Frank Clark (American football) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Frank Clark

Clark with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019
Position:	Linebacker, defensive end
Personal information
Born:	(1993-06-14) June 14, 1993 (age 32) Bakersfield, California, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:	265 lb (120 kg)
Career information
High school:	Glenville (Cleveland, Ohio)
College:	Michigan (2011–2014)
NFL Draft:	2015 / Round: 2 / Pick: 63
Career history
Seattle Seahawks (2015–2018) Kansas City Chiefs (2019–2022) Denver Broncos (2023) Seattle Seahawks (2023)
Career highlights and awards
2× Super Bowl champion (LIV, LVII) 3× Pro Bowl (2019–2021) Second-team All-Big Ten (2013)
Career NFL statistics
Tackles: 271 Sacks: 58.5 Forced fumbles: 14 Fumble recoveries: 7
Player stats at PFR

Frank Dominick Clark (born June 14, 1993), known as "the Shark", is an American professional football player. He plays as a linebacker and defensive end. He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines. There, he was recognized as an All-Big Ten player.

Clark was chosen by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft. He has also played for the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs. With the Chiefs, he won two Super Bowls. He is known for his strong performance in playoff games. He has collected 13.5 sacks in his postseason career. This is one of the highest totals in NFL history.

Early Life and High School Football

Frank Clark grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. He attended Glenville High School. In high school, he played many different positions. His coaches saw him as a natural outside linebacker or defensive end.

As a senior, he was a star player. He made 70 tackles and 19 sacks on defense. On offense, he caught 12 passes, scoring three touchdowns. Clark was also a talented athlete in track & field. He competed in sprints, hurdles, and jumps. He was considered a top player in the country. He decided to play college football at the University of Michigan.

College Football Career

Clark with Michigan in 2012

Frank Clark joined the Michigan Wolverines in 2011. As a freshman, he made an interception in the 2012 Sugar Bowl. This play helped Michigan score a touchdown.

During his time at Michigan, Clark gained a lot of strength. He added over 60 pounds of muscle. He kept his speed, which made him a powerful player. In 2013, he had 1.5 sacks against Connecticut. He also recorded two sacks against Penn State. In that game, he ran back a fumble recovery for a touchdown. After the season, coaches named him a second-team All-Big Ten player.

Clark faced some challenges during his college career. He was disciplined by the team at times. Despite these issues, he continued to develop his skills. He became a strong defensive player for Michigan.

Professional Football Journey

Starting with the Seattle Seahawks

Clark playing for the Seahawks in his rookie season.

In 2015, the Seattle Seahawks picked Frank Clark in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft. He joined a strong defense known as the "Legion of Boom." In his first season, he played as a backup defensive end. He recorded his first NFL sack in November 2015 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He also had two sacks against the Minnesota Vikings. In the playoffs, he added another sack against the Carolina Panthers.

Clark continued to improve in 2016. He finished that season with 10 sacks. He also forced two fumbles. In 2017, he had nine sacks and 32 total tackles. He also forced two more fumbles.

The 2018 season was a great one for Clark. In Week 6, he had 2.5 sacks against the Oakland Raiders. This earned him the NFC Defensive Player of the Week award. He ended the season with 13 sacks, his career high. He also had one interception and three forced fumbles. Because of his strong play, the Seahawks kept him by using the franchise tag in March 2019.

Joining the Kansas City Chiefs

Clark signing an autograph at Chiefs' training camp in 2019

On April 23, 2019, Frank Clark was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs. This was a big move for him. After the trade, he signed a five-year contract. It was worth over $100 million.

Clark quickly made an impact with the Chiefs. In Week 1, he intercepted a pass against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He recorded his first sack with the Chiefs in Week 3 against the Baltimore Ravens. In Week 7, he had two sacks against the Denver Broncos. He finished the 2019 season with 37 tackles, eight sacks, and three forced fumbles.

Clark was a key player in the Chiefs' playoff run. In the Divisional Round, he sacked Deshaun Watson three times. In the AFC Championship Game, he made a game-ending sack against the Tennessee Titans. This sealed the Chiefs' win. In Super Bowl LIV, he recorded a crucial sack against the San Francisco 49ers. The Chiefs won the Super Bowl 31–20.

In 2020, Clark continued his strong play. He had six sacks during the regular season. In the AFC Championship against the Buffalo Bills, he recorded two sacks. The Chiefs reached Super Bowl LV, but they lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Clark had one sack in that game.

In 2021, Clark was selected to his third Pro Bowl. He started 14 games and had 4.5 sacks. In 2022, he recorded his first career safety. This happened when he sacked Jimmy Garoppolo in the end zone. He also had 2.5 sacks in the AFC Championship Game. The Chiefs won that game and reached Super Bowl LVII. In the Super Bowl, the Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38–35. This was Clark's second Super Bowl win with the Chiefs.

The Chiefs released Clark on March 7, 2023.

Time with the Denver Broncos

Clark signed with the Denver Broncos on June 13, 2023. He played in five games for them. He was released by the Broncos on October 14, 2023. His time with the team was short, and he recorded two tackles.

Return to the Seattle Seahawks

On October 26, 2023, Frank Clark signed a one-year deal to return to the Seattle Seahawks. He played six games in his second stint with the team. The Seahawks waived him on December 30, 2023.

NFL Career Statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

See also

In Spanish: Frank Clark para niños