Chad Clifton life and biography

Chad Clifton is an American football offensive tackle for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League.

• Has started 106 of 112 games (112 of 118 including playoffs) at left tackle since returning to the field in ’03 from the serious pelvic injury that ended his 2002 season.
• Went to his first Pro Bowl following 2007 season, filling in for an injured Walter Jones of Seattle. Held New York Giants’ Osi Umenyiora, San Diego’s Shawne Merriman and Kansas City’s Jared Allen to a total of ½ sack in head-to-head meetings that season.
• Had 53-game starting streak snapped in 2006 by a bout with the flu the night before and morning of game at Miami (Oct. 22), and 33-game streak ended in ’08 at Tennessee (Nov. 2) because of a pre-game illness due to a reaction to medication.
• As the left tackle, was a major factor in the Packers limiting opponents to an all-time franchise-low 14 sacks in 2004. Green Bay also did not allow a sack in eight games – another club single-season record.
• Played a pivotal role – by shutting out Pro Bowl DE Simeon Rice – when Green Bay snapped the Buccaneers’ 69-game streak with at least one sack in a 20-13 triumph at Tampa Bay, Nov. 16, 2003. Ironically, that game marked his return to Raymond James Stadium, where he had incurred his season-ending pelvic injury roughly a year earlier.
• Played in two national championship games, including Fiesta Bowl victory over Florida State to culminate undefeated 1998 season, while a four-year starter at the University of Tennessee.

PRO CAREER:
A solid presence at the left tackle position who remains steady at protecting the quarterback’s blind side... As a pending free agent, re-signed with the team in early March for an 11th season in which he could play in his 150th regular-season game with Green Bay, a mark reached by only 18 other players in franchise history... Has played in 143 games, with 138 starts, plus eight postseason contests... Has blocked for five of the top eight single-season rushers in franchise history (Ahman Green, 2001-03; Ryan Grant; 2008-09), and has helped pave the way for a 1,000-yard rusher in eight of his 10 seasons... Has been part of a top-10 offense in the league in seven of his 10 seasons in Green Bay... Following the devastating pelvic injury that prematurely ended his 2002 season, he has successfully returned to the field to start 106 of 112 games (112 of 118 including playoffs) over the past seven years... Came off arthroscopic surgery on both knees heading into 2009, but an early-season ankle injury limited him to 12 games, his fewest since ’02... Over the past two years, has helped the Packers become the first team in NFL history to have a 4,000-yard passer, a 1,200-yard rusher and two 1,000-yard receivers in back-to-back seasons... Made his lone Pro Bowl trip following the 2007 season as an alternate and injury replacement for Seattle’s Walter Jones (shoulder), but has been named an alternate on three other occasions as well (’04, ’05, ’09)... During that Pro Bowl season of ’07, solidified his reputation as one who can keep the opponent’s premier pass rusher quiet, holding a trio of fellow ’07 Pro Bowlers, the New York Giants’ Osi Umenyiora, San Diego’s Shawne Merriman and Kansas City’s Jared Allen (also the league leader in sacks), to a total of ½ sack to help the Packers tie for the third-fewest sacks allowed in the league with 19... Did the same over the past two years against the likes of Indianapolis’ Dwight Freeney, Houston’s Mario Williams and Pittsburgh’s James Harrison... Is known for his textbook technique and an extensive regimen that gets his bumped and bruised body ready for gameday... Along with fellow veteran Mark Tauscher, stepped into more of a leadership position along the offensive line in 2005 with the offseason departures of guards Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle... Had a starting streak of 53 consecutive games (56 including playoffs) snapped in 2006 when he became violently ill with the flu the night before the contest at Miami (Oct. 22)... Subsequently missed only one of the next 44 contests (at Tennessee, Nov. 2, 2008, due to an allergic reaction to medication) before sustaining ankle injury in Week 2 of last season.

Rarely leaving the field at all when healthy, he was in for 88.5 percent of Green Bay’s offensive snaps in 2008, 93.3 percent in ’07, 93.1 percent in ’06 and 94.2 percent in ’05 after being the only Packers player (on either offense or defense) to have played every snap from scrimmage on his respective side of the ball in both the ’03 and ’04 seasons... Rewarded with a six-year contract extension, through the 2009 season, on March 2, 2004, he certainly showed no signs of complacency the following year, helping the Packers to an all-time franchise-low 14 sacks during the ’04 season... A year earlier, in his 2003 return to the field following an arduous offseason of rehabilitation, started all 16 games for the first time as a professional and, as the left tackle, was a key cog in Green Bay allowing but 19 sacks – tied for the second fewest in the NFL and at the time the franchise low for a 16-game season... Included in that success was the Packers’ Nov. 16, 2003, win at Tampa Bay – a game with tremendous personal ramifications for him – when Green Bay snapped the Buccaneers’ NFL-record streak of 69 consecutive games with at least one sack... Just less than a year earlier (Nov. 24, 2002), on the same Raymond James Stadium field, his season had come to an untimely end when he suffered a badly sprained pelvis as the result of an unnecessary block on an interception return that he did not see coming (a play that the NFL made illegal in 2005)... Subsequently designated as Green Bay’s ‘franchise’ player Feb. 24, 2004, he reached agreement with the Packers on his contract extension on the eve of free agency... Earlier, in 2001, was a large factor in Green Bay allowing the third-fewest sacks in the league (22), a figure that then also qualified as the least by a Packers team in 27 years... Was playing at a similarly high level in 2002 before the abrupt end to his season in Tampa... Had been thrust into the starting lineup seven games into his 2000 rookie campaign, immediately shoring up what had been a trouble spot for Green Bay early in the year... As a rookie starter, was not intimidated by the hostile crowds or noisy dome stadiums – situations he had encountered in the years prior as a standout at the University of Tennessee – while holding his own against some of the game’s better pass rushers... A second-round draft choice of the Packers in 2000, joined fellow rookie Tauscher in the lineup that year to give Green Bay its first pair of starting rookie offensive tackles in 48 years.

2009 SEASON: Started 12 games at LT, plus the playoff contest, and was selected as a Pro Bowl alternate...Had arthroscopic surgeries on both knees and both shoulders during the offseason... Part of line that blocked for Grant’s career-high 1,253 rushing yards, his second straight 1,200-yard season, and member of an offense that ranked No. 6 in total yards...Helped Packers become the first team in NFL history to have a 4,000-yard passer, a 1,200-yard rusher and two 1,000-yard receivers in back-to-back seasons...Inactive at St. Louis (Sept. 27), at Minnesota (Oct. 5) and at Cleveland (Oct. 25) with ankle injury...Active but did not play vs. Minnesota (Nov. 1)...Vs. Cincinnati (Sept. 20): Sprained his ankle on the first play of the third quarter on a Grant run and did not return, missing the next two contests... Vs. Detroit (Oct. 18): Returned to starting lineup and helped block for Packers’ 435 yards of total offense, but re-injured ankle late in the third quarter and did not return, sitting out the next two games as well... At Tampa Bay (Nov. 8): Returned to starting lineup at LT and helped block for Packers’ 170 rushing yards on 32 carries (5.3 avg.), the team’s second-best output on the season... Vs. San Francisco (Nov. 22): Started and helped block for offense’s season-high 484 total yards, including 129 yards rushing from Grant on 21 carries (6.1 avg.). Part of line that did not allow any sacks of Rodgers in the first half as he threw for 274 yards, his career high for any half in the regular season... At Detroit (Nov. 26): Injured hamstring on second drive of second half and did not return. Part of line that did not allow a sack of Rodgers in the first half... Vs. Baltimore (Dec. 7): Helped limit the Ravens to just one sack of Rodgers as he threw for 263 yards and three TDs... At Chicago (Dec. 13): Helped clear the way for Grant’s 137 yards on 20 carries (6.9 avg.); it was Grant’s career-high average for a game with at least 20 carries. Blocked DE Alex Brown on Grant’s 62-yard TD run off left tackle on the first Packers’ first play... At Pittsburgh (Dec. 20): Part of a line that allowed just one sack as Rodgers threw for 383 yards and three TDs. Limited Pro Bowl OLB Harrison to one assisted tackle and no sacks... Vs. Seattle (Dec. 27): Helped block for team’s 153 rushing yards and five TDs on 32 carries (4.8 avg.), the first time the Packers posted five rushing TDs in a game since Oct. 9, 1988, vs. New England. Also helped protect Rodgers as he was sacked only one time, and didn’t play in the fourth quarter (rest)... At Arizona (Jan. 3): Played first three quarters before resting for the fourth as the line didn’t allow a sack of Rodgers in his three quarters of play that produced 235 passing yards... At Arizona (NFC Wild Card, Jan. 10): Left game with just under 12 minutes remaining with a right ankle injury. Helped offense post team playoff-record 493 total yards, including franchise-record 423 yards passing from Rodgers.

2008: Started 15 games at LT and helped pave the way for Grant’s (then) career-high 1,203 rushing yards... Also protected Rodgers on his way to 4,038 passing yards to give the Packers a 4,000-yard passer and a 1,200-yard rusher in the same season for the first time in team history... Played 88.5 percent of the offensive snaps, missing the Week 9 contest at Tennessee due to illness... Vs. Minnesota (Sept. 8): Limited Allen, who finished tied for fifth in the NFL with 14.5 sacks, to no tackles and no sacks. Part of a line that helped pave the way for team’s 139 rushing yards on 27 carries and did not allow a sack of Rodgers... Vs. Indianapolis (Oct. 19): Part of line that blocked for Grant’s 105 rushing yards, his first 100-yard game of the season, and did not allow a sack of Rodgers. Limited perennial Pro Bowl DE Freeney to no sacks and just two tackles... At Tennessee (Nov. 2): Had streak of 33 games started snapped when he did not play due to pre-game illness caused by a reaction to medication... Vs. Chicago (Nov. 16): Part of line that paved the way for team’s 200 rushing yards, including season-best 145 from Grant. Line did not allow a sack or pressure of Rodgers all afternoon. On Grant’s game-long 35-yard run in the first quarter, sealed DE Brown to open the hole... Vs. Houston (Dec. 7): Blocked for Grant’s 104 yards on 19 carries. Matched up with DE Williams, who finished tied for seventh in the league with 12 sacks, for much of the afternoon and held him to no sacks and just one tackle... Vs. Detroit (Dec. 28): Blocked for team’s 211 rushing yards, a season-best. Helped pave the way for Grant and RB DeShawn Wynn to each post 100 yards rushing, only the second time since 1985 that the Packers had a pair of 100-yard rushers in the same game.

2007: Started all 16 games and both playoff contests and was named to his first Pro Bowl, filling in for Seattle’s Jones (shoulder injury)... Played 93.3 percent of the offensive snaps, the fifth straight year he played at least 93 percent... Was ranked as the Packers’ top offensive player by Pro Football Weekly and Sporting News in their respective preseason previews, and went on to lead an offensive line that allowed just 19 sacks on the season... At New York Giants (Sept. 16): Held Umenyiora without a sack; suffered an ankle injury in the fourth quarter and missed a series while his ankle was re-taped... Vs. San Diego (Sept. 23): Held Pro Bowler Merriman without a sack... At Kansas City (Nov. 4): Held ’07 sack leader Allen to ½ sack... Vs. Minnesota (Nov. 11): Helped Green Bay amass a season-high 488 yards, and held the Vikings without a sack; Grant collected 119 yards rushing... Vs. Seattle (NFC Divisional, Jan. 12): Was part of an offensive line that assisted Grant to 201 yards and three TDs, both Packers playoff records... Vs. N.Y. Giants (NFC Championship, Jan. 20): Held Umenyiora without a sack.

2006: Started 15 games and played in 93.1 percent of the team’s offensive snaps... Continued to work back to his Pro Bowl-caliber form after surgeries on his ankle in January and on his knee in May... Along with Tauscher, was one of two returning full-time starters on Green Bay’s offensive line... Played every snap on an offensive line that didn’t allow a sack from the fourth quarter vs. New Orleans (Sept. 17) to the second quarter vs. St. Louis (Oct. 8); the streak covered 108 passing plays and included a shutout at Philadelphia (Oct. 2) against the Eagles’ attacking defense... At Miami (Oct. 22): Was listed as inactive just before the 90-minute deadline, ending his streak of 53 straight starts, which had been tied with Tauscher and Al Harris for the second-longest active streak on the team behind Brett Favre; had battled flu-like symptoms the night before and the morning of the game, the first contest he missed since Warren Sapp ended his 2002 season... Vs. Arizona (Oct. 29): Helped the offense amass 203 yards on the ground (383 total) including 100-yard performances from both Green (106) and Vernand Morency (101), which was the first time the Packers had a pair of 100-yard rushers in the same game since Dec. 1, 1985, vs. Tampa Bay (Eddie Lee Ivery, Gerry Ellis)... At Chicago (Dec. 31): Played his 100th career game.

2005: Though nagged by an ankle injury for the final three-fourths of the season, started all 16 games at LT for the third straight year, playing 94.2 percent of the offensive snaps – second among offensive linemen and third among all players on offense... Was voted as an NFC Pro Bowl alternate a second straight year... At Carolina (Oct. 3): Sustained left ankle injury early in Monday night contest, forcing him to sit out quarters 2-4... Vs. New Orleans (Oct. 9): Though he missed most of practice in the week leading up to game, still started in 52-3 victory and shut out Saints DE Will Smith, who would go on to tie for eighth in the NFC in sacks... At Minnesota (Oct. 23): Helped to extend the offensive line’s streak to 111 consecutive passing plays without a sack in border battle... Vs. Pittsburgh (Nov. 6): Blanked Pittsburgh sack specialist Joey Porter (10.5 sacks in ’05) in hard-fought loss to eventual Super Bowl champs... Vs. Detroit (Dec. 11): Threw several key blocks for rookie RB Samkon Gado as he rushed for a team rookie record 171 yards... Underwent offseason surgery (Jan. 16, 2006) to alleviate ankle problem.

2004: On the heels of signing a lucrative contract extension during the offseason, enjoyed perhaps his finest year as a professional, matter-of-factly shutting down several of the league’s top pass rushers as Green Bay allowed an all-time franchise-low 14 sacks... Was a Pro Bowl alternate... Started all 16 games for the second consecutive season and played 100 percent of the team’s offensive snaps during the regular season a second consecutive year, a feat matched only by linemate Wahle in ’04... Was a catalyst in the Packers not allowing half of their regular-season opponents (an all-time high eight of 16) to record a sack... Following the season, was named to the ‘All-Joe’ team of USA Today as a player who is “overlooked and underappreciated” as well as to FOX Sports analyst Daryl Johnston’s ‘All-Lunch Pail Crew’ for his blue-collar approach to football... At Carolina (Sept. 13): Kept Pro Bowl DE Julius Peppers from recording a sack in season-opening victory... Vs. Chicago (Sept. 19): Made his 50th NFL start (along with Tauscher)... At Indianapolis (Sept. 26): Turned in his top personal performance of the season in noisy, hostile RCA Dome, neutralizing the Colts’ cat-quick Freeney, who would go on to lead the NFL with 16 sacks; Indy’s Pro Bowl DE could post only one solo tackle in spite of the fact that he was playing on the fast track of his home stadium and the Packers were in catch-up mode for much of the contest... Vs. Minnesota (NFC Wild Card, Jan. 9): Exited playoff game in the third quarter after spraining his left ankle; subsequently underwent arthroscopic surgery on that ankle Feb. 14, 2005.

2003: Returned successfully from the pelvic injury that had ended his 2002 season to start all 16 games for the first time as a professional... Was the only Green Bay lineman to play every offensive snap during the regular season... Also started both playoff contests... As a general rule, practiced only once a day early in training camp as he returned gradually from the pelvic injury that had cut short his ’02 season, and he did not see game action until the third preseason contest (Aug. 15 at Cleveland)... His comeback efforts had been hindered by a pair of unrelated offseason operations... Underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Jan. 31, 2003, to address cartilage damage tied to an MCL sprain from the ’02 season, then later had his right elbow scoped April 14, 2003, to remove multiple loose bodies... Was personally responsible for only two pressures and one-half sack, according to Green Bay coaches... Manned critical LT spot on an offensive line that permitted but 19 sacks – at the time a franchise low for a 16-game season and tied (with Indianapolis) for the second fewest in the NFL... Included in that low sack number was a (then) team-record six games without a sack allowed (since 1963, as far back as the stat can be tracked in team annals), including three straight contests (Sept. 14-21-29) with zero sacks for the first time in franchise history... Also helped the Packers to single-season franchise records for yards rushing (2,558) and yards per carry (5.05), including 1,883 yards by Green to break Jim Taylor’s 41-year-old team rushing mark; Green Bay’s 2,558 rushing yards ranked third in the NFL, behind only Baltimore (2,669) and Denver (2,629)... Played a part in November stretch in which the Packers rushed for 190-or-more yards in four straight games... At St. Louis (Oct. 19): Blanked Rams’ Pro Bowl DE Leonard Little (third in the NFC with 12½ sacks)... At Tampa Bay (Nov. 16): Played a pivotal role when Green Bay snapped the Buccaneers’ NFL-record streak of 69 consecutive games with at least one sack in 20-13 triumph, shutting out Simeon Rice, the Bucs’ Pro Bowl DE who ultimately would finish second in the NFC with 15 sacks.

2002: Turned in several notable performances before his season was ended by a pelvic injury after 11 games... Played in 10 of Green Bay’s first 11 games, making nine starts at LT, and was inactive twice... Vs. Carolina (Sept. 29): Shut out Mike Rucker – the league’s leading sacker entering the contest and the eventual NFC ‘Defensive Player of the Month’ – in victory over Panthers... At New England (Oct. 13): Was playing well before he sprained the MCL in his right knee, which made him inactive vs. Washington (Oct. 20)... At Miami (Nov. 4): Did not start as he continued to battle knee injury, but played the final two-and-a-half quarters as he neutralized DE Jason Taylor, who had been named AFC ‘Defensive Player of the Week’ days earlier and would go on to finish as the NFL sack leader with 18½... At Tampa Bay (Nov. 24): Had his year come to an abrupt end when he was blindsided by an unnecessary block during a third-quarter INT return. Sprained the bones of his pelvis so severely that he was hospitalized for nearly a week (in both Tampa and Green Bay) and was unable to walk on his own for roughly another six weeks before beginning a full offseason of rehabilitation. Was placed on injured reserve Dec. 4.

COLLEGE:
Four-year starter (1996-99) who began his collegiate career at RT before spending his final three seasons at LT... A two-time All-Southeastern Conference selection, he also earned second-team All-America honors from Sporting News as a senior... Played in two national championship games – including Fiesta Bowl victory over Florida State to culminate unbeaten 1998 season – four bowl games and two SEC championship games... Started 45 of 48 career games played as a collegian, including 26 straight starts... Enjoyed a 43-7 on-field record (.860) during the four seasons in which he played for the Volunteers... Majored in psychology... Senior season (1999): Served as one of six team captains while opening at LT in 11 of 12 contests... Earned second-team All-America honors from Sporting News and was a second-team All-SEC pick by the conference’s coaches... Junior season (1998): Named first-team All-SEC by Football News and second-team all-conference by The Associated Press and league’s coaches... Started all 13 games at LT as Vols went 13-0 and captured the ’98 national title... Sophomore season (1997): Played in all 13 games, starting 12 at LT, as Volunteers won SEC title before losing to Nebraska in national championship (Orange Bowl)... Was part of an offensive line that allowed only one sack per 35 snaps – a school record... Redshirt freshman season (1996): Took over at RT after incumbent Jarvis Reado broke his leg in the third game of the year... Played in 11 of the Vols’ 12 games, starting nine, including Florida Citrus Bowl victory over Northwestern.

PERSONAL:
Given name Jeffrey Chad Clifton... Nicknamed ‘Big Cliff’... Born in Martin, Tenn., the same hometown as 2007 first-round draft pick Justin Harrell... Married to Candy, who passed the Wisconsin bar exam in 2003, the couple has two sons, Corbin, 5, and Cruz, 3... Twin sisters, Gloria and Glenda, played basketball at Austin Peay... High school: Earned All-America honors from Parade and Scholastic Coach as a senior at Westview High School in Martin, Tenn. ... Also received Gatorade Circle of Champions ‘Player of the Year’ award and Class 2A ‘Mr. Football Award’ (as top lineman) for state of Tennessee... Was an all-state and all-region selection... Earned four letters in football, starting his final three seasons as a two-way player... In addition to playing DT, he also was the school’s starter at TE as a sophomore, moving his junior year to OT, where he started each of his last two seasons... Lettered three times for the basketball team as well... Community involvement: Takes part in an annual charity golf tournament organized by Backfield in Motion, a Nashville-based, non-profit organization that helps inner-city youth improve academically and also provides other opportunities for personal growth... Participated in the 2010 Packers Tailgate Tour, traveling to several Wisconsin destinations and visiting residents and schools... Participated in the Families of Children with Cancer Holiday Party, organized by St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay, in 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2009... Helped promote bicycle safety, publicizing a free safety clinic and helmet giveaway for 2,800 area youth that was put on by Green Bay’s Bellin Health, Touchpoint Health and the Packers organization early in 2003... Along with his wife, served as spokespersons for the annual Packers Women’s Association Food Drive from 2002-04; he visited and signed autographs at the local elementary and middle schools that raised the most food and money in the 2003 campaign... Took part in a 2006, 2007, and 2008 golf tournament to raise funds for the Trifecta Foundation of former linemate Tauscher... Also has given time to the Donald Driver Foundation...In 2005, he got involved with the Boy Scouts organization in his offseason home of Nashville, Tenn. ... Played basketball and signed autographs in March 2004 to help raise funds at the ‘Doug Betters Big Mountain Winter Classic,’ an annual event held in Montana by the former Miami Dolphins defensive end who today is a quadriplegic as the result of a 1998 skiing accident; returned to the Betters event in 2006 and 2007... Also has spoken to junior high school students in both Knoxville, Tenn., and his hometown of Martin, Tenn., on how to be successful in life... Hobbies/interests: Purchased a mountain bike and took up bicycling during the 2003 offseason to assist with the hip and leg rehabilitation in returning from the injury that ended his 2002 season... Other interests include fishing (particularly for bass), playing basketball, snowmobiling, four-wheeling, camping and spending time with friends... Had spent the first half of 2002 remodeling a Green Bay home he purchased... Had a farm he owns outside Nashville damaged by spring flooding this past May... Is 12 hours away from completion of his undergraduate degree in psychology... Splits residence between Nashville, Tenn., and Green Bay.

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