Clark Haggans
A relentless outside linebacker whose punishing pass rush helped anchor the Pittsburgh Steelers' defense during their Super Bowl XL championship run.
1977–2023 (age 46)·American football player·Birthday: January 10·Generation X
Biography
Clark Haggans carved out a 13-year NFL career defined by toughness and adaptability. Emerging from Colorado State, where he was a formidable defensive end, he was a fifth-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2000. Haggans patiently developed behind established stars before seizing a starting role, his long hair and aggressive style becoming a fixture on a fearsome Steelers defense. His peak coincided with the team's 2005 season, where his consistent pressure off the edge was instrumental in their march to a Super Bowl title. After a decade in Pittsburgh, he proved his durability with productive stints in Arizona and San Francisco, transitioning into a veteran mentor role. His sudden passing in 2023 was mourned by teammates who remembered a fierce competitor and loyal friend.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Clark was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Clark Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Clark's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2023Died at 46
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
Key Achievements
- Won Super Bowl XL as a starting outside linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- Recorded a career-high 9.0 sacks for the Steelers during the 2005 championship season.
- Played in 158 regular season NFL games across 13 seasons, demonstrating remarkable longevity.
- Started 96 games in his career for the Steelers, Cardinals, and 49ers.
Did You Know?
He was teammates with fellow linebacker Joey Porter at Colorado State and again with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Haggans wore number 53 for the majority of his NFL career.
He was known for his distinctive long hair that flowed from the back of his helmet during games.
“I was always ready when my number was called, that's the job.”
