WR
Cliff Branch
Class of 2022
Pro Bowls
4
Receiving Touchdowns
67
Receiving Yards
8,685
Receptions
501
Seasons
14
"Playing on a team is more gratifying than an individual sport because it's about a group of guys trying to achieve the same goal. You have to be unselfish."
Enshrinement Speech
Career Highlights
Cliff Branch, a 5’11”, 170-pound wide receiver out of Colorado, was selected in the fourth round of the 1972 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders, where he spent his entire 14 season career. Not only was Branch a standout on the football team at Colorado, but he was also a world-class sprinter who set an NCAA championship meet record with a 10-second 100-meter dash in 1972.
Known for his speed and agility, Branch became a dominating receiver during the 1970s. His breakout year came in 1974, when he led the League with 1,092 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. His next season surpassing 1,000 receiving yards came in 1976 (1,111) – for that era and the style of play, compiling two seasons with more than 1,000 yards was considered a feat.
Branch’s career stats include 501 catches for 8,685 yards and 67 touchdowns in 182 regular-season games. He led the Raiders in receiving yards six times (1974-76, 1979-1980, 1982) and in touchdown receptions five times (1974-77, 1982). When he retired following the 1985 season, he held several Raiders team records, among them the longest reception (99 yards from Jim Plunkett at Washington on Oct. 2, 1983) and most games (22) with 100 or more receiving yards.
The Raiders dominated the AFC in the 1970s and early 1980s, earning a spot in seven AFC Championship Games (1973-77, 1980 and 1983) over 11 years. Branch helped lead the team to three Super Bowl appearances – XI, XV and XVIII – with a victory in each.
Branch is recalled as one of the game’s top postseason performers. In 22 playoff games, he caught 73 passes for 1,289 yards (17.7 average) – both NFL records at the time of his retirement. He also scored five career postseason touchdowns – two coming in the 27-10 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XV.
In his career, Branch received first-team All-Pro nods three times (1974-76) and was voted to four Pro Bowls (1975-77, 1978).
|
|
|
|
|
Receiving |
|
|
|
Year |
Team |
G |
No. |
Yds. |
Avg. |
TD |
|
1972 |
Oakland |
14 |
3 |
41 |
13.7 |
0 |
|
1973 |
Oakland |
13 |
19 |
290 |
15.3 |
3 |
|
1974 |
Oakland |
13 |
60 |
1092 |
18.2 |
13 |
|
1975 |
Oakland |
14 |
51 |
893 |
17.5 |
9 |
|
1976 |
Oakland |
14 |
46 |
1111 |
24.2 |
12 |
|
1977 |
Oakland |
13 |
33 |
540 |
16.4 |
6 |
|
1978 |
Oakland |
16 |
49 |
709 |
14.5 |
1 |
|
1979 |
Oakland |
14 |
59 |
844 |
14.3 |
6 |
|
1980 |
Oakland |
16 |
44 |
858 |
19.5 |
7 |
|
1981 |
Oakland |
16 |
41 |
635 |
15.5 |
1 |
|
1982 |
L.A. Raiders |
9 |
30 |
575 |
19.2 |
4 |
|
1983 |
L.A. Raiders |
12 |
39 |
696 |
17.8 |
5 |
|
1984 |
L.A. Raiders |
14 |
27 |
401 |
14.9 |
0 |
|
1985 |
L.A. Raiders |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0.0 |
0 |
|
Career Total |
182 |
501 |
8685 |
17.3 |
67 |
|
Additional Career Statistics: Rushing: 11- 70: Punt Returns: 12-21
Kickoff Returns: 9-191
1973 AFC – Miami Dolphins 27, Oakland Raiders 10
Branch was inactive for this game.
1974 AFC – Miami Dolphins 27, Oakland Raiders 10
Branch started at wide receiver. He had nine catches for 186 yards and a touchdown.
1975 AFC – Pittsburgh Steelers 16, Oakland Raiders 10
Branch started at wide receiver. He had two catches for 56 yards.
1976 AFC – Oakland Raiders 24, Pittsburgh Steelers 7
Branch started at wide receiver. He had three catches for 46 yards.
1977 AFC – Denver Broncos 20, Oakland Raiders 17
Branch started at wide receiver. He had three catches for 59 yards.
1980 AFC – Oakland Raiders 34, San Diego Chargers 27
Branch started at wide receiver. He had three catches for 78 yards.
1983 AFC – Los Angeles Raiders 30, Seattle Seahawks 14
Branch started at wide receiver. He had two catches for 22 yards.
Super Bowl XI – Oakland Raiders 32, Minnesota Vikings 14
Branch started at wide receiver. He had three catches for 20 yards.
Super Bowl XV – Oakland Raiders 27, Philadelphia Eagles 10
Branch started at wide receiver. He had five catches for 67 yards and two touchdowns.
Super Bowl XVIII – Los Angeles Raiders 38, Washington Redskins 9
Branch started at wide receiver. He had six catches for 94 yards and one touchdown.
All-Pro: 1974 (AP, PFWA, NEA, PW) · 1975 (AP, NEA) · 1976 (AP, PFWA, NEA, PW) ·
1977 (NEA)
All-Pro Second Team: 1975 (PFWA)
All-AFC: 1974 (AP, UPI, SN, PW) · 1975 (AP, UPI) · 1976 (AP, UPI, SN, PW)
(4) – 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978
- [Tied for 1st] Longest Reception – 99t (from Jim Plunkett at Washington, Oct. 2, 1983)
Super Bowl Records
- [Tied for 1st] Most Receiving Touchdowns, Career – 3
- [Tied for 1st] Most Receiving Touchdowns, Game – 2 (vs. Philadelphia, Super Bowl XV)
- [Tied for 2nd] Most Touchdowns, Career – 3
- [Tied for 2nd] Most Touchdowns, Game – 2 (vs. Philadelphia, Super Bowl XV)
- [3rd] Most Receptions, Career – 14
- [3rd] Most Receiving Yards, Career – 181
Post Season Records
- [1st] Most Receptions, Career – 73
- [1st] Most Receiving Yards, Career – 1,289
- [Tied for 2nd] Most Consecutive Games with a Pass Reception – 18
- [3rd] Most Receiving Yards, Game – 186 (vs. Pittsburgh, Dec. 29, 1974)
- [Tied for 3rd] Most Games, 100 or More Yards Receiving, Career – 3
Pro Bowl Records
- [Tied for 1st] Most Receiving Touchdowns, Career – 2
Raiders records held by Branch
(Records through the 1985 season, Branch’s final season with the Raiders)
- [1st] Longest Reception – 99t (from Jim Plunkett at Washington, Oct. 2, 1983)
- [1st] Most Games, 100 or More Yards Receiving – 22
- [1st] Highest Average Per Reception, Season – 24.2 (1976)
- [1st] Most Seasons Leading Team in Receiving Yardage – 6 (1974-76, 1979-80, 1982)
- [1st] Most Seasons Leading Team in Touchdown Receptions – 5 (1974-77, 1982)
- [Tied for 1st] Most Seasons Leading League in Touchdown Receptions – 2 (1974, 1976)
- [Tied for 1st] Most Consecutive Seasons Leading Team in Touchdown Receptions – 4 (1974-77)
- [2nd] Most Touchdowns, Career – 67
- [2nd] Most Receptions, Career – 501
- [2nd] Most Receiving Yards, Career – 8,685
- [2nd] Most Touchdowns Receptions, Career – 67
- [2nd] Highest Average Per Receptions, Season – 24.2 (1976)
- [2nd] Most Games, 100 or More Yead Receiving, Season – 6 (1976)
- [Tied for 2nd] Most Seasons – 14
- [Tied for 2nd] Most Consecutive Seasons – 14 (1972-1985)
- [Tied for 2nd] Most Receiving Touchdowns, Game – 3 vs. Atlanta, Nov. 30, 1975)
- [Tied for 2nd] Most Consecutive Seasons Leading Team in Receiving Yardage – 3 (Nov. 3-17, 1974; Oct. 24-Nov. 7, 1976)
- [Tied for 2nd] Most Seasons, 1,000 or More Yards Receiving – 2 (1974, 1976)
- [3rd] Most Seasons Leading Team in Receptions – 3 (1974-75, 1979)
- [3rd] Most Combined Net Yards – 8,969
Postseason Records
- [1st] Most Receptions, Career – 73
- [1st] Most Receiving Yards, Career – 1,289
- [1st] Highest Average Per Reception, Career – 17.7
- [Tied for 1st] Most Receptions, Game – 9 (vs. Pittsburgh, Dec. 29, 1974)
- [Tied for 1st] Most Consecutive Game with 100 or More Receiving Yards – 3 (vs. Pittsburgh, Dec. 29, 1974)
- [2nd] Most Receiving Yards, Game – 186 (vs. Pittsburgh, Dec. 29, 1974)
- [Tied for 2nd] Most Starts – 18
- [3rd] Most Touchdowns, Career – 5
- [Tied for 3rd] Most Games – 22
NFL Statistical Championships
Pass Reception Yardage Titles: 1974
AFC Statistical Championships
Pass Reception Yardage Titles: 1974
Team Statistical Championships
Pass Reception Titles: 1974, 1975, 1979
Pass Receiving Yardage Titles: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1982
Scoring Titles: 1974, 1976
1973 Oakland Raiders................ 9-4-1 (1st)
1974 Oakland Raiders............... 12-2-0 (1st)
1975 Oakland Raiders............... 11-3-0 (1st)
1976 Oakland Raiders............... 13-1-0 (1st)
1977 Oakland Raiders............... 11-3-0 (2nd)
1978 Oakland Raiders.................. 9-7-0 (2nd)
1979 Oakland Raiders.................. 9-7-0 (4th)
1980 Oakland Raiders............... 11-5-0 (2nd)
1981 Oakland Raiders.................. 7-9-0 (4th)
1982 Los Angeles Raiders.......... 8-1-0 (1st*)
1983 Los Angeles Raiders......... 12-4-0 (1st)
1984 Los Angeles Raiders......... 11-5-0 (3rd)
1985 Los Angeles Raiders......... 12-4-0 (1st)
1986 Los Angeles Raiders............ 8-8-0 (4th)
* AFC regular season finish in strike-shortened season.
(Division Finish in Parentheses)
Qualified for Postseason in Bold
Birthdate: August 1, 1948
Birthplace: Houston, Texas
Died: August 3, 2019
High School: Evan E. Worthing (Houston, TX)
Pro Career: 14 seasons, 182 games
Drafted: 4th round (98th player overall) in 1972 by Oakland
(Cheers and applause.)
ELAINE ANDERSON: Today I'm going to share an open letter with you, and I want to dedicate it to two of our other siblings, Cheryl and Ed.
Today I share an open letter with you, written from my heart, thoughts put on paper, voiced by Clifford. When it is not in God's time, you cannot force it. When it is in God's time, you cannot stop it.
Clifford was delayed but not denied.
(Cheers and applause.)
The first thing I heard him say was, “Thank you, God.” He never, ever gave up on his dream.
The second thing I heard him say was, “Thank you, Mom and Dad. Thank you for everything.”
Today is bittersweet because we miss our beloved Clifford, and sweet because it is now history.
I want to tell you: There's a sweet spirit in this place today. Our Clifford, No. 21, would not miss this enshrinement for nothing. He longed for this day, and 21 is seated front and center with Al Davis and John Madden.
(Cheers and applause.)
Hello, Worthing High School in Houston, Texas, Sunnyside. Clifford was straight out of Sunnyside, Robinson edition, where it all began.
Thank you, Worthing Class of 1967 and the Worthing Alumni Association, who continue to keep his memory alive. Let's not forget the band who marched in the parade this morning. Good job.
(Applause.)
And now for some special shout outs. To Clifford's special friends who were there for every achievement and award: You know who you are. Thank you.
Thank you to Wharton Junior College and the University of Colorado and to Coach Bahnsen for being present today.
Clifford was drafted by the Oakland Raiders, and when this occurred, his blood turned Silver and Black.
(Applause.)
It was Al Davis who said, “The fire that burns brightest is the will to win.” Clifford was born with the will to win. Thanks to Al Davis and John Madden, who treated Clifford like family.
To his BFF, Mark Davis, and Mark’s mother, Carol, and also Coach Tom Flores, thank you to the entire Raider organization.
Thank you to the Raider fans. Oh, how he loved y'all. It was the fans. It was the fans who posted at every game “Speed Kills,” No. 21, Cliff Branch. Clifford loved that.
Thank you to everyone who poured into Clifford, enabling him to be the best that he could be.
And finally, the third thing he voiced to me. He said, “Elaine, don't forget to tell my children to be kind.”
This was so Clifford. He was kind.
Last but not least, a special thanks to the Pro Football Hall of Fame committee for selecting Clifford Branch.
Wow, what a legacy he leaves. Today is perfect.
(Applause.)