Ryan Terry Clark is a former American football safety who played in the National Football League (NFL). After attending Louisiana State University (LSU), he was signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2002. Over the course of his NFL career, Clark played for the New York Giants, the Washington Redskins, and the Pittsburgh Steelers. During his tenure with the Steelers, he was part of the team that won Super Bowl XLIII, and he earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2011.
Clark has sickle cell trait, making it dangerous for him to play at high altitudes such as in Denver, Colorado—a factor that significantly impacted parts of his NFL career.
Ryan Clark was born on October 12, 1979, in Marrero, Louisiana, to Michael and Sheilia Clark. He has two siblings, Clemalita and Chaz Clark. He attended Archbishop Shaw High School in Marrero from 1993 to 1997.
Clark went on to play college football at LSU, where he was a dependable presence in the Tigers’ secondary, starting 36 consecutive games. In 2001, he finished third on the team with 88 tackles, including 36 solo stops, and recorded three interceptions. He was named to the All-SEC Second Team by the conference’s coaches in 2002. Earlier in his college career, Clark was honored as LSU's Special Teams Player of the Year in 1998, notably contributing five tackles and a 13-yard sack during the Sugar Bowl that season.
Clark was signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2002. Initially a special teams player for the first six games of the season, he was later waived and re-signed to the practice squad, where he spent the remainder of the year. In 2003, he emerged as a more prominent contributor, playing in all 16 games and starting four. That season, he totaled 23 tackles, including 17 solo tackles, one sack, two pass deflections, and five special teams stops.
Outside of his NFL responsibilities, Clark made a brief appearance in the film The Dark Knight Rises as a member of the fictional Gotham Rogues football team.
Clark joined the Washington Redskins in 2004 as a free agent. Stepping in for injured safeties Matt Bowen and Andre Lott, he started 11 of the 15 games in which he appeared. He led Redskins defensive backs with 91 total tackles and ranked fourth overall on the team. During the 2005 season, Clark appeared in 13 games, recorded 57 tackles, and notched three interceptions. Despite his contributions, Washington released him after the 2005 season, opting to replace him with Adam Archuleta at the safety position.
On March 15, 2006, Clark signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a replacement for departing safety Chris Hope. He played 13 games and started 12 in his first season, registering 72 tackles, one interception, and three fumble recoveries before a groin injury sidelined him for the final three games.
In 2007, a life-threatening incident occurred during a game against the Denver Broncos in Denver. Clark experienced severe abdominal pain due to complications from his sickle cell trait triggered by high altitude. This led to the removal of his spleen and gallbladder, causing a 30-pound weight loss. The Steelers subsequently chose to deactivate him for any future games in Denver for his safety, including contests in 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012.
Clark returned to full strength in time for the 2008 season and remained a key figure in the Steelers’ secondary. He played in Super Bowl XLV during the 2010 season, starting in the 31–25 loss to the Green Bay Packers and recording eight total tackles. His performance throughout his time in Pittsburgh solidified his reputation as a dependable and intelligent safety. Clark also paid tribute to his late former teammate Sean Taylor by wearing Taylor’s number 21 jersey during practice sessions.
