Blood in the water: An ode to Frank ‘the Shark’ Clark

The Kansas City Chiefs are reportedly parting ways with defensive end Frank Clark. The man who ranks third on the NFL’s all-time sacks list in NFL postseason history ends an illustrious four-year career with the Chiefs. Over that span, Clark has endeared himself to many fans, myself included.

Clark’s tenure in K.C. actually started thanks to the actions of another defensive end in Kansas City. It was just a few months after the Kansas City Chiefs had lost their first AFC Championship game to the New England Patriots. That loss was due, in part, to an infamous offsides penalty by another Chiefs defensive end, Dee Ford.

Ford faced an uncertain future with the Chiefs even before that fateful game. He played just well enough that year to gauge some real interest in an extension, but injuries and that offsides penalty pretty much ended any hope for his future with the Chiefs. One tag and trade with the San Francisco 49ers later, the Chiefs were looking for a new defensive end.

At the same time, the 49ers’ division rivals in Seattle were in a similar predicament with their own defensive end, Frank Clark. Rather than extending Clark, the Seahawks opted to also tag and trade him to the Chiefs. Thus the Frank Clark era in Kansas City began.

Many probably remember that Clark wasn’t the only franchise-altering move that Brett Veach and co. made that season. They also signed safety Tyrann Mathieu in what was largely seen as a defensive overhaul.

And it all worked. The Kansas City Chiefs not only made it back to the AFC Championship for a second straight year, but they went all the way, winning the Super Bowl against those same 49ers to whom they had sent Dee Ford.

Bust or Behemoth

In the four years since coming to Kansas City, Frank Clark has become something of a decisive figure in Chiefs Kingdom. At least in the regular season he never quite seemed to live up to his original $104 million contract. After posting two double-digit sack seasons with the Seahawks, he’s never eclipsed more than 8 with the Chiefs.

But it’s probably safe to say that Clark didn’t earn his nickname as “the Shark” because of his regular season production. Somehow, when it came to the postseason, Clark really turned it on and was an absolute monster every time he played.

Probably the most memorable play was when the Chiefs won the 2019-20 Super Bowl. It was Clark who closed out the AFC Championship by taking down Ryan Tannehill.

Even though the stats didn’t always show it, anyone who has watched the Chiefs’ playoff games over the past four seasons knows that they probably wouldn’t have the success they’ve had without Frank Clark. When the Shark smelled blood in the water, it was game over for the opposing offenses.

Not always a fan favorite

Besides his on-field performance or lack thereof, Clark also didn’t always put himself in the best position off the field either. Namely, he was arrested in 2021 for illegally having a gun in his car. Not a major crime, but a distraction nonetheless, and it ultimately led to a two-game suspension over a year later during this past season.

By the time the suspension happened though, it almost seemed unneeded. Unlike many players, Clark seemed to genuinely take the arrest seriously, accepted it humbly, and appeared to change his whole demeanor.

Maybe it was just me, but after Clark’s first two seasons with the Chiefs, I wasn’t a huge fan. While I was thankful for his help in bringing a ring to K.C., the on-field production plus the off-the-field issues had me willing to see him go.

But this past season really changed how I viewed Clark. Not only did he take a pay cut to stay with the Chiefs, but he also remained relatively quiet throughout the season. He even took the suspension “as a champ” some might say. And when it came playoff time, he once again left it all out on the field.

And it was after those games, especially against the Cincinnati Bengals that he was finally able to brag. And brag he did.

The Frank Clark I’ve come to love and appreciate didn’t go away after that game. En route to earning the third-most sacks in NFL playoff history, it was clear that each win meant so much to him.

How can you not get teary-eyed watching that?

Unlike his teammate, Mathieu, who came and went somewhat unceremoniously, I think I’m going to miss Clark more. He’s grown up a lot while with the Chiefs, been humbled, owned his mistakes, and ultimately won two championships.

Wherever he finds himself next, I hope the Shark stays hungry and gets a few more sacks—unless it’s against the Chiefs of course.