Mark Clayton
Encyclopedia
Mark Gregory Clayton is a former American football
wide receiver
who played most of his career with the Miami Dolphins
, entering the league in 1983 with the Dolphins and playing there until 1992. He finished out his career with the Green Bay Packers
, playing a single season with them in 1993. He attended the University of Louisville
.
A favorite target of Dan Marino
, he paired with Mark Duper
to form the popular "Marks Brothers". He was a five time Pro Bowl
player in 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988 and 1991. Clayton finished his 11 year career with 582 receptions for 8,974 yards, along with 108 rushing yards, 40 kickoff return yards, and 485 punt return yards. He also scored 88 total touchdowns (87 receiving and 1 punt return)
He is in the NFL top 50 in receiving yards (tied for 39th) and receiving TDs (tied for 13th). He holds Dolphins records for career pass receptions and TDs, as well as receiving yards in a single season. At one point in time, the Dan Marino
-Mark Clayton tandem was the most prolific in NFL history.
His 1984 single season record of 18 touchdown catches was broken in 1987 by Jerry Rice
and is still tied for the third highest total in NFL history.
In 2003, he entered the Miami Dolphins Ring of Honor
, along with fellow "Marks Brother", Mark Duper on December 15, 2003.
In 2005 he helped punctuate Marino's Pro Football Hall of Fame
induction speech by running through the crowd and catching one last pass from the legend thrown from the stage.
He is one of only three players in the history of the NFL who has caught a touchdown pass from both Dan Marino
and Brett Favre
during the NFL regular season. The others are Keith Jackson and Mark Ingram.
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...
who played most of his career with the 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...
, entering the league in 1983 with the Dolphins and playing there until 1992. He finished out his career with 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...
, playing a single season with them in 1993. He attended the University of Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
.
A favorite target of Dan Marino
Dan Marino
Daniel Constantine "Dan" Marino, Jr. is a retired American football quarterback who played for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League...
, he paired with Mark Duper
Mark Duper
Mark Super Duper is a former American football wide receiver who played for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League from 1982 to 1992. He played collegiately at Northwestern State University and was selected by the Dolphins in the 2nd round of the 1982 NFL Draft...
to form the popular "Marks Brothers". He was a five time Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
player in 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988 and 1991. Clayton finished his 11 year career with 582 receptions for 8,974 yards, along with 108 rushing yards, 40 kickoff return yards, and 485 punt return yards. He also scored 88 total touchdowns (87 receiving and 1 punt return)
He is in the NFL top 50 in receiving yards (tied for 39th) and receiving TDs (tied for 13th). He holds Dolphins records for career pass receptions and TDs, as well as receiving yards in a single season. At one point in time, the Dan Marino
Dan Marino
Daniel Constantine "Dan" Marino, Jr. is a retired American football quarterback who played for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League...
-Mark Clayton tandem was the most prolific in NFL history.
His 1984 single season record of 18 touchdown catches was broken in 1987 by Jerry Rice
Jerry Rice
Jerry Lee Rice is a retired American football wide receiver. He is generally regarded as the greatest wide receiver of all time and one of the greatest players in National Football League history...
and is still tied for the third highest total in NFL history.
In 2003, he entered the Miami Dolphins Ring of Honor
The Miami Dolphin Honor Roll
The Miami Dolphin Honor Roll is a ring around the second tier at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, which honors former players, coaches, contributors, and officials who have made significant contributions to the Miami Dolphins franchise....
, along with fellow "Marks Brother", Mark Duper on December 15, 2003.
In 2005 he helped punctuate Marino's Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
induction speech by running through the crowd and catching one last pass from the legend thrown from the stage.
He is one of only three players in the history of the NFL who has caught a touchdown pass from both Dan Marino
Dan Marino
Daniel Constantine "Dan" Marino, Jr. is a retired American football quarterback who played for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League...
and Brett Favre
Brett Favre
Brett Lorenzo Favre is a former American football quarterback who spent the majority of his career with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He was a 20-year veteran of the NFL, having played quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons , Green Bay Packers , New York Jets and Minnesota...
during the NFL regular season. The others are Keith Jackson and Mark Ingram.