Frank Clarke (American football) facts for kids

Franklin Clarke (born February 7, 1934 – died July 25, 2018) was an American football player. He was a wide receiver and tight end in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Cleveland Browns and the Dallas Cowboys. Before joining the NFL, he played college football at the University of Colorado.

Early Life and College Football Journey

Frank Clarke was named after Franklin D. Roosevelt, a former U.S. President. He went to Beloit Memorial High School. There, he was a top athlete in both football and track. He was even named All-state for his skills.

After high school, Clarke attended Trinidad State Junior College. He then made history at the University of Colorado. In September 1954, he became the first African-American varsity football player for the Buffaloes. He had to sit out one season after transferring.

During this time, before the Civil Rights Movement, Clarke and another player, John Wooten, faced racism outside of their college town. Despite these challenges, Clarke excelled on the field.

College Achievements

As a junior, Clarke was a strong player in the Big Eight Conference. He was second in the league with 407 receiving yards. This was impressive because most teams focused on running the ball back then. He also returned kickoffs and led his team with 13 catches and 5 receiving touchdowns.

In his senior year, he continued to lead his team in catches and touchdowns. In one important game against the University of Missouri, he scored two touchdowns in the second half. This helped his team get a spot in the 1957 Orange Bowl. Even though some teams initially didn't want to play against Black athletes, Clemson University later agreed to play. Colorado won the game 27–21.

Clarke finished his college career with 20 catches for 532 yards. He also had 7 receiving touchdowns. He was very popular on campus and was even chosen as "King" of the annual Days festival, which was like their Homecoming King. He also played basketball and ran track. In 2008, he was honored by being added to the Colorado Athletic Hall of Fame.

Professional Football Career

Frank Clarke was a talented player who made a big impact in the NFL.

Time with the Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns picked Clarke in the fifth round of the 1956 NFL Draft. He played for them for three seasons, from 1957 to 1959. During this time, he had 10 catches as an offensive right end. In 1960, he was left unprotected and was chosen by a new team.

Becoming a Star with the Dallas Cowboys

In the 1960 NFL Expansion Draft, the Dallas Cowboys selected Frank Clarke. His college and Browns coaches had noted his blocking needed work. However, the Cowboys saw his potential. Their coach, Tom Landry, focused on Clarke's strengths. He noticed Clarke's speed, good hands, and ability to run routes well. So, Clarke was changed from an end to a split end.

In his first year with the Cowboys, he was mostly a backup. But he still made 9 catches for 290 yards and 3 touchdowns. He averaged an amazing 32.2 yards per catch!

Leading the Team

In 1961, Clarke became a starter. He caught 41 passes for 919 yards and 9 touchdowns. He led the league with an average of 22.4 yards per catch. He also scored 54 points, which was the most on his team. He started a streak of seven games in a row with at least one touchdown catch. This is still a Cowboys record, shared with Bob Hayes, Terrell Owens, and Dez Bryant.

Clarke was the Cowboys' first great player for long passes. Even Bob Hayes, a famous speedy receiver, said Clarke taught him how to catch "the bomb" (a long pass). Clarke is also remembered as the first African American star athlete for the Cowboys. This was important in Dallas, which was racially divided at the time.

Record-Breaking Seasons

In 1962, Clarke had an amazing first game against the Washington Redskins. He caught 10 passes for 241 yards. This is still the most receiving yards by any wide receiver on an opening day in NFL history! That year was his best. He became the first Cowboys player to gain over 1,000 yards in a season. He had 47 catches for 1,043 yards and a career-high 14 touchdowns. He led the NFL in touchdowns and average yards per catch (22.2).

In 1964, he caught 65 passes, which was a team record at the time. He gained 973 yards and scored 5 touchdowns. For his great play, he was named All-Pro.

Later Career and Retirement

In 1965, Clarke moved to play tight end. He was still productive, catching 41 passes for 682 yards and 4 touchdowns. He became a reliable player for important third-down catches. He retired on July 17, 1968.

Clarke led the Cowboys in receiving yards and touchdowns from 1961 to 1964. He also led in catches in 1963 and 1964. His record of 14 touchdowns in the 1962 season stood for 45 years! It was finally broken by Terrell Owens in 2007. He also held the team record for most games with multiple touchdowns until Dez Bryant broke it in 2014.

He played his last game in the 1967 NFL Championship Game against the Green Bay Packers. This famous game is known as the “Ice Bowl”. The Packers won 21–17. Clarke finished his career with 281 catches for 5,214 yards and 51 touchdowns in 140 NFL games. He ranks sixth in receiving yards in Dallas Cowboys history.

Life After Football

After retiring from football, Frank Clarke became a sportscaster. He worked for WFAA-TV (Channel 8) and CBS. He was the first African American sports anchor at a Dallas television station and at CBS. On weekends, he would report on sports for WFAA-TV when he wasn't covering NFL games for CBS.

Personal Life

Frank Clarke passed away on July 25, 2018, at the age of 84. He was a Catholic and shared his faith with his children. His nephew is former sheriff David Clarke of Milwaukee.