GLENDALE, Ariz — The Kansas City Chiefs are Super Bowl champions for the second time in four years, and Greater Cleveland is swelling with pride after multiple players from the community won rings.
We all know about Cleveland Heights product Travis Kelce, who caught a touchdown to help best his older brother, Philadelphia Eagles center Jason. However, one of his teammates on the defensive side also played a big role in KC's title run, and was overcome with emotion as the confetti fell on the field at State Farm Stadium in Arizona.
Defensive end Frank Clark, a graduate of Cleveland's Glenville High School, spoke with Fox Sports' Peter Schrager following the Chiefs' 38-35 victory over the Eagles. The 29-year-old had tears streaming down his face as he remembered his biggest fan: his late father, Frank III.
"I know my pops [is] smiling, man," Clark told Schrager as he looked up to the sky. "I wish he could see it, you know? But I know he's smiling, man."
In January of 2018, Clark lost his dad and three other family members in a house fire in Cleveland's Euclid-Green neighborhood. Clark had lived with his father in the area after moving from California as a teenager, and under his guidance became a two-way football star and track athlete for the Tarblooders.
A three-time Pro Bowler who previously played for the Seattle Seahawks, Clark had what some considered a down year in 2022 with just five sacks and 13 quarterback hits. However, the man known as "Mr. February" once again turned it on in the playoffs, with 2 1/2 combined sacks in the divisional round and AFC Championship Game. He added a tackle in Super Bowl LVII.
"I had a rough year, man," Clark said. "My teammates, they never lost faith in me, man. I'm just thankful, man. I'm extremely humbled and thankful."
Of course, this is not Clark's first time on this national stage: When the Chiefs won Super Bowl LIV three years ago, he gave a special shoutout to "all the people that have been supporting me" back in Northeast Ohio.
Besides Clark and Kelce, rookie offensive lineman and Saint Ignatius product Darian Kinnard also earned a championship ring, although he was not active for the playoffs.