Colts tight end Dallas Clark is inducted into Ring of Honor with all-star cast

INDIANAPOLIS — Call it naiveite or youth ignorance, but when former Colts tight end Dallas Clark was selected 24th overall by the Indianapolis Colts in 2003 all he wanted to do was contribute.

The wide receiver turned tight end from Iowa by way of Sioux Falls, S.D., didn’t know the difference between the Oakland Raiders or the Colts and he had no idea how an NFL organization operated.

Shortly after getting drafted, Clark was on the phone with Colts general manager Bill Polian. Clark wore No. 44 for the Hawkeyes, but at the time NFL pass catchers had to wear numbers in 80s. So, Clark suggested number 88 for his Colts number. But there was a problem. No. 88 was worn by eight-time Pro Bowler and future NFL Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison. Clark, settled for No. 87.

One week later, Clark found himself in the huddle with Harrison, Edgerrin James, Reggie Wayne, Tarik Glenn and Peyton Manning. These players along with head coach Tony Dungy were the pillars of the Colts dynasty. Dungy, Harrison and Manning would go on to Hall of Fame career. All of those greats would end up in the Colts Ring of Honor.

Sunday, the reliable pass catcher took his spot inside the Colts Ring of Honor alongside his Super Bowl winning teammates.

“I’m in the huddle with these guys, and it’s like, ‘What in the world?’” Clark said. “These are the dudes, right? And to be able to just kind of find my way. … I’m still learning the game and still learning the position. I have one of the best offensive line coaches ever (Howard Mudd). He was yelling at me constantly on how to be a better blocker. I had the best receivers in the league, and just watched them how to run routes.

“Then this guy from Tennessee (Manning) to throw you the balls. So, it was just like, ‘Okay, if I screw this up, I’m a complete moron.’”

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Clark was the safety blanket of the Colts high-powered offense. He seemingly always found a way to get open down the seam, along the sideline or in the back of the end zone. He did the dirty work as a blocker and was never afraid to go over the middle. Those qualities are endearing to teammates, and Clark’s former teammates showed their respect for him, traveling back to Indy to support him going into the Ring of Honor. In that way, the safety blanket become the connector, and now he’ll forever be immortalized as one of the best Colts to ever put on the uniform.

“Harrison comes up to me and he’s like, ‘I’m jealous,’” Clark said. “I’m like, ‘What do you mean?’ He said no other Ring of Honor (ceremony) has brought this many former players here. How’d you make that happen?

“That’s just special. Those guys have a lot of things going on their plates and schedule, they have kids and all that stuff. For them to be here truly, truly, made it extra special.”