Cliff Branch

Clifford Branch Jr. was born on August 1, 1948, in Houston, Texas. He attended the University of Colorado Boulder, where he excelled as both a sprinter on the track team and a wide receiver for the football team. As a world-class sprinter, he set an NCAA championship meet record with a 10-second 100-meter dash in 1972. In college football, he demonstrated his athletic potential, catching 23 passes for 355 yards in 1970 and 13 catches for 330 yards and 3 touchdowns in 1971.

Branch was selected in the fourth round of the 1972 NFL Draft, 98th overall, by the Oakland Raiders, where he played his entire 14-year professional career. Known for his exceptional speed and agility, he became a dominant receiver in the NFL, particularly throughout the 1970s. His professional career highlights include leading the league in receiving yards with 1,092 and 13 touchdowns in 1974. He achieved another 1,000-yard receiving season in 1976 with 1,111 yards. Over his career, Branch accumulated 501 receptions for 8,685 yards and 67 touchdowns in 182 regular-season games. He also led the Raiders in receiving yards six times (1974-76, 1979-80, 1982) and in touchdown receptions five times (1974-77, 1982).

Branch played a crucial role in the Raiders’ success, contributing to seven AFC Championship Games between 1973 and 1983. He helped the team secure three Super Bowl championships: XI, XV, and XVIII. He was particularly effective in postseason play, setting NFL records at the time of his retirement with 73 receptions for 1,289 yards and five touchdowns across 22 playoff games. He earned first-team All-Pro honors three times (1974-76) and was selected to four Pro Bowls (1975-77, 1978). Branch held several Raiders team records, including the longest reception at 99 yards and most games with over 100 receiving yards. He was posthumously inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2022.