Dallas Clark Retiring From The NFL As A Member Of The Colts

NBC Sports- Dallas Clark is calling it a career, and returning to Indianapolis to make his retirement official.

The Colts announced today that Clark will officially retire as a member of the team, with a formal press conference set for Wednesday.

The 35-year-old Clark was the Colts’ first-round draft pick in 2003, and he played nine seasons for the team. He’s the all-time leader in Colts history for catches and touchdowns by a tight end.

After the Colts cut him in March of 2012, Clark played one season in Tampa Bay and one season in Baltimore. He was effective at times last season, catching 31 passes for 343 yards and three touchdowns for the Ravens, but he said this offseason that he wasn’t sure if he could find the right situation this year. It appears that he hasn’t found that situation, and now he’ll enjoy retirement.

Bummer to see Dallas Clark’s career end.  He’s one of my favorite Hawkeye football players ever.  He was at Iowa from 1999-2002 and was a flat out beast for the latter part of his time there.  Catching pretty much every ball Heisman finalist Brad Banks threw to him.  2002 (Clark’s junior year) was his biggest year when he won the John Mackey Award for the best tight end in college football.  He also helped lead the Hawkeyes to an 11-2 record and a Co-Big Ten Title with Ohio State in 2002.  They ended up losing to Heisman winner Carson Palmer and USC in the Orange Bowl that year.  I loved that 2002 team and Dallas, along with Bob Sanders, was a big reason of why.  I’m still not over Banks losing the Heisman to Palmer.  In hindsight was it the right pick?  I don’t know, maybe.  Banks was fucking awesome that year.  That’s all I know.

Dallas went on to have a pretty decent professional career too.  He was a mainstay on a lot of those Peyton Manning-led Colts teams and won a Super Bowl Ring with them.

Dallas Clark, Hawkeye, Colt, Honorary Iowan