He spent his entire 14-year NFL career with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, winning three Super Bowl rings in Super Bowl XI, Super Bowl XV and Super Bowl XVIII. liff Branch died unexpectedly Saturday night, leaving the Raiders' organization shocked and in mourning. [19] In addition, he led the NFL in receiving yards once (1974) and receiving touchdowns twice (1974, 1976). Branch, though, may have had his fingernails clipped once or twice. Position: Wide Receiver. Tony Gonzales 9 / 17 Art Thoms, John Madden and Vance Mueller. His original coach John Madden and the late Al Davis have both been enshrined. He’s holding strong based on advice John Madden, his first NFL head coach, gave him during the long wait. Madden's .759 winning percentage is the second-best mark in NFL history. [8][13] In 20 playoff contests, he compiled 73 receptions for 1,289 yards, an average of 17.7 yards per catch, and five touchdowns. Once Tom Flores and Cliff Branch are voted in, it will close this chapter on Oakland /L.A. “It’s going to happen,” Branch said on the Raiders Insider Podcast. Branch placed 5th in the final with 10.1, and he said "My goal has always been to win the NCAA 100 meter championship. The Raiders defeated the Eagles 27-10. Branch played on three Super Bowl championship teams and had career totals of 501 catches for 8,685 yards and 67 touchdowns. That year, the Raiders won their first championship, and Branch caught nine combined passes in three games for under 50 yards each, but they still prevailed in the Super Bowl regardless. Those guys most always get inducted. **In 2016 the words from this article were used to induct Cliff into the Gridiron Greats Hall of Fame. The 40th overall pick in the 2019 draft, didn't get his first start until midway through his rookie season. Police said an initial investigation found no foul play and Branch … [19], Branch played for the Los Angeles Cobras of the Arena Football League in 1988, their only season of existence. Raiders football. Put him in. Hopefully it will be the first on his way to Canton. Madden is awful successful, and hard to say not top-5. Use our coupons to get fantastic discounts when you purchase just about anything online. “I was really close this year in the senior committee. It was a three-way tie, but the committee chose those guys over me. - Active Discount Codes lists the most up to date coupon codes and promo codes to redeem at US stores. In the case of John Madden, it took 25 years after he burst through wallpaper, arms waving fanatically, while hawking Miller Lite. Raiders linebacker Monte Johnson (58) and wide receiver Cliff Branch (21) celebrate on the sideline during Super Bowl XI against the Minnesota Vikings at the Rose Bowl, Sunday, January 9, 1977. In 1970, their first year in the NFL, the Dolphins had hired youthful former Colts coach Don Shula, who helped the team improve immediately from a 3-10-1 record in 1969 to a 10-4 record and a playoff appearance in 1970, where they lost to the Raiders in the Divisional round. George Rose/Getty Images. [21], Branch died on August 3, 2019, two days after his 71st birthday. Tony Gonzales 8 / 17 Raiderettes Alyssa and Cassie with John Madden. A pretty clear bright spot, however, is second-year cornerback Trayvon Mullen. Minus Swann (whose numbers were considerably lower), Branch had comparable statistics to each of those players as each have over 500 receptions and 8,000 yards. [20], He was a nominee to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and was a semifinalist in 2004 and 2010. ... Is Cliff Branch next in … Played in 205 games, counting playoffs. He received a ton of votes. SB XI Raiders destroyed the Vikings PSA 8! [13], Professional Football Researchers Association, "Cliff Branch, Raiders' Elusive All-Pro Receiver, Dies at 71", "1972 NCAA Track and Field Championships", "Cliff BRANCH profile - all-athletics.com", https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197310140sdg.htm, https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197412290rai.htm, "Former Raiders great Cliff Branch dies at 71", "Captains Dalby, Jensen Dropped by the Raiders", https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198310020was.htm, https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198401010rai.htm, "Cliff Branch, receiver from Oakland Raiders glory years, dies at 71", "Career Statistics at Pro-Football-Reference.com", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fr7I2qak9fI, "Former Raiders receiver Cliff Branch dies at 71", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cliff_Branch&oldid=1006608168, Colorado Buffaloes men's track and field athletes, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, NFL player missing current team parameter, Infobox NFL biography articles missing alt text, Infobox NFL biography articles with old NFL.com URL, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 13 February 2021, at 20:27. According to … I’m looking at 2019 like it could me my year.”. He’s holding strong based on advice John Madden, his first NFL head coach, gave him during the long wait. Recently the 1976 Raiders were voted as … [2], In track, Branch set an NCAA championship meet record in the 100 meters with a time of 10.0 seconds at the 1972 NCAA championships semifinal in Eugene, Oregon. [5] He graduated from Colorado in 1972.[1]. [10] In 1986, he again landed on the reserve list after suffering a pulled hamstring during the preseason.[10]. Branch remains confident, even after being overlooked so many times as a modern-era candidate. I’m real close. He caught at least 27 passes in seven of those years for at least 400 yards, with the 1980 season (44 catches, 858 yards, 7 touchdowns) being his last hit year. In the postseason, he had his best game for the AFC Championship, where he caught nine passes for 186 yards and a touchdown, but the Raiders lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-13. [11], He had his last gasp of playoff play with the 1983 matchup against Pittsburgh, where he caught six passes for 76 yards in the 38-10 win (Branch did not make any catches in his true last playoff game, a 13-7 loss to Seattle on December 22). [16][17][18] Among his individual accolades were being selected to four consecutive Pro Bowl teams (1974, 1975, 1976, and 1977), and three times being selected as a first-team All-Pro (1974, 1975, 1976). There hasn't been much to sing about with regard to the Raiders defense this season. The Oakland Raiders relocation to Las Vegas saw the Oakland Raiders, an American football club in the National Football League (NFL), move from their longtime home of Oakland, California, to the Las Vegas, Nevada metropolitan area.The renamed Las Vegas Raiders play home games at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, which was substantially completed on July 31, 2020. Please see photos. It was his only catch in the 37-35 loss, but he remains the only Raider to catch a 99-yard pass. [6] His third season proved his moment. That body nominated Houston Oilers linebacker Robert Brazile and Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Jerry Kramer instead. Lynn Swann: Pos: WR, Career: 116 G, 53 TD, 336 Rec, 16.3 Y/R (91st), All-Pro(1st), 3xProBowl, Steelers 1974-1982, born TN 1952 This is my last track meet, since I expect to sign a pro contract with the Oakland Raiders within the next two weeks. The Raiders have lost a legend. He won three NFL championships with the Raiders in Super Bowl XI, XV and XVIII. Branch had a slow start to his career, as his 1972 season consisted of one start in 14 games with three combined catches for 41 yards. Cliff Branch and John Madden. In 2011, the Professional Football Researchers Association named Branch to the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2011. … Madden's Advice to Cliff Branch on HOF: ‘stay Patient and Stay Alive' By Scott Bair • Published October 5, 2017 • Updated on October 5, 2017 at 8:15 am Wide receiver Cliff Branch played 14 years in the NFL. [12] Branch finished his NFL career with 501 receptions for 8,685 yards and 67 touchdowns. He went to the Pro Bowl while also being named First Team All-Pro, owing to him leading the league in yards, touchdowns, and yards per game as a receiver. Branch remains confident, even after being overlooked so many times as a modern-era candidate. [14] He held the NFL career playoff records for receptions and receiving yards,[15] which stood until they were broken by Jerry Rice in 1993 and 1994, respectively, while with the San Francisco 49ers. Cliff Branch believes he should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, though it’s up to the senior committee now. Branch attended college at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he was a sprinter on the track team and a receiver on the football team. Cliff Branch-- WR, 1972-1985 The NFL was a different place in the 1970s. Davis hired John Madden, formed a four-Hall of Famer O-line at one point, acquired three legendary wideouts (Fred Biletnikoff, Cliff Branch, Tim Brown), … In 1971, he had 13 catches for 330 yards and 3 touchdowns along with 9 carries for 235 yards and 4 touchdowns. But I’m going to stay alive for that deserving honor to come my way.”. One of Stabler’s top targets in his 10-year run in Oakland was Cliff Branch. Branch was selected in the fourth round of the 1972 NFL Draft with the 98th overall pick by the Oakland Raiders. Cliff Branch : Pos: WR, Career: 183 G, 67 TD, 501 Rec, 17.3 Y/R (44th), 3xAll-Pro(1st), 4xProBowl, Raiders 1972-1985, 1x Yds Leader, born TX 1948, died 2019 Clifford Branch Jr. (August 1, 1948 – August 3, 2019) was an American professional football player who was a wide receiver with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders during his entire 14-year National Football League (NFL) career. 4X pro-bowler and 3X super bowl champion, 1979 Topps PSA 8 Cliff Branch. The Miami Dolphins had entered the American Football League as an expansion franchise and posted four consecutive losing seasons in their first four years of existence. He was selected by the Raiders in the fourth round of the 1972 NFL Draft after playing college football for the Colorado Buffaloes. Cliff Branch. Branch would have a four year peak that resulted in Pro Bowl (four) and All-Pro selections (three), with the 1976 season resulting in a career high 1,111 yards to go with 12 touchdowns on 46 catches. He said to stay patient and stay alive,” said Branch, who, it should be noted, is in terrific health. Former wide receiver Cliff Branch, who spent 14 seasons with the team, passed away on Saturday at the age of 71. First Hispanic QB in NFL History and first minority Head Coach in NFL History. According to police his death was due to natural causes, based on an initial investigative report. Embed from Getty Images The NFL Hall of Fame continues to exclude Raiders’ great Cliff Branch. [8] In his final season of play with the Raiders in 1985,[9] his season ended prematurely when he was placed on the injured reserve list. PSA certified. 1973 was slightly better, as he caught 19 catches for 290 yards in total for three touchdowns. [13], He was cited by the NFL Network as #5 on players not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, noted for his speed at the position of wide receive while being overshadowed by receivers of his time like Pittsburgh rivals Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, and teammate Fred Biletnikoff. [7] In his 22 games as a receiver in the postseason, it was the first of three 100-yard games and it was the most catches he had in said game. If Cliff Branch got half the recognition he deserves, he'd be more legendary than Stabler. Branch won a Super Bowl with legendary coach John Madden and the late owner of the Raiders, Al Davis. In the October 14 game against the San Diego Chargers, he caught his first touchdown pass, doing so on a pass from Ken Stabler in the 27-17 win. But he had a totally loaded team, knew how to coach them, and made a successful post-coaching career as a … ** His case is strong, one you can read about here. On October 2, 1983, Branch caught the longest pass by a Raider, as he caught a 99-yard pass from Jim Plunkett in the second quarter versus the Washington Redskins. Clifford Branch Jr. (August 1, 1948 – August 3, 2019) was an American professional football player who was a wide receiver with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders during his entire 14-year National Football League (NFL) career. He was a three-time All-Pro and played in four Pro Bowls. [1] In football with the Buffaloes in 1970, he caught 23 passes for 355 yards, had 22 carries for 119 yards and one touchdown. After having caught 212 passes for 3,967 yards and 43 touchdowns in his first six years, Branch played the remaining eight seasons with steady but eventual decline. Cliff Branch died unexpectedly Saturday night, leaving the Raiders' organization shocked and in mourning. Branch never had one surgery. Cliff Branch, a former world-class sprinter who was one of the N.F.L.’s top deep threats, winning three Super Bowls in 14 seasons with the Raiders, was found dead on Saturday in a … Hall of Fame coach PSA 7 John Madden. Get all 3. He won two Super Bowls and had more wins than HOF John Madden and Jimmy Johnson. Coming so close encouraged Branch, who was flattered by a lavish Raiders campaign (#CliffToCanton) promoting him with stats and testimonials from contemporaries and others already in the Hall of Fame. Just 33 years old when he took over as the Raiders' head coach in 1969, Madden posted a staggering 103-32-7 … He was 71 years old. Branch fell just short of a long-sought nomination, but wasn’t frustrated one bit. “He said, ‘When it does come, and they call your name for the Hall of Fame, make sure you’re there to reap all the benefits.’ I told him, ‘I am not dying until I get in the Hall of Fame.’ Once I get the call, get that gold jacket and that ring, I could die the next day. Bob Hayes was one of the first "speedsters" brought into NFL offenses, … "[3][4] He also posted a personal best of 20.5 seconds in the 200 meters. [13][22] His body was found in a hotel room in Bullhead City, Arizona. The Raiders agree, and have pushed hard to get their legendary receiver a gold jacket. Cliff Branch caught 501 passes for 8,685 yards and 67 TDs in a career that included three Super Bowl titles. Oakland Raiders receiver Cliff Branch (21) against the Philadelphia Eagles during Super Bowl XV. According to the Bullhead City (Arizona) Police Department, Branch was found dead in a hotel room Saturday afternoon. Will be shipped Priority Mail in secure … John Madden and Cliff Branch signed Super Bowl XI Ticket, PSA Authentic, Mint Oakland Raiders. “Coach Madden told me that it’s going to happen. Now, with Al’s son, Mark, in charge, Branch … He was 71 years old. Cliff Branch, one of the most underrated wide receivers of his era who was a key component on three Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders Super Bowl-winning teams, died Saturday two days after his 71st birthday..
Top Restructuring Firms 2019,
16'' Trd Beadlock Wheels,
Breath Of The Dying Bl3 Buff,
Block Site Extension,
Cat Kills Eagle,
Anno 1800 Commuter Pier Requirements,
Mac Tech 1000 Triple Bank,
Blown Away Deborah Reddit,