate tight end who best exemplifies the play, sportsmanship, academics, and community values of NFL Hall of Fame tight end John Mackey....
which is presented to the most outstanding Tight End in college football by the Nassau County Sports Commission
Nassau County Sports Commission
-Mission:The Nassau County Sports Commission is a non-profit, 501 organization created to enhance the quality of life of Nassau County, New York, residents through the promotion of physical fitness, healthy activity and positive sportsmanship to combat childhood obesity and performance enhancing...
. He won the Kenny Yana Award at the end of the 2002 season as well, as he helped lead Iowa to the Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
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.
Professional career
Clark was chosen in the first round of the 2003 NFL draft2003 NFL Draft
The 2003 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft was held April 26–27, 2003 at the Theatre at...
by the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
with the 24th pick. He started 10 games as a rookie and had 340 receiving yards before suffering a broken leg against the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
. He started 15 games in 2004 and had 423 yards receiving with 5 receptions for touchdowns.
Clark started 15 games in 2005 and caught 37 passes for 488 yards and 4 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
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He returned for the playoffs and played very well leading up to the Colts' first Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
berth in 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
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
Champion Indianapolis Colts. In the 29-17 victory over the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, he caught four passes for 36 yards and rushed the ball once for a 1 yard gain. In 15 starts in 2007 season, Clark had 58 receptions for 616 yards, and a single season team record for a tight end 11 touchdowns.
On February 19, 2008, the Colts placed the franchise tag
Franchise Tag
In the National Football League, the franchise tag is a designation a team may apply to a player scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. The tag binds the player to the team for one year if certain conditions are met. Each team has access each year to only one franchise tag and one...
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
John Mackey (American football)
John Mackey was an American Football tight end who grew up in Roosevelt, Long Island and played for the Baltimore Colts and the San Diego Chargers . He played college football at Syracuse University...
, 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
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
match up against Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, this is also the fourth highest receiving yards ever for a Tight End
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
in NFL history. On November 8, 2009 against the Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
Clark caught 14 balls; a career high for him. On January 3, 2010 against the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, 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
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
and was put on injured reserve on Friday, October 22, 2010, after receiving a season-ending wrist surgery. He completed the season with 37 catches for 347 yards and three touchdowns.
Family
Clark and his wife, Karen, reside with their son, Dane, in Livermore, IowaLivermore, Iowa
Livermore is a city in Humboldt County, Iowa, United States. The population was 431 at the 2000 census. Livermore is the hometown of Indianapolis Colts tight end Dallas Clark.-History:...
. They also hold residence in Zionsville, Indiana.
Other
Clark has guest starred in the CBSCBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
hit show Criminal Minds
Criminal Minds
Criminal Minds is an American police procedural drama that premiered September 22, 2005, on CBS. The series follows a team of profilers from the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit based in Quantico, Virginia. The BAU is part of the FBI National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime...
as San Diego Police officer Austin Kent in the episode 6x21 "The Stranger."