Clark Gaines
Encyclopedia
Clark Daniel Gaines is a former American football
running back
in the National Football League
. He played for the New York Jets
and the Kansas City Chiefs
over the course of his 7 year career.
students to volunteer to integrate Elbert County High School in Elberton, Georgia
. He was coached by Boyd Outz. After graduating from Elbert County Comprehensive High School, Gaines attended Lees-McRae College
and graduated from Wake Forest University
. In his two seasons as a Demon Deacon
, Gaines gained 1,258 yards on 336 carries
(3.7 avg.), and was team captain
and an All-ACC
selection his senior year.
season, Gaines ran for 724 yards and hauled in 41 receptions for the Jets. Having been overlooked in the draft due to injuries, Gaines signed with the Jets as a free agent
and became the first rookie ever selected as Jets' MVP. In the 1976 season
, he led all NFL rookies with 724 yards rushing despite not starting
until the seventh game, set a franchise record with four 100-yard rushing games in a single season, and was selected AFC
Offensive Rookie of the Year by NFL Players Association.
After being sidelined due to injuries in 1978, Gaines returned in 1979 as a dominant force for the Jets once again. In the 1979 season
, he became the first Jet ever to lead the team in rushing and receiving twice, finishing the season fourth among AFC rushing leaders, tied for first in the AFC in yards per carry, and fumble
d only once in 186 carries. The Sporting News
named him the best running back in the AFC East and the most individual offensive improvement in the division in 1979.
On September 21, 1980, Gaines broke a Jets franchise record with 17 catches in a singe game against the San Francisco 49ers
, a franchise record that still stands. Gaines is currently 3rd in the NFL record books for receptions per game (and first among running backs). He was first undrafted running back to reach 500 yards rushing as a rookie, and is now one of only six in NFL history to do so.
He "wore many hats" for the Jets: although technically a running back, he was also a prolific receiver, was an intimidating blocker
in short yardage situations, and played special teams.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He played for the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
over the course of his 7 year career.
Early years
Gaines was one of only 13 African AmericanAfrican American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
students to volunteer to integrate Elbert County High School in Elberton, Georgia
Elberton, Georgia
Elberton is the largest city in Elbert County, Georgia, United States. The population was 4,743 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Elbert County and serves as a hub for industry and small business in Northeast Georgia...
. He was coached by Boyd Outz. After graduating from Elbert County Comprehensive High School, Gaines attended Lees-McRae College
Lees-McRae College
Lees-McRae College is a private four-year college in Banner Elk, North Carolina affiliated with the Presbyterian Church . Lees-McRae College has the highest elevation of any college or university in the United States east of the Mississippi River at above sea level. It is one of the few colleges...
and graduated from Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
. In his two seasons as a Demon Deacon
Wake Forest Demon Deacons football
The Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team represents Wake Forest University in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Wake Forest plays its home football games at BB&T Field....
, Gaines gained 1,258 yards on 336 carries
Carry (American football)
In American football, a carry is a statistical term equivalent to a single rushing play. The term is typically used in reference to "yards per carry," meaning yards per attempt rushing the ball. Any offensive player who performs a carry is known as a ballcarrier, regardless of position....
(3.7 avg.), and was team captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
and an All-ACC
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
selection his senior year.
Professional career
Gaines made his professional debut in the NFL in 1976 with the New York Jets. In his rookieRookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
season, Gaines ran for 724 yards and hauled in 41 receptions for the Jets. Having been overlooked in the draft due to injuries, Gaines signed with the Jets as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
and became the first rookie ever selected as Jets' MVP. In the 1976 season
1976 New York Jets season
The 1976 New York Jets season was the 17th season for the team and the seventh in the National Football League. It began with the team trying to improve upon its 3–11 record from 1975 under new head coach Lou Holtz...
, he led all NFL rookies with 724 yards rushing despite not starting
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
until the seventh game, set a franchise record with four 100-yard rushing games in a single season, and was selected AFC
American Football Conference
The American Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the National Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL....
Offensive Rookie of the Year by NFL Players Association.
After being sidelined due to injuries in 1978, Gaines returned in 1979 as a dominant force for the Jets once again. In the 1979 season
1979 New York Jets season
The 1979 New York Jets season was the 20th season for the team and the 10th in the National Football League. It began with the team trying to improve upon its 8–8 record from 1978 under head coach Walt Michaels. The Jets finished the season with a record of 8–8.-Schedule:- Standings :-Week 1: vs...
, he became the first Jet ever to lead the team in rushing and receiving twice, finishing the season fourth among AFC rushing leaders, tied for first in the AFC in yards per carry, and fumble
Fumble
A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
d only once in 186 carries. The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
named him the best running back in the AFC East and the most individual offensive improvement in the division in 1979.
On September 21, 1980, Gaines broke a Jets franchise record with 17 catches in a singe game against the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
, a franchise record that still stands. Gaines is currently 3rd in the NFL record books for receptions per game (and first among running backs). He was first undrafted running back to reach 500 yards rushing as a rookie, and is now one of only six in NFL history to do so.
He "wore many hats" for the Jets: although technically a running back, he was also a prolific receiver, was an intimidating blocker
Blocking (American football)
In American football, blocking is a legal move occurring when one player obstructs another player's path with his body. The purpose of blocking is to prevent defensive players tackling the ball carrier, or to protect the quarterback while attempting to pass or hand-off the ball...
in short yardage situations, and played special teams.