getty Former San Francisco 49ers tight end, No. 85 Greg Clark, passed away on Friday.
Former San Francisco 49ers tight end Greg Clark passed away on Friday at the age of 49.
Clark’s family released a statement that said he had suffered from symptoms of CTE:
It is with great sadness we announce the unexpected passing of Greg Clark, 49, cherished husband, father, son, brother and friend to so many. Greg was a dedicated family man who was successful at everything he did, from his academic and athletic achievements as a Stanford scholar athlete to his role as a tight end for the San Francisco 49ers, to the creation of a successful real estate platform throughout the Bay Area. Most importantly, he was a cherished and dedicated husband to his wife of 23 years. His recent suffering from [chronic traumatic encephalopathy] symptoms cannot extinguish the breadth and depth of his impact on us and others and we are forever grateful for the time we have had with him. It is our hope that through further research we can gain more knowledge surrounding CTE.
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Clark Was a Former Third-Round Pick
The Niners selected the former Stanford standout with a third-round pick in the 1997 draft.
He spent his entire four-year career in the Bay Area where he recorded 92 receptions for 909 yards and four touchdowns in 55 games.
Clark was used as a blocking tight end and played a key role in helping the club finish sixth or higher in the NFL in scoring three of the four seasons he played.
His best performance was against the defending NFC champs Green Bay Packers in the 1998 NFC Wild Card game where he caught two touchdown passes in the Niners 30-27 victory.
He was also known for playing through the pain he endured, notably a 1999 game against the Minnesota Vikings where he had a punctured lung and five cracked ribs.
In 2001, Clark was sidelined the entire season with a hamstring injury and was waived the next season.
Remembering Greg Clark
Several teammates, friends, colleagues, and fans took the time to remember the 49ers great.
NBC Sports Bay Area reporter Matt Maiocco tweeted, “Greg Clark … was a great guy to work with in my early years covering the 49ers. I’d run into him from time to time in the East Bay, and he was always friendly, funny and kind. Thinking of his family and all whose lives he touched.”
Former 49ers QB Steve Young also expressed his condolences via the East Bay Times
“He was a phenomenal human being, with a burgeoning family, and I just feel terrible that the suffering he must have felt. Greg was a great player. He was tough. A great teammate and a great 49er. And he’s gone way too early. It’s just devastating.”
Clark’s former NFL agent, Steve Baker, added to Young’s kind words.
“Greg was an incredible person who touched everyone I’ve ever seen him meet,” he said. “He literally filled any room he was ever in with both warmth and integrity.”
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