# Clarence Childs (American football)

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. He was on two HBCU champion teams at Florida A&M University, where he starred at halfback.

## Early life

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

## College football

Childs attended Florida A&M University (class of 1960) where he played football under College Football Hall of Fame coach Jake Gaither, and was on the track and field team. He played halfback on offense. Childs was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 1978.
His Florida A&M teams won the Orange Blossom Classic in 1959 and 1960, considered the HBCU college championship game. Childs scored three touchdowns in the 1959 game, and was named the game's most valuable player. The 1959 team was undefeated, 10–0.
Despite a leg injury, he still led the team in scoring in 1960. He averaged 7.3 yards per carry, with 11 touchdowns. Childs was named captain of the All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference team in 1960. The Pittsburgh Courier named him first team All American in 1960. He also played in the All American Bowl.

## Professional football

Childs principally played as a kickoff returner and cornerback, at 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) and 186 lb (84 kg). He was drafted in the 20th round of the 1961 American Football League draft by the Boston Patriots, but did not play for them. Instead, Childs spent two years in military service with the U.S. Army.
His first year in major professional football came in 1964 with the New York Giants. He played sparingly at running back, with 102 yards on 40 rushing attempts for a meager 2.6 yards per carry average. 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. Two weeks later in another preseason game, he had a 99-yard kickoff return against Washington.
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. 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). He missed the final game of 1964 with a torn shoulder muscle, losing any opportunity to overtake Renfro.
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. 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. 1967 was his last season with the Giants.
In 1968, the Chicago Bears signed Childs after their star running back and returner, Gale Sayers, was injured. Childs played in four games for the Chicago Bears, returning eight kicks for 291 yards, including an 88-yard return. In a December 8, 1968 game against the Los Angeles Rams, Bears linebacker great Dick Butkus caught a kickoff and then handed it to Childs who ran 88 yards to the Rams two yard line before being stopped.