Kyle Clifton

Kyle Clifton

No. 59
Position:	Linebacker
Personal information
Born:	(1962-08-23) August 23, 1962 (age 62) Olney, Texas, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:	236 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High school:	Bridgeport (Bridgeport, Texas)
College:	TCU
NFL draft:	1984 / round: 3 / pick: 64
Career history
New York Jets (1984–1996)
Career highlights and awards
3× NFL combined tackles leader (1985, 1986, 1988)
Career NFL statistics
Tackles: 1,484 Sacks: 5.5 Interceptions: 12 Forced fumbles: 13 Stats at Pro Football Reference

Ronald Kyle Clifton (born August 23, 1962) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for 13 seasons with the for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football for the TCU Horned Frogs, he was selected by the Jets in the third round of the 1984 NFL draft with the 64th overall pick.[1][2]

He led the NFL in solo tackles with 160 in 1985, 174 in 1986 and 162 in 1988. Additionally, he was in the top 10 of NFL solo tacklers in 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, and 1991. He announced his retirement on February 14, 1997.[3] At the time of his retirement, he was the second-leading tackler in NFL history and remains the Jets' all-time leading tackler. Clifton made 1,484 tackles over the course of his professional career ranking him 10th overall in combined tackles since 1987.[4] Clifton attended high school in Bridgeport, Texas.

NFL career statistics

Regular season

Year	Team	Games		Tackles				Interceptions			Fumbles
		GP	GS	Cmb	Solo	Ast	Sck	Int	Yds	TD	FF	FR
1984	NYJ	16	9	113	–	–	0.0	1	0	0	0	1
1985	NYJ	16	16	160	–	–	0.0	3	10	0	2	2
1986	NYJ	16	16	174	–	–	0.0	2	8	0	1	1
1987	NYJ	12	8	51	–	–	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
1988	NYJ	16	15	162	–	–	0.0	0	0	0	0	2
1989	NYJ	16	16	162	–	–	2.0	0	0	0	2	1
1990	NYJ	16	16	199	–	–	0.5	3	49	0	1	1
1991	NYJ	16	16	146	–	–	1.0	1	3	0	2	0
1992	NYJ	16	16	138	–	–	1.0	1	1	0	3	4
1993	NYJ	16	16	143	–	–	1.0	1	3	0	2	2
1994	NYJ	16	5	32	19	13	0.0	0	0	0	0	1
1995	NYJ	16	0	4	1	3	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
1996	NYJ	16	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
Career		204	149	1,484	20	16	5.5	12	74	0	13	15

References

1. Eskenazi, Gerald (July 30, 1996). "In His 13th Season, Clifton Knows the Angles". The New York Times. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
2. "1984 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
3. Mallozzi, Vincent M. (February 15, 1997). "Clifton, a Career Jet, Retires". The New York Times. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
4. "NFL Tackles Combined Career Leaders (since 1987)". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 6, 2020.