Franklin Clarke
Encyclopedia
Franklin Clarke is a former American football
wide receiver
in the National Football League
for the Cleveland Browns
and Dallas Cowboys
.
He was named after Franklin D. Roosevelt
, the 32nd president of the United States
.
at the University of Colorado at Boulder
(and the first to letter), joining the Buffaloes in September 1954 after attending Trinidad State Junior College
(Colo.) for two years where he had a brilliant career (he had to sit out the ’54 season after transferring).
He was joined by John Wooten
the following year. Because this was before the civil rights movement
, the pair often had to endure open racism outside of Boulder.
Clarke amassed 532 yards receiving, ending his career fifth at the time in receiving yards at Colorado. He was so well liked among his peers on campus, that he was chosen as King of the annual CU Days festival (CU’s equivalent of Homecoming King).
He was an honorable mention All-Big 7
conference performer as a junior, when he was second in the league in receiving.
He was selected to play in the Copper Bowl All-Star
Game as a senior.
In 2008, Clarke was inducted into the Colorado Athletic Hall of Fame.
in the fifth round of the 1956 NFL Draft
by the Cleveland Browns
.
The Browns kept him around for three seasons (1957
-1959
), even though he stood on the sidelines during the first two. He had a total of 10 catches during those three years, so he was left unprotected in the 1960 NFL Expansion Draft
.
in the 1960 NFL Expansion Draft
. His coaches at Colorado and Cleveland criticized his blocking, but the Cowboys were still intrigued by the 6-1, 215-pound player. Instead of picking at his deficiencies, Tom Landry
chose to accentuate his strengths. The coach appreciated his speed, soft hands and his ability to run precise routes, so he was converted into a split end.
Clarke did not make an immediate impression in Dallas either, catching only 9 passes in a backup role, during the 1960
season. However, he moved into the starting role in 1961
and finished with 919 yards, 41 receptions and 9 touchdowns.
Clarke turned out to be the Cowboys' first bona fide long-ball threat—before "Bullet" Bob Hayes
joined him. Hayes even credits Clarke for teaching him the proper way to catch "the bomb"—the long pass. He also was the first black star athlete on a Cowboys team playing in a then racially divided Dallas.
Clarke’s best season was 1962
, when he became the first player in team history to gain more than 1000 yards in a season. His opening day performance against the Washington Redskins
was one for the ages. His ten receptions for 241 yards, remains the best opening day performance in terms of most yards receiving, of any wide receiver
in the history of the NFL.
He caught 47 passes for career high numbers in yards (1043) and touchdowns (14). In addition to his NFL leading 14 scores, Clark’s 22.2 yards per catch also led the league that season.
On September 23, 1962
, Clarke was part of an infamous play where, for the first time in anyone's memory in an NFL game, points were awarded for a penalty. The Cowboys were holding in the end zone
on a 99-yard touchdown
pass from Eddie LeBaron
to Clarke, and Pittsburgh
was awarded a safety. The Steelers eventually won, 30-28.
He moved to tight end
towards the end of his career, but he remained productive and became a clutch third down receiver. In 1964
, he caught 65 passes for 973 yards and was named All-Pro
as a tight end
.
He retired after the 1967 NFL Championship Game
against the Green Bay Packers
, in what is now known as the “Ice Bowl
”, won by the Packers, 21-17.
Clarke led the Cowboys in yards and touchdowns for a wide receiver
from 1961
to 1964
, and catches in 1963
and 1964
.
He also held the franchise record for most touchdowns in a season by a receiver with 14 from his 1962
season, which stood for 45 years until 2007
, when it was broken by Terrell Owens
.
Clarke caught 281 catches for 5,214 yards and 51 touchdowns in 140 NFL games, which ranks sixth in receiving
yards in Dallas Cowboys
history.
TV Sports anchor in Dallas and at CBS
.
On weekends, Clarke anchored sports reports for WFAA-TV
(Channel 8) when not working NFL games for CBS
. During the week, he threw himself into work at a bank
and at the youth council
.
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...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
in 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...
for the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
.
He was named after Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
, the 32nd president of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
College career
Clarke was the first African-American varsity football playerAmerican 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...
at the University of Colorado at Boulder
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
(and the first to letter), joining the Buffaloes in September 1954 after attending Trinidad State Junior College
Trinidad State Junior College
Founded in 1925, Trinidad State Junior College is a two year college located in Trinidad, Colorado, United States, with a secondary satellite campus located in Alamosa, Colorado...
(Colo.) for two years where he had a brilliant career (he had to sit out the ’54 season after transferring).
He was joined by John Wooten
John Wooten
John B. Wooten is a former American football guard who played nine professional seasons in the National Football League for the Cleveland Browns and Washington Redskins...
the following year. Because this was before the civil rights movement
Civil rights movement
The civil rights movement was a worldwide political movement for equality before the law occurring between approximately 1950 and 1980. In many situations it took the form of campaigns of civil resistance aimed at achieving change by nonviolent forms of resistance. In some situations it was...
, the pair often had to endure open racism outside of Boulder.
Clarke amassed 532 yards receiving, ending his career fifth at the time in receiving yards at Colorado. He was so well liked among his peers on campus, that he was chosen as King of the annual CU Days festival (CU’s equivalent of Homecoming King).
He was an honorable mention All-Big 7
Big Eight Conference
The Big Eight Conference, a former NCAA-affiliated Division I-A college athletic association that sponsored football, was formed in January 1907 as the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association by its charter member schools: the University of Kansas, University of Missouri, University...
conference performer as a junior, when he was second in the league in receiving.
He was selected to play in the Copper Bowl All-Star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
Game as a senior.
In 2008, Clarke was inducted into the Colorado Athletic Hall of Fame.
Cleveland Browns
Clarke was draftedNFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
in the fifth round of the 1956 NFL Draft
1956 NFL Draft
The 1956 National Football League Draft was held on November 29, 1955.-Player selections:-Round one:* HOF Member of the Professional Football Hall of Fame-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:...
by the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
The Browns kept him around for three seasons (1957
1957 NFL season
The 1957 NFL season was the 38th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended when the Detroit Lions crushed the Cleveland Browns in the NFL Championship Game, 59–14.-Major rule changes:...
-1959
1959 NFL season
The 1959 NFL season was the 40th regular season of the National Football League. Tragedy struck as NFL Commissioner Bert Bell died of a heart attack on October 11 at Philadelphia's Franklin Field while watching the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers play...
), even though he stood on the sidelines during the first two. He had a total of 10 catches during those three years, so he was left unprotected in the 1960 NFL Expansion Draft
1960 NFL Expansion Draft
The 1960 NFL Expansion Draft was a National Football League draft in which a new expansion team, named the Dallas Cowboys, selected its first players. The NFL awarded Dallas, Texas a franchise to compete for revenue with Lamar Hunt's Dallas Texans of the upstart American Football League...
.
Dallas Cowboys
Clarke was selected by the Dallas CowboysDallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
in the 1960 NFL Expansion Draft
1960 NFL Expansion Draft
The 1960 NFL Expansion Draft was a National Football League draft in which a new expansion team, named the Dallas Cowboys, selected its first players. The NFL awarded Dallas, Texas a franchise to compete for revenue with Lamar Hunt's Dallas Texans of the upstart American Football League...
. His coaches at Colorado and Cleveland criticized his blocking, but the Cowboys were still intrigued by the 6-1, 215-pound player. Instead of picking at his deficiencies, Tom Landry
Tom Landry
Thomas Wade "Tom" Landry was an American football player and coach. He is ranked as one of the greatest and most innovative coaches in National Football League history, creating many new formations and methods...
chose to accentuate his strengths. The coach appreciated his speed, soft hands and his ability to run precise routes, so he was converted into a split end.
Clarke did not make an immediate impression in Dallas either, catching only 9 passes in a backup role, during the 1960
1960 NFL season
The 1960 NFL season was the 41st regular season of the National Football League. Before the season, Pete Rozelle was elected NFL commissioner as a compromise choice on the twenty-third ballot. Meanwhile, the league expanded to 13 teams with the addition of the Dallas Cowboys. Also, the Cardinals...
season. However, he moved into the starting role in 1961
1961 NFL season
The 1961 NFL season was the 42nd regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 14 teams with the addition of the Minnesota Vikings, after the team's owners declined to be charter members of the new American Football League. The schedule was also expanded from 12 games per...
and finished with 919 yards, 41 receptions and 9 touchdowns.
Clarke turned out to be the Cowboys' first bona fide long-ball threat—before "Bullet" Bob Hayes
Bob Hayes
Robert Lee "Bullet Bob" Hayes was an Olympic sprinter turned American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys. An American track and field athlete, he was a two-sport stand-out in college in both track and football at Florida A&M University...
joined him. Hayes even credits Clarke for teaching him the proper way to catch "the bomb"—the long pass. He also was the first black star athlete on a Cowboys team playing in a then racially divided Dallas.
Clarke’s best season was 1962
1962 NFL season
The 1962 NFL season was the 43rd regular season of the National Football League. Before the season, CBS signed a contract with the league to televise all regular-season games for a $4.65 million annual fee....
, when he became the first player in team history to gain more than 1000 yards in a season. His opening day performance against 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,...
was one for the ages. His ten receptions for 241 yards, remains the best opening day performance in terms of most yards receiving, of any wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
in the history of the NFL.
He caught 47 passes for career high numbers in yards (1043) and touchdowns (14). In addition to his NFL leading 14 scores, Clark’s 22.2 yards per catch also led the league that season.
On September 23, 1962
1962 NFL season
The 1962 NFL season was the 43rd regular season of the National Football League. Before the season, CBS signed a contract with the league to televise all regular-season games for a $4.65 million annual fee....
, Clarke was part of an infamous play where, for the first time in anyone's memory in an NFL game, points were awarded for a penalty. The Cowboys were holding in the end zone
End zone
In gridiron-based codes of football, the end zone refers to the scoring area on the field. It is the area between the end line and goal line bounded by the sidelines. There are two end zones, each being on an opposite side of the field...
on a 99-yard touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
pass from Eddie LeBaron
Eddie LeBaron
Edward Wayne LeBaron, Jr. is a former American football quarterback in the 1950s and early 1960s in the National Football League.-Early years:LeBaron graduated from Oakdale High School in Oakdale, California....
to Clarke, and Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
was awarded a safety. The Steelers eventually won, 30-28.
He moved to 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...
towards the end of his career, but he remained productive and became a clutch third down receiver. In 1964
1964 NFL season
The 1964 NFL season was the 45th regular season of the National Football League. Before the season started, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle reinstated Green Bay Packers running back Paul Hornung and Detroit Lions defensive tackle Alex Karras, who had been suspended for the 1963 season due to...
, he caught 65 passes for 973 yards and was named All-Pro
All-Pro
All-Pro is a term mostly used in the NFL for the best players of each position during that season. It began as polls of sportswriters in the early 1920s...
as 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...
.
He retired after the 1967 NFL Championship Game
NFL Championship Game, 1967
The 1967 National Football League Championship Game between the Western Conference champion Green Bay Packers and the Eastern Conference champion Dallas Cowboys was the 35th championship game in NFL history. The game was held at Lambeau Field on December 31, 1967. The winner of the game was...
against the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
, in what is now known as the “Ice Bowl
NFL Championship Game, 1967
The 1967 National Football League Championship Game between the Western Conference champion Green Bay Packers and the Eastern Conference champion Dallas Cowboys was the 35th championship game in NFL history. The game was held at Lambeau Field on December 31, 1967. The winner of the game was...
”, won by the Packers, 21-17.
Clarke led the Cowboys in yards and touchdowns for a wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
from 1961
1961 NFL season
The 1961 NFL season was the 42nd regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 14 teams with the addition of the Minnesota Vikings, after the team's owners declined to be charter members of the new American Football League. The schedule was also expanded from 12 games per...
to 1964
1964 NFL season
The 1964 NFL season was the 45th regular season of the National Football League. Before the season started, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle reinstated Green Bay Packers running back Paul Hornung and Detroit Lions defensive tackle Alex Karras, who had been suspended for the 1963 season due to...
, and catches in 1963
1963 NFL season
The 1963 NFL season was the 44th regular season of the National Football League. On April 17, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle indefinitely suspended Green Bay Packers running back Paul Hornung and Detroit Lions defensive tackle Alex Karras for gambling on their own teams, as well as other NFL games;...
and 1964
1964 NFL season
The 1964 NFL season was the 45th regular season of the National Football League. Before the season started, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle reinstated Green Bay Packers running back Paul Hornung and Detroit Lions defensive tackle Alex Karras, who had been suspended for the 1963 season due to...
.
He also held the franchise record for most touchdowns in a season by a receiver with 14 from his 1962
1962 NFL season
The 1962 NFL season was the 43rd regular season of the National Football League. Before the season, CBS signed a contract with the league to televise all regular-season games for a $4.65 million annual fee....
season, which stood for 45 years until 2007
2007 NFL season
The 2007 NFL season was the 88th regular season of the National Football League.Regular-season play was held from September 6 to December 30....
, when it was broken by Terrell Owens
Terrell Owens
Terrell Owens is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. A six-time Pro Bowl selection, Owens has been one of the dominant receivers of his era...
.
Clarke caught 281 catches for 5,214 yards and 51 touchdowns in 140 NFL games, which ranks sixth in receiving
Reception (American football)
In American football, a reception is part of a play in which a forward pass from behind the line of scrimmage is received by a player in bounds, who, after the catch, proceeds to either score a touchdown or be downed. Yards gained from the receiving play are credited to the player as receiving...
yards in Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
history.
Post-Football life
He became the first African AmericanAfrican American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
TV Sports anchor in Dallas and at CBS
CBS
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...
.
On weekends, Clarke anchored sports reports for WFAA-TV
WFAA-TV
WFAA, channel 8, is an ABC-affiliated television station serving the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex, one of the top ten media markets in North America. The station is the flagship of Belo Corporation and the largest ABC affiliate not owned and operated by the network...
(Channel 8) when not working NFL games for CBS
CBS
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...
. During the week, he threw himself into work at a bank
Bank
A bank is a financial institution that serves as a financial intermediary. The term "bank" may refer to one of several related types of entities:...
and at the youth council
Youth council
Youth councils are a form of youth voice engaged in community decision-making. Youth councils exist on local, state, provincial, regional, national, and international levels among governments, NGOs, schools, and other entities.-About:...
.