Cliff Branch

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Cliff Branch
'
Position(s):
Wide Receiver		 Jersey #(s):
21
Born: August 1, 1948 (1948-08-01) (age 59)
Houston, Texas
Career Information
Year(s): 1972–1985
NFL Draft: 1972 / Round: 4 / Pick: 98
College: Colorado
Professional Teams
Career Stats
Receptions     501
Receiving Yards     8,685
Touchdowns     67
Stats at NFL.com
Career Highlights and Awards

Cliff Branch (born August 1, 1948 in Houston, Texas) is a retired American football wide receiver. Branch graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1972 and spent his entire 14-year professional career with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, winning 3 Super Bowl rings in Super Bowl XI, Super Bowl XV and Super Bowl XVIII. Branch caught 3 passes for 20 yards in Super Bowl XI, 5 passes for 62 yards and 2 touchdown in Super Bowl XV, and 6 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown in Super Bowl XVIII.

Cliff was voted All-Pro 3 consecutive seasons (1974-1976) and had perhaps his finest season in 1976 catching 46 passes for 1,111 yards and 12 TDs, averaging an amazing 24.2 yards per catch. Branch was named to 4 consecutive Pro Bowls (1974-1977). In 1974, Branch led the National Football League in both receiving yards (1,092) and receiving touchdowns (13).

Branch finished his 14 NFL seasons with 501 receptions for 8,685 yards and 67 touchdowns. He also rushed for 70 yards and returned 9 kickoffs for 191 yards.

Branch's NFL career ended after the 1985 season. He played for the Los Angeles Cobras of the Arena Football League in 1988, their only season of existence.

[edit] Records

  • NCAA Division I-A record for kickoff returns for touchdowns (8, t-1st)
  • Oakland Raiders franchise record for longest reception (99 yards from Jim Plunkett, 1983)

[edit] Awards

  • Four Pro Bowl appearances (1974 - 1977)

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Oakland Raiders Super Bowl XI Champions
8 Ray Guy | 11 David Humm | 12 Ken Stabler | 14 Errol Mann | 15 Mike Rae | 20 Neal Colzie | 21 Cliff Branch | 24 Willie Brown | 25 Fred Biletnikoff | 26 Skip Thomas | 28 Clarence Davis | 29 Hubert Ginn | 30 Mark van Eeghen | 31 Carl Garrett | 32 Jack Tatum | 36 Manfred Moore | 39 Willie Hall | 40 Pete Banaszak | 41 Phil Villapiano | 43 George Atkinson | 46 Warren Bankston | 47 Charles Phillips | 49 Mike Siani | 50 Dave Dalby | 51 Rodrigo Barnes | 52 Floyd Rice | 54 Rik Bonness | 58 Monte Johnson | 60 Otis Sistrunk | 61 Herb McMath | 63 Gene Upshaw | 64 George Buehler | 66 Steve Sylvester | 70 Henry Lawrence | 72 John Matuszak | 74 Dave Rowe | 75 John Vella | 77 Charles Philyaw | 78 Art Shell | 79 Dan Medlin | 81 Morris Bradshaw | 83 Ted Hendricks | 87 Dave Casper
Head Coach John Madden
Coaches Tom Dahms | Lew Erber | Tom Flores | Joe Scannella | Don Shinnick | Oliver Spencer | Bob Zeman
v • d • e
Oakland Raiders Super Bowl XV Champions
6 Marc Wilson | 8 Ray Guy | 10 Chris Bahr | 16 Jim Plunkett | 21 Cliff Branch | 22 Arthur Whittington | 23 Odis McKinney | 26 Keith Moody | 30 Mark van Eeghen | 31 Derrick Jensen | 33 Kenny King | 35 Dwayne O’Steen | 36 Mike Davis | 37 Lester Hayes | 42 Monte Jackson | 43 Ira Matthews | 44 Burgess Owens | 46 Todd Christensen | 50 Dave Dalby | 51 Bob Nelson | 52 Mario Celotto | 53 Rod Martin | 55 Matt Millen | 56 Jeff Barnes | 57 Randy McLanahan | 62 Reggie Kinlaw | 63 Gene Upshaw | 65 Mickey Marvin | 66 Steve Sylvester | 70 Henry Lawrence | 71 Lindsey Mason | 72 John Matuszak | 73 Dave Browning | 74 Dave Pear | 77 Joe Campbell | 78 Art Shell | 79 Bruce Davis | 81 Morris Bradshaw | 83 Ted Hendricks | 84 Derrick Ramsey | 85 Bob Chandler | 86 Cedric Hardman | 88 Raymond Chester | 89 Rich Martini | 90 Willie Jones
Head Coach Tom Flores
Coaches Sam Boghosian | Willie Brown | Lew Erber | Chet Franklin | Earl Leggett | Joe Madro | Steve Ortmayer | Charlie Sumner | Ray Willsey
v • d • e
Los Angeles Raiders Super Bowl XVIII Champions
6 Marc Wilson | 8 Ray Guy | 10 Chris Bahr | 11 David Humm | 16 Jim Plunkett | 20 Ted Watts | 21 Cliff Branch | 22 Mike Haynes | 23 Odis McKinney | 26 Vann McElroy | 27 Frank Hawkins | 28 Cle Montgomery | 31 Derrick Jensen | 32 Marcus Allen | 33 Kenny King | 34 Greg Pruitt | 36 Mike Davis | 37 Lester Hayes | 38 Chester Willis | 45 James Davis | 46 Todd Christensen | 48 Kenny Hill | 50 Dave Dalby | 51 Bob Nelson | 53 Rod Martin | 54 Darryl Byrd | 55 Matt Millen | 56 Jeff Barnes | 57 Tony Caldwell | 58 Jack Squirek | 61 Dave Stalls | 62 Reggie Kinlaw | 64 Shelby Jordan | 65 Mickey Marvin | 66 Steve Sylvester | 68 Johnny Robinson | 70 Henry Lawrence | 71 Bill Pickel | 72 Don Mosebar | 73 Charley Hannah | 75 Howie Long | 77 Lyle Alzado | 79 Bruce Davis | 80 Malcolm Barnwell | 82 Calvin Muhammad | 83 Ted Hendricks | 85 Dokie Williams | 87 Don Hasselbeck | 93 Greg Townsend
Head Coach Tom Flores
Coaches Sam Boghosian | Willie Brown | Chet Franklin | Earl Leggett | Bob Mischak | Steve Ortmayer | Terry Robiskie | Art Shell | Charlie Sumner | Tom Walsh | Ray Willsey
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