Dallas Clark to Retire with the Colts

Sep 5, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Baltimore Ravens tight end Dallas Clark (87) runs a route in the second quarter against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Dallas Clark has been one of the great names in recent Indianapolis Colts history, and he will be retiring with the team in the near future. Clark has played the last two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Baltimore Ravens, but wanted to return to his home of Indiana before finally calling it quits. It’s a sad day for Colts fans, but at least he is deciding to come back to his roots.

In 143 career games, Clark compiled 505 catches for 5,665 yards and 53 touchdowns. His glory days were playing alongside former Colts’ superstar quarterback Peyton Manning, and he was a key piece for Manning throughout their years in Indianapolis. His best season with the Colts came in 2009 where he caught 100 passes for 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns.

The NFL has changed in a major way at the tight end position, and one of the first tight ends to help the change was Clark. He was one of the first tight ends that was primarily a pass catcher and not a blocker. Before his team, the majority of teams lined up another offensive tackle type of player to help protect the quarterback and block the run.

Clark’s ability to line up in the slot and beat linebackers with ease was one of the most difficult match-ups for opposing teams. He had great speed to go along with one of the best pairs of hands that the tight end position has ever seen. The last few seasons have been a bit rough for him, but there is nothing that people can do to take what he’s done in his career away.

All that being said, this is a sad day for the city of Indianapolis and Colts fans abroad. Clark will always be loved and thought of as a Colt, and he will go down in the Colts’ history book. What a career he had, and it is great to see him ending his playing career with the team that gave him his first chance in the NFL.