View source for Monte Clark

{{Short description|American football player and coach (1937–2009)}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name           = Monte Clark
| image          = Clark-Monte-1961.jpg
| caption        = Clark in 1961
| position       = [[Offensive tackle]]<br>[[Defensive tackle]]
| number         = 63, 73
| birth_date     = {{Birth date|1937|1|24|mf=y}}
| birth_place    = [[Kingsburg, California]], U.S.
| death_date     = {{Death date and age|2009|9|16|1937|1|24}}
| death_place    = [[Detroit|Detroit, Michigan]], U.S.
| height_ft      = 6
| height_in      = 6
| weight_lbs     = 265
| high_school    = [[Kingsburg High School|Kingsburg]]
| college        = [[USC Trojans football|USC]]
| draftyear      = 1958
| draftround     = 4
| draftpick      = 41
| pastteams      =
* [[San Francisco 49ers]] ({{NFL Year|1959}}–{{NFL Year|1961}})
* [[Dallas Cowboys]] ({{NFL Year|1962}})
* [[Cleveland Browns]] ({{NFL Year|1963}}–{{NFL Year|1969}})
| pastcoaching   =
* [[Miami Dolphins]] ({{NFL Year|1970}}–{{NFL Year|1973}})<br />Offensive line
* Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|1974}})<br />Offensive coordinator
* Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|1975}})<br />Offensive coordinator & offensive line
* San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|1976}})<br />Head coach
* [[Detroit Lions]] ({{NFL Year|1978}}–{{NFL Year|1984}})<br />Head coach
* [[Stanford Cardinal football|Stanford]] (1993–1994)<br />Offensive line
* Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|1995}})<br />Offensive line
* [[California Golden Bears football|California]] (1998)<br />Assistant
| pastadmin      =
* Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|1990}}–{{NFL Year|1994}})<br />Director of player personnel
* Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|1999}}–{{NFL Year|2008}})<br />Advisor
| highlights     =
* 2× [[Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl VII|VII]], [[Super Bowl VIII|VIII]])
* [[National Football League|NFL]] champion ({{NFL Year|1964}})
| statlabel1     = Games played
| statvalue1     = 139
| statlabel2     = [[Starting lineup|Starts]]
| statvalue2     = 102
| regular_record = {{Winning percentage|51|67|record=y}}
| playoff_record = {{Winning percentage|0|2|record=y}}
| overall_record = {{Winning percentage|51|69|record=y}}
| pfr            = ClarMo20
| pfrcoach       = ClarMo0 
}}

'''Monte Dale Clark''' (January 24, 1937 – September 16, 2009) was an [[American football]] player who served as head coach for the [[San Francisco 49ers]] and the [[Detroit Lions]]. He played [[college football]] at [[USC Trojans|USC]].

==Early years==
Clark attended [[Kingsburg High School]], where he practiced football, [[basketball]], [[baseball]] and [[track & field|track]]. As a senior, he contributed to the team winning a football championship, that included a 55-0 championship game win against Avenal High School. He was named the MVP of the first Fresno City-County All-Star football game.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://hanfordsentinel.com/community/kingsburg_recorder/news/memorial-service-held-for-monte-clark-in-kingsburg/article_b3b44832-d396-5daa-8e5e-f5c94f3c20db.html |title=Memorial service held for Monte Clark in Kingsburg |date=September 30, 2009 | access-date=June 14, 2020}}</ref>

He accepted a football scholarship from [[University of Southern California|USC]]. He was a two-year starter and in 1958, he was named a co-captain of the squad, playing on both sides of the line with future [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]]r [[Ron Mix]].

In 1968, he was inducted into the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fresnoahof.org/current-past-inductees|title=Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame {{!}} Home|website=Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame {{!}} Home|access-date=June 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731195939/https://www.fresnoahof.org/current-past-inductees|archive-date=July 31, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Professional career==

===San Francisco 49ers===
Clark was selected by the [[San Francisco 49ers]] in the fourth round (41st overall) of the [[1958 NFL draft]]. After three years of playing defense, primarily at [[defensive tackle]], he was traded to the [[Dallas Cowboys]] in exchange for a draft choice on September 9, [[1962 NFL season|1962]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19620911&id=BP4KAAAAIBAJ&sjid=P1IDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6132,204590 |title=People | access-date=June 14, 2020}}</ref>

===Dallas Cowboys===
The [[Dallas Cowboys]] converted him into an [[offensive tackle]], playing 14 games (10 starts) on the right side during the [[1962 NFL season|1962 season]]. On April 29, [[1963 NFL season|1963]], he was traded to the [[Cleveland Browns]] in exchange for [[Pro Bowl]] [[offensive guard]] [[Jim Ray Smith]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19630430&id=R7pOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OgEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5276,5095068 |title=Browns Obtain Clark In Swap With Dallas | access-date=June 14, 2020}}</ref>

===Cleveland Browns===
The [[Cleveland Browns]] acquired Clark primarily because of his pass protection skills and to replace the recently retired [[Mike McCormack (American football)|Mike McCormack]] at [[right tackle]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=19630626&id=zBErAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IZwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2398,5547228 |title=Protects His Passer | access-date=June 14, 2020}}</ref> However, in the first exhibition game with his new team on August 10, Clark suffered a knee injury which never fully recovered during the course of the campaign, while playing in 8 games.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19630928&id=ZMZaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=L2wDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3354,4781684 |title=Monte Clark Set For Active Play | access-date=June 14, 2020}}</ref>

Even though he never received [[Pro Bowl]] recognition, Clark would become a staple at right tackle for six seasons and become a key contributor in one of the best offensive lines in the league along with [[Gene Hickerson]], [[Dick Schafrath]], [[John Wooten]] and [[John Morrow (American football)|John Morrow]], while blocking for [[running back]] [[Jim Brown]].

In the [[1964 NFL Championship Game]] against the [[Baltimore Colts]], Clark put his talents on display as he neutralized Colts' [[defensive end]] and future Pro Football Hall of Famer [[Gino Marchetti]]. The result was a stunning 27–0 Browns victory.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/22/remembering-monte-clark-maestro-of-dolphins-indomitable-line/?_r=0 |title=Remembering Monte Clark, Maestro of Dolphins' Indomitable Line |date=September 22, 2009 | access-date=June 14, 2020}}</ref>

Another solid season by Clark the following year saw the Browns once again reach the NFL title game. His [[1966 NFL season|1966 season]] was disrupted when he suffered a torn biceps late in the year, an injury that forced off-season surgery.

==Coaching career==

===Miami Dolphins===
After Clark announced his retirement, he was hired as the Miami Dolphins' offensive line coach on April 8, [[1970 NFL season|1970]], working under their new head coach, [[Don Shula]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.miamidolphins.com/team/all-time-roster/coaches.html |title=Miami Dolphins &#124; All Time Roster - Coaches |access-date=June 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180617162123/http://www.miamidolphins.com/team/all-time-roster/coaches.html |archive-date=June 17, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Shula hired Clark over the phone without an interview following glowing endorsements from [[Blanton Collier]] (Browns Head Coach) and 49ers head coach [[Dick Nolan (American football)|Dick Nolan]]. Clark's timing proved excellent when Shula helped transform the moribund franchise into a dynasty. During the final two years of his tenure, Clark served as the team's offensive coordinator, which included the undefeated 1972 team.<ref>100 Things Dolphins Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die, Armando Salguero, Triumph Books, Chicago, 2020, ISBN 978-1-62937-722-3, p.2</ref>

In Miami, Clark built what many consider one of the best offensive lines in NFL history, as [[Larry Little]] and [[Jim Langer]] are both in the Hall of Fame, while [[Bob Kuechenberg]] continues to be nominated every year. This line not only helped set a new all-time rushing record, but also became the first-team ever to have two backs rush for over 1,000 yards in a single season, including Hall of Fame running back [[Larry Csonka]]. Clark was asked about Csonka's bruising running style, and responded with this great quote. "When Csonka goes on safari, the lions roll up ''their'' windows."

===San Francisco 49ers===
During those six years of success in Miami, Clark was under consideration by teams to become their head coach, including his old team, the Browns in [[1975 NFL season|1975]]. However, his first head coaching opportunity would come one year later, when his original team, the [[San Francisco 49ers]], hired him on January 13, [[1976 NFL season|1976]], making him the league's youngest head coach at the time.

[[File:1977-10-09 Monte Clark and Jim Plunkett for SF 49ers at Candlestick Park.jpg|thumb|right|Jim Plunkett playing for the San Francisco 49ers with Head Coach Monte Clark at Candlestick Park, San Francisco.]]

As essentially the team's general manager, one of Clark's early moves was to acquire quarterback [[Jim Plunkett]] from the [[New England Patriots]].  He also put together a tough defensive line that had 30 sacks in the first six games of the [[1976 NFL season]].  After winning six of the first seven games, the 49ers dropped a 23–20 overtime decision to the [[St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)|St. Louis Cardinals]], a defeat that began a tailspin in which the team ended the year with an 8–6 record.

In March [[1977 NFL season|1977]], the 49ers' franchise was sold to [[Edward J. DeBartolo Jr.]]  DeBartolo's ownership came with baggage: General Manager [[Joe Thomas (football coach)|Joe Thomas]]. Clark was familiar with Thomas from his days with the Dolphins and knew of the chaos and disruption he would bring to the 49ers. DeBartolo offered Clark more money and an extended contract to give up his player personnel duties to Thomas. Standing by his principles and with integrity Clark refused to give up his personnel duties, and was fired on April 6. Clark's actions would ring true as Thomas would go on to oversee the worst stretch of football in the team's history burning through four coaches in three years.

===Detroit Lions===
After sitting out the [[1977 NFL season]], Clark found a new challenge when he was hired as head coach of the [[Detroit Lions]] on January 11, [[1978 NFL season|1978]]. Clark again had complete personnel control of a team, and finished with a 7–9 record in his first season.  However, in [[1979 NFL season|1979]], a season-ending injury to starting quarterback [[Gary Danielson]] during the preseason left the Lions without an experienced signal caller and resulted in a disastrous 2–14 campaign. The one bright spot in that season was that Detroit selected first in the [[1980 NFL draft]], with the team picking [[Heisman Trophy]] winner [[Billy Sims]]. The resurgent Lions improved by seven games that year, winning five of their first six games and capturing a share of the NFC Central Division title, but a late-season slide caused them to lose a tie-breaker with the Vikings and keep them out of the playoffs.<ref>{{cite news | title=Late Monte Clark respected in all quarters | publisher=The Detroit News | author=O'Hara, Mike | date=September 18, 2009}}</ref>

An 8–8 season in [[1981 NFL season|1981]] was followed by a 4–5 record in the strike-shortened [[1982 NFL season]]. However, because of the expanded playoff system resulting from the strike, the Lions reached the postseason. Their appearance was brief as they dropped a 31-7 opening round decision to the [[Washington Redskins]], who went on to win [[Super Bowl XVII]].

A slow start that saw the Lions win just one of their first five games in [[1983 NFL season|1983]] quickly changed when the Lions bounced back to capture the division title with a 9–7 record.  As a huge underdog against the 49ers, the Lions nearly pulled off a major upset before losing 24–23.  Detroit had led 23–17 with five minutes remaining, but San Francisco quickly took back the lead. In the closing seconds, Lions' kicker [[Eddie Murray (American football)|Eddie Murray]], who had made a 54-yard field goal in the first half, narrowly missed a 43-yard attempt with 11 seconds to go, putting an end to Detroit's season. As Murray lined up to attempt the potential game-winning field goal, on the sidelines Clark put his hands together in an apparent prayer (the "prayer" was replayed often and was recently cited by ESPN as one of the Lions' most memorable moments). Whenever asked about that unanswered prayer, Monte would respond, "It was answered, but the answer was No".<ref>{{cite news | title=Monte Clark, 1937–2009: Lions coach beloved for humor, savvy | publisher=Detroit Free Press | author=Monarrez, Carlos | date=September 18, 2009}}</ref>

Clark's final year saw the Lions win just once in their first six games. After a career-ending knee injury to Sims in week eight, the Lions crashed to just one win the rest of the way for a 4–11–1 record. On December 19, [[1984 NFL season|1984]], the inevitable resulted when Clark was dismissed, a move that kept him out of football for the next five years until his return as Director of Player Personnel for the Dolphins in February [[1990 NFL season|1990]]. Five years later, Clark was again hired as offensive line coach of the Dolphins, but the tenure lasted only one year after Shula was replaced by [[Jimmy Johnson (American football coach)|Jimmy Johnson]].  Out of football for two years, Clark resurfaced as an assistant at the [[University of California, Berkeley]] in 1998, but resigned at the conclusion of that season. He returned to the Lions organization in [[1999 NFL season|1999]] as an advisor, remaining there until [[2008 NFL season|2008]].

==Head coaching record==
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"|Team !! rowspan="2"|Year !! colspan="5"|Regular Season !! colspan="4"|Post Season
|-
!Won !!Lost!!Ties!!Win %!!Finish!!Won!!Lost!!Win %!!Result
|-
![[1976 San Francisco 49ers season|SF]]||[[1976 NFL season|1976]]
|8||6||0||.571||2nd in NFC West|| - || - || - || -
|-
! colspan="2"|SF Total||8||6||0||.571|| ||- || - || - || -
|-
![[1978 Detroit Lions season|DET]]||[[1978 NFL season|1978]]
|7||9||0||.438||3rd in NFC Central|| - || - || - || -
|-
![[1979 Detroit Lions season|DET]]||[[1979 NFL season|1979]]
|2||14||0||.125||5th in NFC Central|| - || - || - || -
|-
![[1980 Detroit Lions season|DET]]||[[1980 NFL season|1980]]
|9||7||0||.563||2nd in NFC Central|| - || - || - || -
|-
![[1981 Detroit Lions season|DET]]||[[1981 NFL season|1981]]
|8||8||0||.500||2nd in NFC Central|| - || - || - || -
|- style="background:#fdd;"
![[1982 Detroit Lions season|DET]]||[[1982 NFL season|1982]]
|4||5||0||.444||'''8th in NFC'''|| 0 || 1 || .000 || <Small> '''Lost to [[1982 Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins]] in [[1982-83 NFL playoffs|First Round]]'''</Small>
|- style="background:#fdd;"
![[1983 Detroit Lions season|DET]]||[[1983 NFL season|1983]]
|9||7||0||.563||'''1st in NFC Central'''|| 0 || 1 || .000 || <Small> '''Lost to [[1983 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]] in [[1983-84 NFL playoffs|Divisional Round]]'''</Small>
|-
![[1984 Detroit Lions season|DET]]||[[1984 NFL season|1984]]
|4||11||1||.267||4th in NFC Central|| - || - || - || -
|-
! colspan="2"|DET Total||43||61||0||.414|| ||0 || 2 || .000 ||
|-
! colspan="2"|Total||51||67||0||.433|| ||0 || 2 || .000 ||
|}

==Personal life==
Clark's son, [[Bryan Clark (American football)|Monte Bryan Clark]], played quarterback in the [[National Football League]] for the [[Cincinnati Bengals]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/ClarBr22.htm | title=Bryan Clark profile | website=[[Pro-Football-Reference.com]] | access-date=June 14, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Former Miami Dolphins assistant coach Monte Clark dies at 72 | publisher=The Miami Herald | author=Darlington, Jeff | date=September 17, 2009}}</ref>

On September 16, 2009, Clark died from bone cancer that spread into his liver and lungs.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newsday.com/sports/football/former-lions-coach-monte-clark-dies-at-72-1.1456311 | title=Former Lions coach Monte Clark dies at 72 | publisher=Newsday | author=Carlos, Monarrez | date=September 17, 2009 | access-date=June 14, 2020}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* [https://www.cleveland.com/ohio-sports-blog/2012/09/cleveland_browns_100_best_all-_23.html Cleveland Browns' 100 best all-time players: No. 77]
* Lubinger, Bill & Peticca, Mike [https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2009/09/monte_clark_browns_tackle_in_1.html "Monte Clark, Browns tackle in 1960s, dies at 72"] ''The Plain Dealer'' (Cleveland, Ohio), Thursday, September 17, 2009

{{49ers1959DraftPicks}}
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{{Detroit Lions coach navbox}}
{{1964 Cleveland Browns}}
{{Super Bowl VII}}
{{Super Bowl VIII}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Clark, Monte}}
[[Category:1937 births]]
[[Category:2009 deaths]]
[[Category:American football defensive tackles]]
[[Category:American football offensive tackles]]
[[Category:California Golden Bears football coaches]]
[[Category:Cleveland Browns players]]
[[Category:Dallas Cowboys players]]
[[Category:Detroit Lions coaches]]
[[Category:Miami Dolphins coaches]]
[[Category:Miami Dolphins executives]]
[[Category:San Francisco 49ers coaches]]
[[Category:San Francisco 49ers players]]
[[Category:Stanford Cardinal football coaches]]
[[Category:USC Trojans football players]]
[[Category:People from Kingsburg, California]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Fresno County, California]]
[[Category:Detroit Lions head coaches]]
[[Category:San Francisco 49ers head coaches]]