Former Bears, Patriots Linebacker Gail Clark Dies at 75

Gail Clark, a standout linebacker who became one of Ohio’s most respected high school coaches, died July 5. He was 75.

Clark starred at Michigan State before playing parts of two seasons with the NFL‘s Chicago Bears and New England Patriots, then finishing his playing career in the Canadian Football League.

Clark grew up in Bellefontaine, Ohio, where he established himself as one of the area’s greatest athletes. His success earned him a scholarship to Michigan State, where he became a fixture on the Spartans’ defense from 1970-72.

Clark finished his college career with 294 tackles, a total that still ranks among the all-time leaders in Michigan State history. His six forced fumbles are tied for sixth, and only 20 Spartans recovered more fumbles than Clark’s four.

Clark led the Spartans with 134 tackles as a senior in 1972 after recording 109 the previous season, establishing himself as one of the Big Ten’s most productive defenders. A dominant presence at both the middle and outside linebacker positions, Clark was chosen all-Big Ten and honorable mention All-America, and played in the East-West Shrine game.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Clark in the fourth round (102nd overall) of the 1973 NFL Draft. He couldn’t crack the Steelers’ depth chart at linebacker, however, and was claimed off waivers by the Bears before he could appear in a game. Clark appeared in 11 games as a rookie with Chicago in 1973, starting three. He was credited with 43 tackles (32 solo).

Clark appeared in eight games with the New England Patriots in 1974, seeing the majority of his action on special teams. The Pats released him just before the 1975 season kicked off.

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After playing his final NFL game at 26, Clark continued his professional career in the Canadian Football League with the Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Football remained the focus of Clark’s life after his playing days ended. He returned home and spent 40 years as an assistant coach at Bellefontaine High School, mentoring generations of athletes while becoming one of the community’s most recognizable sports figures.

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"There really aren't words meaningful enough to describe the man, and there certainly aren't words strong enough to describe his impact,” Bellefontaine head football coach Jason Brown told PeakofOhio.com. “We are all blessed and grateful for every step we took with him on his journey. Our love forever, Coach Clark."

Clark also worked with the school’s track and field program, and was widely credited for helping shape Bellefontaine athletics.

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This story was originally published July 6, 2026 at 1:10 PM.