Bruce Clark (American football)

Bruce M. Clark (March 31, 1957) is a former American college and professional football player who was a defensive end in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and National Football League (NFL) for ten seasons during the 1980s. Clark played college football at Penn State University, where he was an All-American. He was the fourth pick overall in the 1980 NFL Draft, but chose to play for the CFL's Toronto Argonauts before joining the NFL's New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs.

Early years
Clark was born in New Castle, Pennsylvania.

College career
Clark attended Penn State University, where he played for coach Joe Paterno's Penn State Nittany Lions football team from 1976 to 1979. As a junior in 1978, Clark became the first junior to win the Lombardi Award as the best college defensive lineman. He was recognized a consensus first-team All-American as a senior in 1979.

Professional career
The Green Bay Packers chose Clark in the first round (fourth pick overall) of the 1980 NFL Draft, but refused to play for them. Clark then chose to play for the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL instead to avoid playing for Green Bay. After two years in Canada, he played for the NFL's New Orleans Saints for seven seasons from 1982 to 1988, and joined the Kansas City Chiefs for one final NFL season in 1989.

He later played a single season for the World League of American Football's Barcelona Dragons. Clark was drafted in the first round of the supplemental draft by the Barcelona Dragons in 1991. His experience and leadership were key to the Dragons successful first season. Clark started all ten games and was co-leader in sacks with seven that season.