Raymond Clayborn

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Clayborn was born in Fort Worth, TX and played high school football at Green B. Trimble Technical High School. He played college football for the University of Texas at Austin as both a running back and defensive back, where he was Texas' first four-year letterman, starting from 1973 to 1976. He was the first player in school history to have both a punt return touchdown and a kickoff return touchdown. In 1973, against Arkansas, he had an 85-yard touchdown run, one of two 100-yard rushing games that year, helping the Longhorns win the Southwest Conference Championship and go to the 1974 Cotton Bowl. In 1974 he helped Texas get to the 1975 Gator Bowl. In 1975 he made the All-Southwest Conference football team and helped Texas win a share of the Southwest Conference Championship and a trip to the 1975 Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl, which they won. In 1976 he led the Southwest Conference in punt return yards, yards per average punt return, and punt return touchdowns, again made All-Southwest Conference, and was named a Sporting News and Newspaper Enterprise Association All-American and the team's MVP. He played in the 1977 East-West Shrine Bowl and the 1977 Hula Bowl. He rushed for 529 yards and 8 touchdowns with a 6.4-yard average, returned 48 punts for 457 yards, 16 kickoffs for 329 yards, set the school record for return touchdowns with 3, and had 1369 all-purpose yards. He also ran track at Texas in 1976 and 1977, helping the track team win conference championships both years, running on the 440-yard and mile relay teams that won conference championships and set the school record in the event. In 1976 he was an All-American for the 1600m relay. In 1991, he was inducted to the University of Texas Hall of Honor.

In Their Own Story

Clayborn's NFL career began when the Patriots selected him 16th overall in the 1977 draft. As a rookie, he immediately reshaped the return game, recording a league-leading three kickoff return touchdowns and averaging an NFL-best 31.0 yards per return. From 1977 to 1982, he formed a formidable secondary pairing with Hall of Famer Mike Haynes. His career peaked in 1985 when he recorded six regular-season interceptions—one for a touchdown—leading the Patriots to three road playoff wins and Super Bowl XX. In the Conference Championship against Miami, Clayborn secured one of two key interceptions as New England held Dan Marino to 20 completions. Although the team lost 46–10 to Chicago in the Super Bowl, recovering one of the Bears' fumbles amidst six offensive turnovers for New England, his resilience was evident.

Reader's Guide

Clayborn was a first-round draft pick by the New England Patriots, 16th overall (with a pick from San Francisco for Jim Plunkett) in the 1977 NFL draft. During his 14-year career, he made the Pro Bowl three times with the Patriots. From 1977 to 1982, he was paired with Hall of Fame player Mike Haynes. For his first three seasons, he also played kick returner. As a rookie, he returned 28 kickoffs for 869 yards and a league-leading 3 touchdowns, giving him an NFL-best and Patriots franchise record 31.0 yards per return average. He was a key player on four playoff teams (1978, 1982, 1986, and 1985), recording a career-high six regular-season interceptions (one for a touchdown) in 1985 as the Patriots won three road playoff games en route to Super Bowl XX. In the 31-14 Conference Championship win over the Miami Dolphins, Clayborn made one of two Patriots interceptions. In Super Bowl XX, a 46-10 loss to the Bears, Clayborn recovered one of two Chicago fumbles. In 1990, he signed a $1.8 million 2-year contract with Cleveland as a free agent, but recorded no interceptions there. He missed almost all of the 1991 season with a leg injury, finished as an unprotected Plan B player, and retired. He finished his career with 36 interceptions (returned for 555 yards and a touchdown), 57 kickoff returns for 1,538 yards and 3 touchdowns, and 4 fumble recoveries. At retirement, his 36 interceptions were a Patriots record, since tied by Ty Law. He was elected to the New England Patriots Hall of Fame in 2017. On July 29, 2017, he signed a 1-day contract prior to induction to officially retire as a Patriot. He has been a Pro Football Hall of Fame nominee on several occasions (including 2008 and 2009) but never advanced to a semi-finalist. In an incident early in the 1979 season, after a 56-3 rout of the Jets, Clayborn snapped at reporters and threatened them; when Boston Globe reporter Will McDonough tried to intervene, Clayborn poked him in the eye, and McDonough punched Clayborn twice. The NFL fined Clayborn $2,000 for 'conduct involving members of the news media.' A week prior, Clayborn had threatened Associated Press writer Bruce Lowitt after a season-opening loss. As of 2010, he was the NFL Uniform Program Representative for the Houston Texans.

Did You Know?

• Clayborn was the first player in University of Texas history to have both a punt return touchdown and a kickoff return touchdown.
• As a rookie, he led the NFL with 3 kickoff return touchdowns and set an NFL-best and Patriots franchise record with a 31.0-yard kick return average.
• His 36 interceptions were a Patriots record at the time of his retirement, later tied by Ty Law.
• He was a three-time Pro Bowl selection and five-time All-Pro during his career.