Danny Clark ( American football ) Danny Clark , IV ( born May 9 , 1977 in Blue Island , Illinois ) is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent . He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the seventh round of the 2000 NFL Draft . He played college football at Illinois . Clark has previously played for the Oakland Raiders , Houston Texans , New York Giants , and New Orleans Saints . Early years . Clark played quarterback and linebacker at Hillcrest High School in Country Club Hills , Illinois where he was All - conference as a quarterback and linebacker . He was an All - area pick and also chosen All - State as a defensive back . On offense , Clark rushed for 505 yards on 77 attempts and seven touchdowns and passed for 913 yards and five touchdowns as a senior and he also lettered in basketball . College career . Clark attended the University of Illinois , where he played for the Fighting Illini football team . He started 44 of 45 games played in 4 seasons was named honorable mention All - Big Ten three times as a linebacker , and finished his college career with the sixth most ( 384 ) tackles at Illinois , finishing just ahead of Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus . As a senior in 1999 , was named honorable mention All - Big Ten after started all 12 games and recorded a career - high 122 tackles , 3 sacks and an interception . He had a team - high 115 tackles as a junior and also had 2 interceptions , 7 passes defensed , a forced fumble and a fumble recovery . Clark graduated Illinois with a bachelor ' s degree in communications . Professional career . Jacksonville Jaguars . Clark was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the seventh round of the 2000 NFL Draft , with the 245th overall selection . He signed a four - year $ 1 . 4 million contract with the Jaguars . In four seasons with the Jaguars , Clark played in 61 games , starting 27 , and saw action both at linebacker and on special teams . In 2001 , played in 13 games with 3 starts and finished with 48 tackles , 1 pass defensed and 1 forced fumble along with 17 special teams tackles . In the 2002 NFL Season , he started all 16 games for the and finished as the Jaguars ’ 2nd - leading tackler with a career - high 152 tackles , 2 sacks , 1 interception , a pass defensed and a forced fumble . In 2003 , his final season in Jacksonville , Clark played in all 16 games with 8 starts and finished with 73 tackles and 11 special teams tackles . Oakland Raiders . In 2004 , Clark signed a two - year , $ 3 million contract by the Oakland Raiders on March 12 , 2004 , and became a full - time starter at linebacker with the Raiders . Clark started all 16 games in 2004 , and led the Raiders in tackles with 129 tackles ( 98 solo ) , 2 sacks and 5 passes defensed . In 2005 , Clark started 15 of 16 games for Oakland and led the Raiders in tackles for the 2nd consecutive season with 113 stops ( 82 solo ) , a sack and 7 passes defensed . He was released by the Oakland Raiders on September 2 , 2006 . First stint with Saints . Clark signed a one - year $ 625 , 000 contract with the New Orleans Saints on September 5 , 2006 , and played one season with the team . He appeared in all 16 games , starting none , and recorded 29 tackles — 13 tackles ( 10 solo ) and 13 tackles on special teams as Saints appeared in the NFC Championship game . Houston Texans . Clark signed a one - year $ 1 . 4 million contract with the Houston Texans on March 7 , 2007 , and he went on to appear in 13 games including eight starts , and recorded 51 tackles and an interception and a forced fumble . New York Giants . On March 13 , 2008 , Clark was signed by the New York Giants to a two - year $ 4 million contract . He was slated as a backup for the weakside linebacker spot , but a season - ending injury to Osi Umenyiora in a pre - season game forced the Giants to move their starting strongside linebacker , Mathias Kiwanuka , to defensive end , allowing Clark to take over as the starting linebacker for the 2008 season . In 2008 he played in all 16 regular season games with 15 starts and started the NFC Divisional Playoff game vs . Philadelphia and finished 3rd on the team 74 tackles ( 36 solo ) , 6 tackles for losses , 1 pass defensed , 1 forced fumble and 2 special teams tackles . Second stint with Saints . Clark signed with the New Orleans Saints on September 6 , 2010 . He started 10 games and had 59 tackles during the season . He was released by the Saints on August 10 , 2011 . Personal . Clark and his stepson DJ starred in an episode of " My Super Sweet 16 " .