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Sam Claphan
No. 77     
Tackle/Guard
Personal information
Date of birth: (1956-10-10)October 10, 1956
Place of birth: Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Date of death: November 26, 2001(2001-11-26) (aged 45)
Career information
College: University of Oklahoma
NFL Draft: 1979 / Round: 2 / Pick: 47
(By the Cleveland Browns)
Debuted in 1981 for the [[{{{debutteam}}}]]
Last played in 1987 for the [[{{{finalteam}}}]]
Career history
* San Diego Chargers (1980-1987)
Career highlights and awards
Games played     87
Games started     46
Fumble recoveries     1
Stats at NFL.com

Sam "Sammy" Jack Claphan (born October 10, 1956 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma) attended high school at Stilwell High School in Stilwell, Oklahoma. He played his way to All-American status in 1974.[1] He was recruited by Head Coach Barry Switzer to play at the University of Oklahoma. Claphan died of a heart attack on November 26, 2001.[2]

Career[]

Sam Claphan played on the 1974 and 1975 National Championship teams. He was the starting lineman for the Oklahoma Sooners from 1975-1978. At 6' 7" and 295 lbs, Claphan was the largest player on the team. He was drafted in the second round of the 1979 NFL Draft (47th overall pick) by the Cleveland Browns but failed to make the roster do to a preseason injury. He was picked up by the San Diego Chargers in 1980.

Claphan played longer in the NFL than any other University of Oklahoma lineman.[3] He was a starting offensive tackle for the San Diego Chargers, protecting the blind side of Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Fouts. He was with the Chargers from 1981-1987 until he retired. Claphan, a Cherokee, was inducted into the American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994.[4]

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