Who knew a third-round pick out of TCU in the 1984 NFL draft would eventually become the all-time leading tackler for one of the league’s most historic franchises?
Clifton became a cornerstone for the Jets defense for more than a decade, spending his entire 13-year pro career in the Gang Green and racking up 1,486 tackles. That’s 462 more stops than Mo Lewis, who is No. 2 on the Jets’ all-time tackle list.
His 15 fumble recoveries rank second among all defenders in Jets history, trailing only James Hasty (18), while his 13 forced fumbles are tied with Shaun Ellis for fourth-most in franchise history.