Gary Clark

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Gary Clark
Date of birth	May 1, 1962 (age 44)
Place of birth	Radford, Virginia
Position(s)	Wide receiver
College	James Madison
NFL Draft	1984 / Round 2/ Pick 55
Pro Bowls	4
Stats
Statistics	Pro Football Reference DatabaseFootball
Team(s)
1984-1985 1985-1992 1993-1994 1995	Jacksonville Bulls (USFL) Washington Redskins Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals Miami Dolphins

Gary C. Clark (born May 1, 1962 in Radford, Virginia) is a former professional American Football wide receiver who played for the Washington Redskins (1985-1992), Phoenix Cardinals (1993-1994) and Miami Dolphins (1995) in the National Football League.

Clark graduated from Pulaski County High School (Dublin, VA) in 1980. He played his college ball for James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and was selected by the Redskins in the 2nd round of the 1984 NFL Draft.

[edit] NFL career

Clark played for the USFL Jacksonville Bulls prior to his Redskin career. In 1985, he signed with the Redskins and had a superb rookie season, recording 72 receptions for 926 yards and 5 touchdowns. Clark quickly established himself as one of the top receivers in the NFL. Clark followed up his superb rookie season in 1986 with a Pro Bowl year catching 74 passes for yards and touchdowns. Clark set a Redskin record for receiving yards in a game during a Monday Night Football contest with the New York Giants. Clark caught 11 passes for 241 yards and 1 touchdown. The Redskins lost the game. The record still stands today as the "most receiving yards in a non-strike game." A scrub during the '87 strike surpassed Clark's tally. The Redskins went on to finish 12-4 and defeated the reigning Super Bowl champion Chicago Bears 27-13 in a divisional playoff game but lost to the Giants in the NFC Championship game 17-0.

In 1987, Clark again had a Pro Bowl year catching 56 passes for 1,066 and 7 touchdowns. Clark achieved these numbers in only 11 games, as a player strike shortened the season by one game and scrubs played 3 games. No Redskin player crossed the picket line and the scrubs went 3-0. Clark was only one of four NFL receivers to surpass 1,000 yards. By this time Clark had caught the eye of CBS commentator John Madden. Clark's toughness, big-play ability and willlingness to block made him a regular on the All Madden Team during his playing career. The Redskins went on to finish 11-4 winning the NFC East crown. In the playoffs the Redskins defeated the Chicago Bears in the Divisional Playoff game for the second year in a row 21-17. Clark caught 3 passes for 57 yards and a touchdown in the NFC Championship game against the Minnesota Vikings. The Redskins won 17-10 to earn the right to play in Super Bowl XXII. Clark caught 3 passes for 55 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for 25 yards in Washington's 42-10 rout of John Elway and the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXII.

Clark's numbers dropped in 1988 as he caught 59 passes for 892 yards and 7 touchdowns. The Redskins finished a paultry 7-9 and missed the playoffs. Clark returned to form in 1989 catching 79 passes (a career high) for 1229 yards and 9 touchdowns. The Redskins finished 10-6 but missed the playoffs again because of a 5-6 start. Clark, along with fellow receivers Art Monk and Ricky Sanders surpassed the 1,000 yard mark in 1989.

In 1990, Clark had another Pro Bowl year and the Redskins made the playoffs. Clark caught 75 passes for 1,112 yards and 8 touchdowns. The Redskins went on to beat the Philadelphia Eagles 20-6 in a NFC Wild Card game. Clark caught 4 passes for 63 yards and a touchdown. The Redskins lost the next week to the San Francisco 49ers 28-10.

In 1991, Clark and the Redskins tore through the NFL. Clark caught 70 passes for 1,340 yards and 10 touchdowns. Clark's 19.1 yards per catch was second in the NFL. Clark caught 4 passes for 203 yards and 3 touchdowns in Washington's 56-17 rout of the Atlanta Falcons in week 11. The Redskins finished 14-2, won the NFC East and claimed home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Washington beat Atlanta 24-10 and Detroit 41-10 to earn a berth in Super Bowl XXVI against the Buffalo Bills. Clark had a big day with 7 catches for 114 yards and a touchdown in Washington's 37-24 defeat of the Bills. The Redskins lead 24-0 early in the third quarter, but Buffalo cut the lead to 24-10. His 30-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter was instrumental in thwarting a comeback attempt by the Bills.

Clark, Monk and Sanders gave the Redskins one of the best receiving corps in the NFL during the late 1980's and early 1990's. They were known as The Posse. Clark was long known as the most fiery spirit of the bunch, and he was known to run glorious laps around RFK Stadium after touchdowns and during Redskins comebacks. Many regard Clark as the heart and soul of the Joe Gibbs era Redskins. Clark signed with the Phoenix Cardinals as a free agent prior to the 1993 season, and the Redskins have only made the playoffs twice since.

Clark retired from the NFL after the 1995 season. In his 11 NFL seasons, he caught 699 passes for 10,856 yards and 65 touchdowns, while rushing for 54 yards and gaining 62 yards on 9 punt returns. Clark also had twenty-seven 100-yard games wearing the Redskins uniform. Clark was also a four-time Pro Bowl selection in 1986, 1987, 1990, and 1991. He led his team in receiving seven times (1986, 1987, 1989-1992, 1994), and won two Super Bowls, Super Bowl XXII and Super Bowl XXVI, during his NFL career.