A four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver who played for the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders from 1972 to 1985, known for his speed and clutch performances in big games.
Clifford Branch Jr., known to the football world as Cliff Branch, was an American football wide receiver who left an indelible mark on the National Football League (NFL). With his lightning-fast speed and razor-sharp agility, Branch won three NFL championships with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest receivers in NFL history.
Before donning the silver and black of the Raiders, Branch was a standout athlete at the University of Colorado Boulder. As a Buffaloes football player, he caught 23 passes for 355 yards, had 22 carries for 119 yards, and scored one touchdown in 1970. The following year, he hauled in 13 catches for 330 yards, scored three touchdowns, and rushed for 235 yards and four touchdowns on nine carries.
But Branch's athletic prowess wasn't limited to the gridiron. He was also a sprinter on the track team, setting an NCAA championship meet record in the 100 meters with a blistering time of 10.0 seconds at the 1972 NCAA championships semifinal in Eugene, Oregon. He ultimately placed fifth in the final with a time of 10.1 seconds, a remarkable achievement that demonstrated his incredible speed and agility.
The Oakland Raiders selected Branch in the fourth round of the 1972 NFL draft, and he spent his entire 14-year NFL career with the team, including their relocation to Los Angeles. During his tenure, Branch won three Super Bowl rings: Super Bowl XI, Super Bowl XV, and Super Bowl XVIII.
Branch graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder in 1972, the same year he was drafted by the Raiders. His speed and agility on the track and football field earned him the respect of his peers and opponents alike. Branch's impressive football career was marked by his humility, work ethic, and dedication to his craft.
Cliff Branch's legacy extends far beyond his impressive on-field accomplishments. He inspired generations of football players with his lightning-fast speed, razor-sharp agility, and clutch performances. Branch's posthumous induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2022 cemented his status as one of the greatest receivers in NFL history.
In the words of Branch himself, "My goal has always been to win." Throughout his remarkable career, he achieved that goal time and time again, leaving an enduring mark on the NFL and inspiring countless athletes to follow in his footsteps.
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