Dallas Clark
The sure-handed tight end who became Peyton Manning's most trusted red-zone target, revolutionizing the position's role in a historic offense.
Born 1979 (age 47)·American football player·Birthday: June 12·Generation X
Biography
Dallas Clark didn't just play tight end; he redefined what the position could look like in the Indianapolis Colts' high-octane attack. Drafted in the first round out of Iowa, where he won the John Mackey Award, Clark possessed the hands of a wide receiver and the savvy to find soft spots in coverage. Paired with quarterback Peyton Manning, he became the ultimate security blanket and a nightmare matchup in the middle of the field. His 2009 season was a masterpiece, setting a then-record for tight ends with 100 receptions. Clark's versatility—lining up in the slot, out wide, or in-line—forced defenses to adjust and was instrumental in the Colts' Super Bowl XLI victory. He was the prototype for the modern, athletic pass-catching tight end that now dominates the NFL.
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.
Dallas was born in 1979, 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 Dallas Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Dallas's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won Super Bowl XLI as a key member of the Indianapolis Colts' offense.
- Set a then-NFL record for tight ends with 100 receptions in the 2009 season.
- Awarded the John Mackey Award in 2002 as the nation's top collegiate tight end at the University of Iowa.
- Selected to the Pro Bowl and named a First-Team All-Pro in 2009.
Did You Know?
He played linebacker and running back in addition to tight end during his freshman year at the University of Iowa.
Clark was a walk-on for the Iowa Hawkeyes football team before earning a scholarship.
He caught a touchdown pass from Peyton Manning in the Colts' Super Bowl XLI victory over the Chicago Bears.
“I just ran my route and Peyton put the ball where only I could get it.”
