Raymond Clayborn facts for kids

Raymond Dewayne Clayborn, born on January 2, 1955, is a former American football player. He played as a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). Clayborn was a key player for the New England Patriots from 1977 to 1989. He also played for the Cleveland Browns from 1990 to 1991.

He was chosen for the Pro Bowl three times and was named All-Pro five times. He was the starting cornerback for the Patriots in Super Bowl XX. Before joining the NFL, he was an All-American player at the University of Texas. There, he played both as a defensive back and a running back.

Early Life and High School Years

Raymond Clayborn was born in Fort Worth, Texas. He played high school football at Green B. Trimble Technical High School in his hometown.

College Football Career

Clayborn played college football for the University of Texas at Austin. He was a versatile player, playing both running back and defensive back. He helped his team win Conference Championships in 1973 and 1975.

He was the first player at Texas to earn a letter in all four years, playing from 1973 to 1976. During his college career, Clayborn rushed for 529 yards and scored 8 touchdowns. He also returned 35 punts for 335 yards. He was named to the All-Southwest Conference team in 1975 and 1976. In 1976, he was an All-American and was named his team's Most Valuable Player (MVP).

Track and Field Achievements

Besides football, Clayborn also ran track for the University of Texas in 1976 and 1977. He helped the track team win conference championships in both years. He was part of the 440-yard and mile relay teams that won conference titles.

In 1991, Raymond Clayborn was honored by being inducted into the University of Texas Hall of Honor.

Professional Football Career

The New England Patriots picked Raymond Clayborn in the first round of the 1977 NFL Draft. He was the 16th player chosen overall. This pick was originally from the San Francisco 49ers.

During his 14 years in the NFL, Clayborn was selected for the Pro Bowl three times while playing for the Patriots. For his first three seasons, he also returned kickoffs. As a rookie, he returned 28 kickoffs for 869 yards. He scored a league-leading 3 touchdowns from kick returns. His average of 31.0 yards per return was the best in the NFL that year. It also set a new record for the Patriots.

Key Moments with the Patriots

Clayborn was a crucial player on three playoff teams for the Patriots. These teams made the playoffs in 1978, 1982, and especially in 1985. In 1985, he had a career-high six regular season interceptions, returning one for a touchdown. The Patriots won three road playoff games that season. This led them to an unexpected appearance in Super Bowl XX.

In the AFC Championship game, the Patriots beat the Miami Dolphins 31-14. Clayborn helped limit Miami quarterback Dan Marino's performance. Marino completed only 20 of 48 passes for 248 yards. Clayborn made one of the two Patriots' interceptions during this upset victory.

In Super Bowl XX, the Patriots lost 46-10 to the Chicago Bears. The Patriots struggled with turnovers. Clayborn recovered one of two fumbles by the Bears.

Later Career and Retirement

In 1990, Clayborn became a free agent. He signed a two-year contract with the Cleveland Browns. His time with the Browns was not as successful as his years with the Patriots. He did not record any interceptions there. He missed almost all of the 1991 season due to a leg injury. After the 1991 season, he decided to retire from professional football.

Clayborn finished his career with 36 interceptions. He returned these for 555 yards and one touchdown. He also returned 57 kickoffs for 1,538 yards and 3 touchdowns. He recovered 4 fumbles during his career. At the time he retired, his 36 interceptions were a Patriots record. This record has since been tied by Ty Law.

Today, Raymond Clayborn works as the NFL Uniform Program Representative for the Houston Texans.

Hall of Fame Recognition

In 2017, Raymond Clayborn was elected to the New England Patriots Hall of Fame. On July 29, 2017, he signed a special one-day contract. This allowed him to officially retire as a New England Patriot during his induction ceremony.

Clayborn has been nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame several times. However, he has not yet advanced to become a semi-finalist.

See also

• List of Texas Longhorns football All-Americans
• List of New England Patriots first-round draft picks