Clarence Childs (American football)

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Clarence Childs
No. 48, 23
Position: Defensive back, halfback
Personal information
Born: (1938-01-13) January 13, 1938 (age 87)
Lakeland, Florida, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:186 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school:Lakeland (FL) Rochelle
College: Florida A&M
AFL draft: 1961  / round: 20 / pick: 155
Career history
Stats at Pro Football Reference   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Clarence Childs (born January 13, 1938) is a former American football defensive back, halfback and kickoff returner. He played for the New York Giants from 1964 to 1967 and for the Chicago Bears in 1968. [1] [2] He was on two HBCU champion teams at Florida A&M University, where he starred at halfback.

Contents

Early life

Childs was born on January 13, 1938, in Lakeland, Florida. [1] He attended Rochelle High School in Lakeland, graduating in 1956. [3] [4] The school was segregated when Childs was a student. [5] [4] He played football and ran track. [4] As of 2025, Childs is on the Board of Directors of its alumni association. [6]

College football

Childs attended Florida A&M University (class of 1960) where he played football under College Football Hall of Fame coach Jake Gaither, [7] and was on the track and field team. He played halfback on offense. [8] Childs was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 1978. [9] [10]

His Florida A&M teams won the Orange Blossom Classic in 1959 and 1960, considered the HBCU college championship game. [11] Childs scored three touchdowns in the 1959 game, and was named the game's most valuable player. [12] The 1959 team was undefeated, 10–0. [10]

Despite a leg injury, he still led the team in scoring in 1960. [12] He averaged 7.3 yards per carry, with 11 touchdowns. [13] Childs was named captain of the All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference team in 1960. [14] The Pittsburgh Courier named him first team All American in 1960. [13] He also played in the All American Bowl. [13]

Professional football

Childs principally played as a kickoff returner and cornerback, at 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) and 186 lb (84 kg). [15] He was drafted in the 20th round of the 1961 American Football League draft by the Boston Patriots, but did not play for them. [16] Instead, Childs spent two years in military service with the U.S. Army. [17]

His first year in major professional football came in 1964 with the New York Giants. [1] He played sparingly at running back, with 102 yards on 40 rushing attempts for a meager 2.6 yards per carry average. [1] However, his principal role in 1964 was as a kickoff returner. Before his 1964 rookie season even began, Childs had a 106-yard kickoff return in an exhibition game against the Minnesota Vikings. [18] Two weeks later in another preseason game, he had a 99-yard kickoff return against Washington. [19]

During the 1964 regular season, Childs returned 34 kickoffs for 987 yards, including a 100-yard return for a touchdown against the Vikings in the next to last game of the season. [1] [20] His 29 yards per return average led the NFL, and his 100-yard return was the longest of the year. His 987 yards were second only to Mel Renfro (1,017 yards on 40 returns). [1] [21] He missed the final game of 1964 with a torn shoulder muscle, losing any opportunity to overtake Renfro. [22]

In 1965, he started one game at cornerback, and was no longer used at running back. Again, his principal role was as a kick returner, leading the Giants with 718 yards on 29 returns. [1] In 1966-67, Childs started 23 of the Giants 28 games at cornerback, with two interceptions in 1966. He continued to lead the team in kick returns with 34 for 855 yards in 1966, including a 90-yard touchdown return; and 29 for 603 yards in 1967. [1] [23] [24] 1967 was his last season with the Giants.

In 1968, the Chicago Bears signed Childs after their star running back and returner, Gale Sayers, [25] was injured. [26] Childs played in four games for the Chicago Bears, returning eight kicks for 291 yards, including an 88-yard return. [1] In a December 8, 1968 game against the Los Angeles Rams, Bears linebacker great Dick Butkus [27] caught a kickoff and then handed it to Childs who ran 88 yards to the Rams two yard line before being stopped. [28]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Clarence Childs Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Clarence Childs, DB". Nfl.com. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Rochelle (Lakeland, FL) Alumni Pro Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 Brown, Rick (June 5, 2014). "Rochelle High Coaches to Be Honored at Once in a Lifetime Legendary Breakfast in Lakeland". The Ledger. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  5. ↑ "School History – Washington park / Rochelle High School Alumni Association". www.wp-rochellealumni.com. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  6. ↑ "History – Washington park / Rochelle High School Alumni Association". www.wp-rochellealumni.com. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Jake Gaither (1975) - Hall of Fame". National Football Foundation. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  8. ↑ Woodall, Jerry (November 22, 1959). "A&M Scores Late For 21-14 Win". Tallahassee Democrat. p. 27. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Clarence "Poppa" Childs (1978) - Hall of Fame". Florida A&M. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  10. 1 2 Hunt, Donald (October 23, 2024). "HBCU's 10 Greatest Football Dynasties Celebrated During Magic City Classic Week in Birmingham". The Birmingham Times. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Orange Blossom Classic". Black College Sports History & Legends. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  12. 1 2 "Gaither Men at Full Strength". The Miami Herald. December 9, 1960. p. 75. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  13. 1 2 3 "Pittsburgh Courier All-America Team 1960". New Pittsburgh Courier. December 24, 1960. p. 36. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Nine Institutions Represented On SIAC Football Team". Alabama Tribune. December 23, 1960.
  15. ↑ "Clarence Childs Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  16. ↑ "1961 AFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Sports of The Times; Slight Revision in Plans". The New York Times. August 6, 1964. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  18. ↑ "VIKINGS TRIUMPH OVER GIANTS, 21‐7; Childs Runs 106 Yards for Losers' Only Score". The New York Times. August 9, 1964. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Giants' Offensive Falters In 27‐24 Loss to Redskins". The New York Times. August 23, 1964. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Greater Love Hath No Fan Than This: Pro Football in Icy December; NEW YORK DEFEAT IS 9TH OF SEASON; Weak Pass Defense Probed by Tarkenton—Childs in 100‐Yard Scoring Run". The New York Times. December 7, 1964. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  21. ↑ "1964 NFL Kick & Punt Returns". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  22. ↑ "Giants Lose Services Of Larson and Childs". The New York Times. December 7, 1964. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  23. ↑ "1966 New York Giants Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  24. ↑ "1967 New York Giants Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  25. ↑ "Gale Sayers | Pro Football Hall of Fame". pfhof. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  26. ↑ "This Week in the NFL, 1968, Rare Sports Films". raresportsfilms.com. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  27. ↑ "Dick Butkus | Pro Football Hall of Fame | Pro Football Hall of Fame". pfhof. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  28. ↑ Becker, Bill (December 8, 1968). "Bear Eliminate Rams, 17–16". New York Times.


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