Mark Clayton (American football, born 1961) facts for kids
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||
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| Born: | April 8, 1961 Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 172 lb (78 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Cathedral (Indianapolis) | ||||||
| College: | Louisville (1979–1982) | ||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1983 / Round: 8 / Pick: 223 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||
Mark Gregory Clayton (born April 8, 1961) is a former American football player. He was a talented wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). Mark Clayton is best known for playing most of his career with the Miami Dolphins. He also played one season with the Green Bay Packers.
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Early Football Days
Mark Clayton played college football for the Louisville Cardinals from 1979 to 1982. In his final year, he had a fantastic season. He caught 53 passes for 1,112 yards and scored six touchdowns.
After college, the Miami Dolphins picked him in the eighth round of the 1983 NFL draft. He started his NFL career in 1983. He mostly returned punts for the team. He also caught six passes for 114 yards and one touchdown that year.
First NFL Touchdown
On October 9, 1983, Mark Clayton had an exciting game against the Buffalo Bills. He threw a 48-yard pass to his teammate, Mark Duper, for a touchdown. Later in the same game, he caught a 14-yard pass from quarterback Dan Marino. This was his first touchdown catch in the NFL.
Becoming a Star Player
Mark Clayton became a true star in the 1984 season. He played in 15 games and caught 73 passes. He gained 1,389 yards and scored an amazing 18 touchdowns. This led the entire league in touchdowns that year. His great performance earned him his first selection to the Pro Bowl. The Pro Bowl is an all-star game for the best players in the NFL.
Super Bowl Appearance
In 1984, the Dolphins had a fantastic season with 14 wins and only 2 losses. They made it all the way to Super Bowl XIX. Mark Clayton caught six passes for 92 yards in that game. However, the Dolphins lost to the San Francisco 49ers. His 18 touchdowns in 1984 were a record for a receiver at the time. It is still one of the highest totals in NFL history.
Dolphins Career Highlights
Mark Clayton continued to be a top player for the Dolphins. In 1985, he caught 70 passes and was selected for the Pro Bowl again. In 1986, he had another great year with 60 catches for 1,150 yards and ten touchdowns.
He had another outstanding season in 1988. He caught a career-high 86 passes for 1,129 yards. He also led the league again with 14 touchdowns. This earned him another Pro Bowl selection.
The "Marks Brothers"
Mark Clayton and his teammate Mark Duper were a famous duo. They were known as the "Marks Brothers." They played together for ten years and were a favorite target for quarterback Dan Marino. Their connection with Dan Marino was one of the best in NFL history for a long time.
Mark Clayton played his last season with the Dolphins in 1992. He then moved to the Green Bay Packers for his final year in 1993.
Mark Clayton's Legacy
Mark Clayton played 11 seasons in the NFL. He finished his career with 582 catches for 8,974 yards. He scored a total of 86 touchdowns. This included 84 receiving touchdowns, one passing touchdown, and one punt return touchdown.
He is still among the top players in NFL history for receiving yards and touchdowns. He holds several records for the Miami Dolphins, including career pass receptions and touchdowns.
Hall of Fame Recognition
In 2003, Mark Clayton was honored by the Miami Dolphins. He was added to the Miami Dolphins Honor Roll along with Mark Duper. This is a special recognition for important players in the team's history. In 2014, he was also inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame.
In 2005, he even helped his former quarterback Dan Marino during Marino's Pro Football Hall of Fame induction speech. Mark Clayton ran through the crowd and caught one last pass from Marino on stage.
Mark Clayton now lives in Houston, Texas, with his two sons.
