Desmond Clark life and biography

Desmond Clark is an American football tight end for the Chicago Bears of the NFL.

NFL Career:

Has become one of the top tight end targets in franchise history since joining the team in 2003, ranking second all-time with 241 receptions, second with 18 receiving touchdowns and third with 2,627 receiving yards in his seven seasons in Chicago... Totaled 322 catches for 3,579 yards (11.1 avg) and 27 TDs over his career... Surpassed the 3,000-yard receiving mark during 2007 and is one of 11 active tight ends in the NFL to eclipse that plateau... Has started 99-of-105 games played since 2003... Exceeded 40 catches in 2008 for the third consecutive year and fifth time in his career (2001, 2003, 2006-08)... Became the first Bears TE since Mike Ditka in 1962-64 to have three consecutive 40-reception seasons (2006-08)... Along with TE Greg Olsen, combined for 95 catches for 941 yards in 2008, setting the single-season franchise record for receptions by TEs which broke the record set in 2007 by Clark, Olsen and John Gilmore... Leads Chicago in receptions, receiving yards and receiving TDs since becoming a member of the Bears in 2003.

2009 : Hauled in 19 catches for 145 yards and 2 TDs... Played in 11 games (7 starts), but saw an 68-game starting streak come to a close as a result of a back injury he sustained in the season opener.

2008 - Caught 41 passes for 367 yards (9.0 avg) and 1 TD while starting all 16 games at TE... Caught a pass in all 16 games for the second time in his career.

2007 - Started at TE in all 16 games while hauling in 44 catches, 545 yards and 4 touchdowns, all of which are the third highest of his career... Led NFC tight ends in yards per catch (12.4 avg) and was fifth in receiving yards... Tied for team lead with 6 receptions of 25 yards or more... Caught a career-long 52-yard reception vs. DAL (9/23).

2006 - Started all 16 games while setting a career high with 626 receiving yards and tying a career best with 6 TDs on 45 receptions (2nd highest total of career)... Reception total was highest for a Bears TE since Ryan Wetnight's 46 in 1997... His 6 TDs tied Keith Jennings (1995) for the third-highest single-season TD total for a TE in team history... His 13.91 yards per catch average was 2nd in the NFL among tight ends (Alge Crumpler, 13.93)... Recorded first career 100-yard receiving game and first by a Bears TE since 1985 (Moorehead, 8-114, at TB, 10/6) after hauling in 125 receiving yards on 7 receptions (ties career-high) vs. TB (12/17).

2005 - Started all 16 games and led Chicago TEs with 24 receptions for 2nd consecutive year for 229 yards and 2 TDs.

2004 - Started 13 of 15 games played while recording 24 receptions for 282 yards with 1 TD.

2003 - Started 15 games and caught 44 passes, while surpassing 100 receptions and 1,000 receiving yards for his career.

2002 - Limited to 11 games played due to injury in lone season with Miami, catching 2 passes for 42 yards... Suffered dislocated forearm in preseason with Denver and was waived/injured.

2001 - Played all 16 games for Broncos with 4 starts, recording a career-high 51 receptions for 566 yards and 6 TDs while averaging 11.1 yards per catch... Tied for NFL lead among TEs with 6 TDs (Tony Gonzalez, KC).

2000 - Ranked 4th on Broncos with 27 receptions for 339 yards and 3 TDs while participating in all 16 games... Caught first NFL TD on 7-yard pass from Brian Griese at STL (9/4).
1999 - Played 9 games, all as a reserve, catching 1 pass for 5 yards... Lone reception was 5-yard gain in his NFL debut vs. GB (10/17) in which he suffered a first-degree tear of his lateral collateral ligament later in the game.

College:

Four-year letterman and 3-year starting WR at Wake Forest (1995-1998), where he finished his career as the all-time leading receiver in the ACC... In 40 games (31 starts), had 216 catches for 2,834 yards and 20 TDs, including at least 1 against every ACC opponent... Named second-team all-ACC as a senior, leading the ACC with a school-record 72 receptions... Named team MVP as a senior and sophomore... Majored in communications.

Personal:

Played QB as a junior and senior at Kathleen H.S. in Lakeland, Fla., rushing for over 600 yards and throwing for 980 as a senior, earning all-conference honors... Also played free safety, returned punts and was the holder for former Bears K Paul Edinger on FGs and PATs... Full name is Desmond Darice Clark... He and wife, Denise, have 3 children: stepdaughter Brittany Reaves and twins, Ashonna and Gianna.

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