Curtis McClinton
Encyclopedia
Curtis McClinton is a former collegiate and professional American football
player.
McClinton attended Wichita High School North in Wichita, Kansas before attending the University of Kansas
. A three-time All-Big Eight
selection as a Jayhawk, McClinton led the team in rushing in 1959 and rushed for 1,377 yards during his college career. Though he was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the 10th round of the 1960 NFL draft
, McClinton returned to Kansas for his senior season, helping them to a record of 7-3-1 and a berth in the 1961 Bluebonnet Bowl
. Kansas won the game over Rice University
by a score of 33-7, with McClinton scoring KU's third touchdown of the game. He was selected to the Sporting News and Pro Scouts All-American teams in 1961 and signed with the Dallas Texans after the season ended, having been drafted by them in the 14th round of the 1961 American Football League draft. In 1969, McClinton was selected to KU's All-Time Team in football. In 2001, he was inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame
, and in 2004 he was inducted into KU's Ring of Honor, with his name now permanently displayed at KU's Memorial Stadium.
While at Kansas, McClinton was also a member of Kappa Alpha Psi
fraternity, and a standout on the track team, winning the Big Eight championship in hurdles all three years he competed. He graduated from KU in 1962, and later received a master's degree from Central Michigan University
and a doctorate from Miles College
.
McClinton went on to become one of the early stars of the American Football League
, with the Dallas Texans
, and with their successors, the Kansas City Chiefs
, and is the sixth-leading rusher in franchise history. He had 762 rushing attempts for 3,124 yards and 18 touchdowns. He also caught 154 passes for 1,945 yards and 14 touchdowns. He played in three AFL All-Star games
, following the 1962, 1966 and 1967 seasons. He was named the Outstanding player of the 1962 affair.
He was a member all three of the franchise's AFL title clubs and both Kansas City Chiefs
Super Bowl
teams, including the winners of the fourth and final AFL-NFL World Championship Game
in January, 1970. McClinton was named American Football League Rookie of the Year
in 1962, when he rushed for 604 yards and caught 29 passes for 333 yards. He was the first AFL Player to score a touchdown in a Super Bowl, catching a 7-yard pass in the second quarter of Super Bowl I
. He was a backup tight end on the Super Bowl IV
championship squad. He wore number 32 for the Chiefs, and is a member of the Chiefs' Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame
in 2007.
After his football career, McClinton became a registered banker and graduated from Harvard University
's Kennedy School of Government. He served as Deputy Mayor for Economic Development in Washington, D.C.
, and now owns McClinton Development Company, a Kansas City-based construction contractor. He is married to Devonne McClinton, M.D., and has two daughters and two grandchildren.
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...
player.
McClinton attended Wichita High School North in Wichita, Kansas before attending the University of Kansas
Kansas Jayhawks
The sports teams at the University of Kansas are known as the Jayhawks. They are one of three schools in the state of Kansas that participate in NCAA Division I. The Jayhawks are also a member of the Big 12 Conference...
. A three-time All-Big Eight
Big Eight Conference
The Big Eight Conference, a former NCAA-affiliated Division I-A college athletic association that sponsored football, was formed in January 1907 as the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association by its charter member schools: the University of Kansas, University of Missouri, University...
selection as a Jayhawk, McClinton led the team in rushing in 1959 and rushed for 1,377 yards during his college career. Though he was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the 10th round of the 1960 NFL draft
NFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
, McClinton returned to Kansas for his senior season, helping them to a record of 7-3-1 and a berth in the 1961 Bluebonnet Bowl
Bluebonnet Bowl
The Bluebonnet Bowl was an annual college football bowl game played in Houston, Texas. A civic group was appointed by the Houston Chamber of Commerce Athletics Committee in 1959 to organize the bowl game. It was held at Rice Stadium from 1959 through 1967, and again in 1985 and 1986. The game was...
. Kansas won the game over Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
by a score of 33-7, with McClinton scoring KU's third touchdown of the game. He was selected to the Sporting News and Pro Scouts All-American teams in 1961 and signed with the Dallas Texans after the season ended, having been drafted by them in the 14th round of the 1961 American Football League draft. In 1969, McClinton was selected to KU's All-Time Team in football. In 2001, he was inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame
Kansas Sports Hall of Fame
The Kansas Sports Hall of Fame is a museum located in Wichita, Kansas, dedicated to preserving the history of sports in the state of Kansas. The museum provides exhibits, archives, facilities, services, and activities to honor those individuals and teams whose achievements in sports brought...
, and in 2004 he was inducted into KU's Ring of Honor, with his name now permanently displayed at KU's Memorial Stadium.
While at Kansas, McClinton was also a member of Kappa Alpha Psi
Kappa Alpha Psi
Kappa Alpha Psi is a collegiate Greek-letter fraternity with a predominantly African American membership. Since the fraternity's founding on January 5, 1911 at Indiana University Bloomington, the fraternity has never limited membership based on color, creed or national origin...
fraternity, and a standout on the track team, winning the Big Eight championship in hurdles all three years he competed. He graduated from KU in 1962, and later received a master's degree from Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University is a public research university located in Mount Pleasant in the U.S. state of Michigan...
and a doctorate from Miles College
Miles College
Miles College is a historically black college founded in 1898. It is located in Fairfield, Alabama, which is six miles west of Birmingham, Alabama. It is a private liberal arts institution of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church...
.
McClinton went on to become one of the early stars of the American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
, with the Dallas Texans
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...
, and with their successors, 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...
, and is the sixth-leading rusher in franchise history. He had 762 rushing attempts for 3,124 yards and 18 touchdowns. He also caught 154 passes for 1,945 yards and 14 touchdowns. He played in three AFL All-Star games
American Football League All-Star games
-All-League Teams:The Sporting News published American Football League All-League Teams for each season played by the American Football League, 1960 through 1969...
, following the 1962, 1966 and 1967 seasons. He was named the Outstanding player of the 1962 affair.
He was a member all three of the franchise's AFL title clubs and both 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...
Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
teams, including the winners of the fourth and final AFL-NFL World Championship Game
Professional American football championship games
Below is a list of professional football championship games in the United States, involving:* the informal Pittsburgh circuit of professional football teams ;...
in January, 1970. McClinton was named American Football League Rookie of the Year
American Football League Rookies of the Year
In each year of its ten-year existence , numerous sports-news services named their choice for the American Football League's best first-year player...
in 1962, when he rushed for 604 yards and caught 29 passes for 333 yards. He was the first AFL Player to score a touchdown in a Super Bowl, catching a 7-yard pass in the second quarter of Super Bowl I
Super Bowl I
The First AFL-NFL World Championship Game in professional American football, later known as Super Bowl I and referred to in some contemporary reports as the Supergame, was played on January 15, 1967 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California.The National Football League ...
. He was a backup tight end on the Super Bowl IV
Super Bowl IV
Super Bowl IV was the fourth AFL-NFL World Championship Game in professional American football, and the second one to officially bear the name "Super Bowl"...
championship squad. He wore number 32 for the Chiefs, and is a member of the Chiefs' Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame
Missouri Sports Hall of Fame
The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in Springfield, Missouri, USA, showcases sports memorabilia of Missouri athletes and interactive displays.-Inductees:-External links:*...
in 2007.
After his football career, McClinton became a registered banker and graduated from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
's Kennedy School of Government. He served as Deputy Mayor for Economic Development in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and now owns McClinton Development Company, a Kansas City-based construction contractor. He is married to Devonne McClinton, M.D., and has two daughters and two grandchildren.