Desmond Clark
Kathleen (Lakeland, Florida) | |||||
College: | Wake Forest | ||||
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NFL draft: | 1999 / Round: 6 / Pick: 179 | ||||
Career history | |||||
Career NFL statistics | |||||
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Player stats at NFL.com · PFR |
Desmond Darice Clark (born April 20, 1977) is an American former professional
Early life
Clark attended
College career
Clark attended Wake Forest University, where he was a wide receiver and caught at least one pass against every ACC opponent he faced. He was a two-time second-team All-ACC selection, a two-time team MVP, and finished his career as the ACC all-time leading receiver with 216 receptions for 2834 yards (13.12 yards per rec. avg.) and twenty touchdowns.
Professional career
The
On February 24, 2008, the Bears awarded Clark with a two-year extension. During the 2008 season, Clark caught 41 passes from Kyle Orton and recorded 367 receiving yards and one touchdown.[5] With the emergence of fellow tight end Greg Olsen, Clark dropped to the number two tight end on the team's depth chart.[6] Clark suffered a back injury during the team's 2009 season opener against the Green Bay Packers, and missed five starts. He accumulated 19 receptions, 145 receiving yards, and two touchdowns in this injury-shortened season.
In 2010,
Clark re-signed with the Bears on August 2, 2011, but was later released on September 3, 2011.[8] At the end of his tenure with the Bears, Clark ranked second all-time in tight end receptions for the team with 242, trailing only Hall of Famer Mike Ditka.[3]
Clark retired from football in September 2012. After a meeting with the Bears community relations department regarding his youth foundation, he was escorted from the premises of Halas Hall by security. Clark said that "he was viewed as an uninvited free agent, not a former member of the Bears' family." Clark told the Chicago Tribune, "I was like, 'Are you serious?', so what I did, just so I could have a relationship with the team was, I wrote them a letter saying my intentions were to never play again and that I was officially retired from football." [9]
88 Wayz Youth Organization
88 Wayz, a non-profit school program started by Clark in 2008, provides a free mentor/leadership program for Polk County-area and Chicago-area schools. 88 Wayz assists youth in realizing their dreams and reaching their full potential by mentoring, motivating, and developing the confidence needed to achieve and become productive adults. 88 Wayz utilizes T.A.L.K.S. Mentoring, an innovative, cognitive-behavioral approach to youth mentoring that focuses on leadership skill development through peer-to-peer and youth-adult interactions. 88 Wayz is delivering its program in 12 schools. 88 Wayz is based in Lakeland, FL.[10]
Personal life
Clark and former teammate Alex Brown hosted the Dez Clark & Alex Brown Show.[11][12]
Clark was a broadcaster. Clark is now[when?] a financial adviser for Wayne Messmer & Associates and President of NFL Alumni, Chicago Chapter.
On August 29, 2015, Clark and his wife, Maria, were arrested following a dispute at Vernon Hills High School. Clark was charged with disorderly-conduct, while his wife was charged with two counts of battery. Clark and his wife were arrested following a meeting with the school's administration to discuss their son’s exclusion from participating in certain school activities due to his disciplinary record.[13] Clark pleaded guilty in April 2016 to the charge of disorderly conduct.[14]
References
- ^ a b NFLPlayers.com, Desmond Clark Bio, Retrieved on October 22, 2007.
- ^ "1999 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- ^ a b "Clark transitioning into second career". Archived from the original on August 24, 2012. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
- ^ "Vilma, Dawkins added to Pro Bowl rosters after injuries". ESPN. January 26, 2006. Retrieved January 26, 2006.
- ^ "Desmond Clark Stats – ESPN". Sports.espn.go.com. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
- ^ Haugh, David (August 4, 2009). "Greg Olsen replaces Desmond Clark as Bears' starting tight end". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 6, 2010.
- ^ Dickerson, Jeff (January 23, 2011). "Desmond Clark done in Chicago?". ESPNChicago.com. Retrieved January 24, 2011.
- ^ Biggs, Brad (September 3, 2011). "Cutdown day: Bears release Clark, Taylor, Harrison". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on July 23, 2012. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
- ^ McClure, Vaughn (February 9, 2013). "Former Bears adjusting to life on outside". articles.chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
- ^ "Desmond Clark Profile". inleague.com. InLeague. Archived from the original on March 25, 2013. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
- ^ Jeff Miller. "The Dez Clark & Alex Brown Show". Dezclarkshow.com. Archived from the original on January 28, 2012. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
- ^ "Tilted Kilt hosts Dez Clark & Alex Brown Show Jan. 19". DailyHerald.com. January 17, 2012. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
- ^ Zumbach, Lauren (December 17, 2015). "Ex-Chicago Bear Desmond Clark: Charges are a 'total miscarriage of justice'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
- ^ "Ex-Bear Desmond Clark pleads guilty to disorderly conduct". April 21, 2016.
External links
- NFL.com: Desmond Clark
- 2006 Interview: [1]
- 2013 Article: [2]
Google: http://blogs.suntimes.com/bears/2011/02/desmond_clark_doesnt_appreciat.html