Mark Clayton (American football, born 1961) facts for kids
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| No. 83 | |||||||
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| 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, Indiana) | ||||||
| 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 professional football player from the United States. He was a talented wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). Mark Clayton played most of his career with the Miami Dolphins. He also played college football for the Louisville Cardinals.
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Early Football Days
Mark Clayton went to the University of Louisville for college. He played as a wide receiver for their football team, the Louisville Cardinals, from 1979 to 1982. His best year in college was his senior season. During that time, he caught 53 passes for an amazing 1,112 yards. He also scored six touchdowns.
NFL Career Highlights
Mark Clayton started his NFL journey in 1983 after being picked by the Miami Dolphins. In his first year, he didn't play much on offense. However, he was very important as the team's main punt returner. This means he would catch punts from the other team and try to run them back for yards.
Becoming a Star Receiver
In 1984, Mark Clayton became a true star in the NFL. He caught 73 passes for 1,389 yards. He also led the league with 18 touchdowns! This amazing performance earned him his first selection to the Pro Bowl. The Pro Bowl is a special game where the best players from each conference play against each other.
That year, the Dolphins had a fantastic season, winning 14 games and losing only 2. Mark Clayton's performance in a game against the Dallas Cowboys was especially memorable. He caught three touchdowns, including the one that won the game! His 18 touchdowns in 1984 were a huge record at the time. It was the most by any receiver until 1987.
Playoff Success and Super Bowl
Mark Clayton also played in the playoffs in 1984. He helped the Dolphins win against the Seattle Seahawks and the Pittsburgh Steelers. This led them to Super Bowl XIX. In the Super Bowl, the Dolphins played against the San Francisco 49ers. Mark Clayton caught six passes for 92 yards in that game. Even with his great effort, the Dolphins lost to the 49ers.
Continued Success with the Dolphins
Mark Clayton continued to be a top player for the Dolphins. He was selected to the Pro Bowl five times during his career. He had several seasons where he gained over 1,000 receiving yards. In 1988, he had another amazing year, catching 86 passes for 1,129 yards. He also led the league in touchdowns again with 14.
He played with the Dolphins until 1992. In his final season, 1993, he played for the Green Bay Packers. Mark Clayton finished his 11-year career with 582 catches for 8,974 yards. He scored a total of 86 touchdowns.
Career Statistics
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |
Regular season
| Year | Team | GP | Receiving | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | |||
| 1983 | MIA | 14 | 6 | 114 | 19.0 | 39 | 1 |
| 1984 | MIA | 15 | 73 | 1,389 | 19.0 | 65 | 18 |
| 1985 | MIA | 16 | 70 | 996 | 14.2 | 45 | 4 |
| 1986 | MIA | 15 | 60 | 1,150 | 19.2 | 68 | 10 |
| 1987 | MIA | 12 | 46 | 776 | 16.9 | 43 | 7 |
| 1988 | MIA | 16 | 86 | 1,129 | 13.1 | 45 | 14 |
| 1989 | MIA | 15 | 64 | 1,011 | 15.8 | 78 | 9 |
| 1990 | MIA | 10 | 32 | 406 | 12.7 | 43 | 3 |
| 1991 | MIA | 16 | 70 | 1,053 | 15.0 | 43 | 12 |
| 1992 | MIA | 13 | 43 | 619 | 14.4 | 44 | 3 |
| 1993 | GB | 16 | 32 | 331 | 10.3 | 32 | 3 |
| Career | 158 | 582 | 8,974 | 15.4 | 78 | 84 | |
Mark Clayton's Legacy
Mark Clayton is remembered as one of the best wide receivers in NFL history. He is in the top 50 for receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. He still holds records for the Miami Dolphins for career catches and touchdowns.
The "Marks Brothers"
Mark Clayton was a favorite target of legendary quarterback Dan Marino. He and fellow receiver Mark Duper were known as the "Marks Brothers." They played together for 10 years. For a long time, the connection between Dan Marino and Mark Clayton was one of the most successful in NFL history.
Special Achievements
Mark Clayton is one of only three players in NFL history to catch a touchdown pass from both Dan Marino and Brett Favre. These are two of the greatest quarterbacks ever! The other players are Keith Jackson and Mark Ingram.
In 2003, Mark Clayton was added to the Miami Dolphins Honor Roll. This is a special recognition for great players in the team's history. He was honored along with Mark Duper. In 2014, he was also inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame.
In 2005, Mark Clayton even helped Dan Marino during his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction speech. He ran through the crowd and caught one last pass from Marino, thrown from the stage!
Today, Mark Clayton lives in Houston, Texas, with his sons, Mark Gregory Clayton II and Matthew Clayton.
