Nate Clements facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Nate Clements

Clements with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2011
No. 22
Position:	Cornerback
Personal information
Born:	(1979-12-12) December 12, 1979 (age 45) Shaker Heights, Ohio, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:	205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school:	Shaker Heights
College:	Ohio State (1998–2000)
NFL Draft:	2001 / Round: 1 / Pick: 21
Career history
Buffalo Bills (2001–2006) San Francisco 49ers (2007–2010) Cincinnati Bengals (2011–2012)
Career highlights and awards
Pro Bowl (2004) Third-team All-American (2000) First-team All-Big Ten (2000)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 812 Forced fumbles: 22 Fumble recoveries: 8 Interceptions: 36 Return yards: 1,462 Total touchdowns: 9
Player stats at PFR

Nathan D. Clements, born on December 12, 1979, is a former American football player. He was a talented cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). Nate played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes. He was chosen by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 2001 NFL draft. He also played for the San Francisco 49ers and Cincinnati Bengals.

Early Life and High School Football

Nate Clements was born in Shaker Heights, Ohio. He went to Shaker Heights High School. Nate was a great player in high school. He played both defensive back and quarterback.

High School Achievements

Nate was named an All-American by several sports groups. He was also named first-team All-Ohio. In one season, he caught seven interceptions, scoring a touchdown on one of them. He also returned two kicks for touchdowns.

Nate led his high school team, the Raiders, to the playoffs in 1997. He helped them win against a tough team from Euclid. Nate still holds the school record for career interceptions with 14. In 2005, his number 20 jersey was retired by the school.

College Football Career

Clements went to Ohio State University for college. He played in 36 games and started 24 of them. During his college career, he made 177 tackles and caught seven interceptions.

Standout Junior Year

In his junior year, Nate intercepted four passes. He also gained 470 yards returning punts. This was an average of 13.1 yards per return. In 2000, he was chosen for the first-team All-Big Ten Conference. After his junior year, Clements decided to enter the NFL draft early.

Professional Football Career

Nate Clements was seen as one of the best players for the 2001 NFL draft. Experts believed he would be a first-round pick. He was even ranked as the top cornerback prospect.

Buffalo Bills Years (2001–2006)

The Buffalo Bills picked Nate Clements in the first round of the 2001 NFL draft. He was the 21st player chosen overall. He was the first cornerback picked that year.

Rookie Season (2001)

Nate signed a five-year contract with the Bills in July 2001. He started his first season as the third cornerback and a kick returner. He made his NFL debut against the New Orleans Saints.

In September 2001, he got his first career interception. He returned it 61 yards for a touchdown against Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. He became a starter in Week 5. In Week 8, he returned a punt for a 66-yard touchdown. He also made his first sack on Tom Brady in Week 14. Nate finished his rookie year with 63 tackles, 10 pass deflections, 3 interceptions, and 3 forced fumbles. He also had a touchdown.

Continued Success (2002–2004)

In 2002, Nate continued as a starting cornerback. In Week 7, he had an amazing game against the Miami Dolphins. He caught three interceptions from quarterback Ray Lucas. He returned one of them for a 29-yard touchdown. He ended the season with a career-high six interceptions.

In 2003, he had another strong season with three interceptions. He returned one for a 54-yard touchdown against the Miami Dolphins. In 2004, he had six interceptions again. He returned a punt for an 85-yard touchdown. He also returned an interception for a touchdown against Ben Roethlisberger. This made it four seasons in a row with an interception returned for a touchdown.

Pro Bowl Selection (2004)

Because of his great performance in 2004, Nate Clements was chosen for the 2005 Pro Bowl. This is a special game where the best players from the NFL play against each other.

Final Bills Seasons (2005–2006)

Nate continued to be a key player for the Bills in 2005. He had 99 tackles, 13 pass deflections, and two interceptions. In 2006, the Bills used a special "franchise tag" on him to keep him. He signed a one-year contract. He had a career-high 16 pass deflections and three interceptions. He also returned an interception for a 58-yard touchdown.

San Francisco 49ers Years (2007–2010)

Clements on the field prior to a game against the Philadelphia Eagles on October 12, 2008

In March 2007, the San Francisco 49ers signed Nate Clements to a big eight-year contract. This made him one of the highest-paid defensive players in the league at the time.

Impact with the 49ers (2007–2008)

Nate became the top starting cornerback for the 49ers. In his first season, he had 92 tackles, 14 pass deflections, and four interceptions. In 2008, he continued to play well. He returned a blocked field goal 74 yards for a touchdown. This was a very exciting play. He missed his first career game due to a thumb injury, ending a long streak of playing in every game.

Injury and Final 49ers Season (2009–2010)

In 2009, Nate suffered a shoulder injury while returning a punt. This injury caused him to miss most of the season. He finished the year with 35 tackles and one interception. In 2010, he returned and played in all 16 games. He had 82 tackles, 10 pass deflections, and three interceptions. The 49ers released him in July 2011.

Cincinnati Bengals Years (2011–2012)

Clements in training camp, 2012

In July 2011, the Cincinnati Bengals signed Nate Clements to a two-year contract. He became a starting cornerback for the Bengals.

Playoff Appearance (2011)

In 2011, Nate had 55 tackles, 12 pass deflections, and two interceptions. The Bengals made it to the playoffs that year. Nate started in his first career playoff game against the Houston Texans.

Transition to Safety (2012)

In 2012, Nate started the season as a cornerback. However, he later moved to play strong safety. He finished his final season with 53 tackles and one interception.

NFL Career Statistics