Sports
Dutch Clark
1906–1978 · American football quarterback and coach
Star of the first Detroit Lions teams, who led them to the 1935 NFL championship; the Lions retired his No. 7 first of all their numbers.
- Born
Fowler, Colorado- Died
Cañon City, Colorado
aged 71- Birth name
- Earl Harry Clark
- Also known as
- The Flying Dutchman · The Old Master
- Detroit years
- 1934–1938, 1950–1953
- Field
- Sports
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Dutch Clark was already the NFL's best all-around back with the Portsmouth Spartans when the Ohio franchise moved to Detroit and became the Lions in 1934. A triple-threat tailback who ran, passed and kicked, he gave the new team instant credibility in a city that had seen several pro football clubs fail. In 1935 he led the Lions to a 7–3–2 record and a 26–7 win over the New York Giants in the NFL Championship Game at the University of Detroit's stadium, the franchise's first title and part of Detroit's celebrated "City of Champions" year. He served as player-coach in 1937 and 1938. After coaching in Cleveland, he returned to Detroit and was head football coach and athletic director at the University of Detroit from 1951 to 1953. He was a charter member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame.
Highlights
- Led the Lions to the 1935 NFL championship
- Player-coach of the Lions in 1937 and 1938
- First Lions player to have his number (7) retired
- Charter member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, 1963
- University of Detroit head coach and athletic director 1951–1953
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 1
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Worked here · 1935, 1950–1953
University of Detroit (now University of Detroit Mercy), McNichols Campus
The Lions won the 1935 NFL title at the university's stadium; Clark later coached the school's football team and ran its athletic department.