Tight ends Clark, Olsen an integral part of pass game



Desmond Clark, Greg Olsen and John Gilmore combined for 86 receptions in 2007, the most catches in a single season by Bears tight ends in franchise history.

Only four other NFL teams completed more passes to their tight ends: Kansas City (125), Dallas (113), Indianapolis (107) and Cleveland (95).

Clark (44 catches for 545 yards) and Olsen (39-391) ranked third and fifth on the Bears, respectively, in receptions. They were also one of two tight end tandems in the NFL to each have over 350 yards receiving, joining the Colts’ Dallas Clark (616) and Ben Utecht (364).

Clark and Olsen combined for 936 yards, the most in a single season by a Bears tight end duo when each player has over 100 yards receiving, surpassing the 888 by Emery Moorehead (481) and Tim Wrightman (407) in 1985.

Clark’s 44 receptions were tied for the third most in his nine-year NFL career, and his 545 yards and four touchdowns were each third most. With four TDs in 2007, Clark now has 15 in five seasons in Chicago, the second most by a Bears tight end in franchise history.

Clark had six receptions of at least 25 yards in 2007, tying speedy wide receiver Bernard Berrian for most on the team and tying for fourth among NFL tight ends.

With 45 receptions in 2006, Clark is the first Bears tight end to have back-to-back 40-catch seasons since Mike Ditka had 59 receptions in 1963 and 75 in 1964. Over the last two seasons, Clark leads all NFL tight ends with an average of 13.2 yards per catch.

Olsen, meanwhile, became just the second Bears rookie tight end to surpass 300 yards, trailing only Ditka, who compiled 1,076 yards in 1961. Among NFL rookies in 2007, Olsen finished fifth in receptions and ninth in yardage.

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