Frank Clark, a defensive end for the Kansas City Chiefs, was given a two-game NFL suspension on Tuesday after entering a not guilty plea to two misdemeanor assault weapon possession charges in Los Angeles last month.
As the Chiefs are presently on their season-long bye week with a 5-2 record and the AFC West lead, Clark’s ban will prevent him from playing against the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars. Frank Clark will be allowed back with the team on November 14, a week prior to their away game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
The three-time Pro Bowl pass rusher was caught in March 2021 while riding in a car without a license plate with another man. He was given a sentence of one year of probation and 40 hours of community service. Two loaded guns were found after an officer discovered a weapon in the vehicle. Three months later, when Clark was stopped for a traffic infraction, police found another gun in his car.
The announcement comes in the middle of a season that hasn’t been Frank Clark’s best due to his struggles with sickness for several weeks, which prevented him from recording more than 15 tackles and three sacks.
Prior to signing with the Chiefs, Clark had a criminal past that included a charge of domestic violence. Both Clark and the team were questioned about Clark’s past when he first came in Kansas City.
“I’ve had to learn to be a better teammate, a better person and better man in general,” Clark said at the time. “You’ve got to own up to it and what you’ve done. I affected a lot of people.
Clark was detained for domestic abuse in 2014 while playing football for the University of Michigan. His assault charges were dropped, but he admitted to disorderly behavior. But he was nonetheless kicked off the team. In 2012, he was charged with home invasion as well.
Nevertheless, he was still eligible to be taken in the second round of the subsequent NFL Draft.
Clark began his NFL career with the Seattle Seahawks and played there for his first four seasons until being moved to Kansas City in April 2019. The next year, he won the Super Bowl in his first season with the team after agreeing to a five-year deal worth $105.5 million, of which $63.5 million was guaranteed.
The Chiefs were able to renegotiate Clark’s enormous contract in the summer in order to keep him in Kansas City. The Chiefs were eager to improve their pass rush after being among the worst in the league the previous season. He received a $4,550,000 signing bonus, a base salary of $3,725,000 this season, a $900,000 roster bonus, and an additional $75,000 for each game in which he plays.
Without Clark, the Chiefs will be forced to rely on Mike Danna, who has been battling a calf issue for several weeks but should be healthy after the bye, first-round draft selection George Karlaftis, and veteran Carlos Dunlap. Defensive tackle Chris Jones, who leads the club with five sacks, will also need to keep producing for them.