Mike Clark (placekicker)

Mike Clark

No. 84, 83, 17

Position:

Kicker

Personal information

Date of birth:

November 7, 1940

Place of birth:

Marshall, Texas

Date of death:

July 24, 2002 (aged 61)

Place of death:

Dallas, Texas

Height:

6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)

Weight:

205 lb (93 kg)

Career information

High school:

Longview (TX)

College:

Texas A&M

Undrafted:

1963

Career history

* Offseason and/or practice squad member only

Career highlights and awards

Super Bowl champion (VI)
Pro Bowl selection (1966)

Career NFL statistics

Games:	128
Player stats at NFL.com

Player stats at PFR

Michael Vincent Clark (November 7, 1940 – July 24, 2002) was an American football placekicker in the National Football League from (1963-1973). He was a part of the Dallas Cowboys' Super Bowl VI winning team.

Early years

Clark attended Longview High School before moving on to Texas A&M University, where he was converted from offensive end to kicker by head coach Jim Myers.^[1]

Professional career

Philadelphia Eagles

Clark was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent after the 1963 NFL Draft. He was mainly a kickoff specialist until 1964, when he was sold to the Pittsburgh Steelers.^[2]

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers acquired Clark after deciding to trade Lou Michaels to the Baltimore Colts.^[3] His best season was in 1966, when he registered 97 points. The next year he was named to the Pro Bowl after scoring 71 points.^[4] He led the team in scoring in each of his four seasons with the Steelers.

On July 16, 1968, he announced his retirement.^[5] The Dallas Cowboys convinced him to play in his home state and traded center Mike Connelly to the Steelers in exchange for his rights.^[6]

Dallas Cowboys (first stint)

In 1968, he replaced a retired Danny Villanueva and was second in the NFL with 108 points scored. The next year he was again second in the league with 103 points, but he is mostly remembered for a playoff game against the Cleveland Browns, where he received an offside penalty for whiffing on an onside kick and when he attempted a second try, he received another penalty because the onside kick didn't travel the required 10 yards.^[7]

In 1971, he was passed on the depth chart by Toni Fritsch and sent to the taxi squad for two games,^[8] before Fritsch pulled a hamstring and he regained the starting job.^[9] He was waived on September 6, 1972.^[10]

Buffalo Bills

Clark was claimed off waivers by the Buffalo Bills, but was injured in 1972 and was eventually released on August 30, 1973.^[11]^[12]

New England Patriots

He was claimed off waivers by the New England Patriots and was eventually cut on September 11, 1973.^[13]

Dallas Cowboys (second stint)

On October 26, 1973, he signed as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys. He played in four games and retired at the end of the season after not being able to recover from a broken leg.^[14]

Personal life

Clark worked for Lockheed Martin. He died of a heart attack at Baylor University Medical Center. He was diagnosed with advanced melanoma in 1998.^[15]

References

Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl VI champions

10 Ron Widby 12 Roger Staubach (MVP) 14 Craig Morton 15 Toni Fritsch 19 Lance Alworth 20 Mel Renfro 22 Bob Hayes 23 Margene Adkins 26 Herb Adderley 30 Dan Reeves 31 Gloster Richardson 32 Walt Garrison 33 Duane Thomas 34 Cornell Green 35 Calvin Hill 36 Joe Williams 37 Isaac Thomas 41 Charlie Waters 42 Claxton Welch 43 Cliff Harris 46 Mark Washington 50 D. D. Lewis 51 Dave Manders 52 Dave Edwards 54 Chuck Howley 55 Lee Roy Jordan 56 Tom Stincic 60 Lee Roy Caffey 61 Blaine Nye 62 John Fitzgerald 63 Larry Cole 64 Tony Liscio 66 George Andrie 67 Pat Toomay 70 Rayfield Wright 71 Rodney Wallace 72 Don Talbert 73 Ralph Neely 74 Bob Lilly 75 Jethro Pugh 76 John Niland 77 Bill Gregory 79 Forrest Gregg 83 Mike Clark 85 Tody Smith 87 Billy Truax 89 Mike Ditka

Head coach: Tom Landry

Coaches: Ermal Allen Bobby Franklin Jim Myers Dan Reeves Ray Renfro Ernie Stautner Jerry Tubbs

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