Howard Clinton "Clint" Longley Jr. (born July 28, 1952) is an American former professional

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

player who was a

quarterback The quarterback (QB) is a position in gridiron football who are members of the offensive side of the ball and mostly line up directly behind the Lineman (football), offensive line. In modern American football, the quarterback is usually consider ...

in the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...

(NFL) with the

Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. T ...

and

San Diego Chargers The San Diego Chargers were a professional American football team in the National Football League (NFL). The Chargers played in San Diego, California from 1961 until 2016, before relocating back to the Greater Los Angeles area, where the franch ...

. He also was a member of the

Toronto Argonauts The Toronto Argonauts (officially the Toronto Argonaut Football Club and colloquially known as the Argos) are a professional Canadian football team based in Toronto, Ontario. The Argonauts compete in the East Division (CFL), East Division of t ...

in the

Canadian Football League The Canadian Football League (CFL; , LCF) is a Professional gridiron football, professional Canadian football league in Canada. It comprises nine teams divided into two divisions, with four teams in the East Division (CFL), East Division and f ...

(CFL). Longley played

college football College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...

for the

Abilene Christian Wildcats Abilene Christian Wildcats (variously ACU or ACU Wildcats) refers to the sports teams of Abilene Christian University located in Abilene, Texas. The Wildcats joined the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) on July 1, 2021, after having spent the pre ...

Early years

After attending Littleton High School, he enrolled at

Abilene Christian University Abilene Christian University (ACU) is a Private university, private Christian research university in Abilene, Texas, United States. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as an R2 (High Research Spending and Doctorate Production) institutio ...

without a scholarship. He was

redshirted Redshirt, in United States college athletics, is a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen their period of eligibility. Typically, a student's athletic eligibility in a given sport is four seasons, aligning with the ...

in his freshman year. In 1973 as a junior, he led the nation's small colleges in passing and total offense, completing 195 of 360 passes for 3,167 yards and 28

touchdown A touchdown (abbreviated as TD) is a scoring play in gridiron football. Scoring a touchdown grants the team that scored it 6 points. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchd ...

s, while rushing for 251 yards. He set a school record by passing for 434 yards and 4

s in a 41–7 victory against

Southwest Texas State University Texas State University (TXST) is a public research university with its main campus in San Marcos, Texas, United States, and another campus in Round Rock. Since its establishment in 1899, the university has grown to be one of the largest univer ...

. Longley finished the year guiding his team to 11 straight victories and the NAIA championship. He also received Small College

All-American The All-America designation is an annual honor bestowed on outstanding athletes in the United States who are considered to be among the best athletes in their respective sport. Individuals receiving this distinction are typically added to an Al ...

honors and was named, along with teammate

Wilbert Montgomery Wilbert Montgomery (born September 16, 1954) is an American former professional football player who was a running back for nine years with the Philadelphia Eagles and the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college ...

, to the 1973 NAIA

All Star team, whose backfield included

Walter Payton Walter Jerry Payton (July 25, 1953Although most sources at the time of his death gave Payton's birth year as 1954, reliable sources subsequently state he was born in 1953. – November 1, 1999) was an American professional American football, ...

. He forwent his senior season to declare for the

NFL draft The NFL draft, officially known as the Annual Player Selection Meeting, is an annual event which serves as the most common source of player recruitment in the National Football League. Each team is given a position in the drafting order in reve ...

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

As a result of leaving college with eligibility still remaining to be completed (three hours away from a degree), he entered the

supplemental draft The NFL draft, officially known as the Annual Player Selection Meeting, is an annual event which serves as the most common source of player recruitment in the National Football League. Each team is given a position in the drafting order in reve ...

1974 Major events in 1974 include the aftermath of the 1973 oil crisis and the resignation of United States President Richard Nixon following the Watergate scandal. In the Middle East, the aftermath of the 1973 Yom Kippur War determined politics; ...

, where he was selected by the

Cincinnati Bengals The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional American football team based in Cincinnati. The Bengals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. The team plays its h ...

. On July 3, he was traded to the

in exchange for a fifth round draft choice (#122- Jeff West). He was named the backup

Roger Staubach Roger Thomas Staubach (, -; , -; born February 5, 1942), nicknamed "Roger the Dodger", "Captain America", and "Captain Comeback", is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 se ...

, after having a strong training camp and Craig Morton being traded to the

New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. The ...

. He is best remembered for his performance in a

Thanksgiving Day Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated on various dates in October and November in the United States, Canada, Saint Lucia, Liberia, and unofficially in countries like Brazil and Germany. It is also observed in the Australian territory ...

game in

against the

Washington Redskins The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East ...

. Longley, then a

rookie A rookie is a person new to an occupation, profession, or hobby. In sports, a ''rookie'' is a professional athlete in their first season (or year). In contrast with a veteran who has experience, a rookie is typically considered needing more tra ...

, came into the game for an injured

with the Cowboys trailing 16–3 in the third quarter, and facing elimination from the playoffs. After hitting

Billy Joe Dupree Billy Joe DuPree (born March 7, 1950) is an American former professional football player who was a tight end in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Michigan State University. Early life DuPr ...

for a 35-yard

pass, he led the Cowboys on a 70-yard drive capped by a 1-yard

Walt Garrison Walter Benton Garrison (July 23, 1944 – October 11, 2023) was an American professional football player who was a fullback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football for the Oklahoma State Cowboys ...

run. Finally, with the Cowboys behind 23–17 and with only 28 seconds left with no time outs, Longley hit Drew Pearson at the left sideline for a 50-yard

hail mary pass A Hail Mary pass is a very long forward pass in American football, typically made in desperation, with a very small chance of achieving a completion (American football), completion. Due to the difficulty of a completion with this pass, it makes r ...

which gave the Cowboys a dramatic 24–23 come from behind victory. Because Longley had no expectation of playing in that game and was unprepared, Cowboys lineman

Blaine Nye Blaine Francis Nye (born March 29, 1946) is an American former professional football player who was an offensive lineman for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Stanford Cardinal, known th ...

jokingly called his winning effort "the triumph of the uncluttered mind." The game was named the second-best in the history of

Texas Stadium Texas Stadium was an American football stadium located in Irving, Texas, a suburb west of Dallas. Opened on October 24, 1971, it was known for its distinctive hole in the roof, the result of abandoned plans to construct a retractable roof. Th ...

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in 2008. In

1975 It was also declared the ''International Women's Year'' by the United Nations and the European Architectural Heritage Year by the Council of Europe. Events January * January 1 – Watergate scandal (United States): John N. Mitchell, H. R. ...

, he started in the season finale against the

New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Jets compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The team p ...

, so Staubach could rest for the playoffs. He brought back the team from a 0–14 deficit to win 31–21. On August 30,

1976 Events January * January 2 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force. * January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea. * January 18 – Full diplomatic ...

, after a training room incident in which he sucker-punched

during the 1976 preseason, the team suspended and eventually traded him to the

along with a first round draft pick (#24- Bob Rush), in exchange for a first (#14-

Steve August Steve Paul August (born September 4, 1954) is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the Seattle Seahawks. Through his eight years with the Seahawks he ...

) and second round draft choice (#41-

Terry Beeson Terry Beeson (born September 19, 1955) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played in the NFL for the Seattle Seahawks from 1977 to 1981 and the San Francisco 49ers i ...

). The Cowboys used those two picks and two other picks to eventually land the No. 2 overall pick in the 1977 draft, selecting

Tony Dorsett Anthony Drew Dorsett Sr. (born April 7, 1954) is an American former professional American football, football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos. Raised in western Pennsylvani ...

San Diego Chargers

, the

acquired Longley with the intention of creating a competition with

Dan Fouts Daniel Francis Fouts (born June 10, 1951) is an American former professional football quarterback who played for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League (NFL) throughout his 15-season career (1973–1987). After a relatively und ...

. He appeared in three games (one start), completing 12-for-24 passes for 130 yards, along with two

s and three interceptions while being sacked seven times. He was released on September 8,

1977 Events January * January 8 – 1977 Moscow bombings, Three bombs explode in Moscow within 37 minutes, killing seven. The bombings are attributed to an Armenian separatist group. * January 10 – Mount Nyiragongo erupts in eastern Zaire (no ...

Toronto Argonauts (CFL)

On September 22,

, Longley was signed by the

of the

. He played in eight games before being released.

St. Louis Cardinals

On July 5,

1978 Events January * January 1 – Air India Flight 855, a Boeing 747 passenger jet, crashes off the coast of Bombay, killing 213. * January 5 – Bülent Ecevit, of Republican People's Party, CHP, forms the new government of Turkey (42nd ...

, Longley was signed as a

free agent In professional sports, a free agent is a player or manager who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under a contract at present ...

by the

St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Centra ...

. He was cut on August 22. Longley played shortly thereafter for the minor league Shreveport Steamer during its summer season.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats (CFL)

On May 24,

1980 Events January * January 4 – U.S. President Jimmy Carter proclaims a United States grain embargo against the Soviet Union, grain embargo against the USSR with the support of the European Commission. * January 6 – Global Positioning Sys ...

, he was signed by the

Hamilton Tiger-Cats The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a professional Canadian football team based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. They are currently members of the East Division (CFL), East Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The Tiger-Cats play their home game ...

after being a year out of

. He was released on June 5.

Staubach incident

Less than two years after his Thanksgiving Day heroics, Longley, under pressure from

Danny White Wilford Daniel White (born February 9, 1952) is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback and punter for 13 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He was the third major franchise qu ...

for the back-up QB role, left the Cowboys after he punched Staubach during training camp in

Thousand Oaks, California Thousand Oaks is the second-largest city in Ventura County, California, located in the northwestern part of Greater Los Angeles. Approximately from the city of Los Angeles and from Downtown Los Angeles, it is named after the many oak trees pr ...

. The infamous "

sucker punch A sucker punch (American English), also known as a cheap shot, coward punch, one-punch attack, or king-hit (Australian English), is a punch thrown at the recipient unprovoked and without warning, allowing no time for preparation or defense on t ...

" occurred after a negative remark Longley made about Staubach to Cowboy teammates. Staubach was putting on his

shoulder pads The human shoulder is made up of three bones: the clavicle (collarbone), the scapula (shoulder blade), and the humerus (upper arm bone) as well as associated muscles, ligaments and tendons. The articulations between the bones of the shoulder m ...

on the last day of training camp when Longley hit him in the head without warning and from behind causing his head to slam against a standing scale, requiring several stitches to close the wound on Staubach's face. Longley was immediately traded to the

where he spent the 1976 season before being released, marking the end of his NFL career. It was reported that Longley's motivation was a desire to be traded, and that he felt that Dallas should have traded Staubach and turned the team over to him.

Personal life

Longley earned his nickname the "Mad Bomber" in his rookie

training camp A training camp is an organized period in which military personnel or athletes participate in a rigorous and focused schedule of training in order to learn or improve skills. Athletes typically utilise training camps to prepare for upcoming events ...

because of incidents like one of his errant passes hitting head coach

Tom Landry Thomas Wade Landry ( ; September 11, 1924 – February 12, 2000) was an American professional football coach, player, and World War II veteran. Regarded as one of the greatest head coaches of all time, he was the first head coach of the Dallas ...

's coaching tower. When the

NFL Network NFL Network (occasionally abbreviated on-air as NFLN) is an American sports-oriented pay television network owned by the National Football League NTP and is part of NFL Media, which also includes NFL.com, NFL Films, NFL Mobile, NFL Now and N ...

did a "Top 10 One-Hit Wonders" list that included Longley,

Steve Sabol Stephen Douglas Sabol (October 2, 1942September 18, 2012) was an American filmmaker. He was the president and one of the founders of NFL Films, along with his father Ed. He was also a widely exhibited visual artist. Early life Sabol was born i ...

said he last heard that Longley had ended up selling carpet remnants out of the back of a van in

Marfa, Texas Marfa is a city in the high desert of the Trans-Pecos in far West Texas, United States, between the Davis Mountains and Big Bend National Park, at an elevation of 4685 feet. It is the county seat of Presidio County, Texas, Presidio County. The ci ...

References

External links

The Cowboys Call On The Mad Bomber

Pro Quarterbacks Don't Get Rattled, Even When Gassing A Den Of Rattlers
{{DEFAULTSORT:Longley, Clint 1952 births Living people American football quarterbacks Canadian football quarterbacks Abilene Christian Wildcats football players Dallas Cowboys players San Diego Chargers players Toronto Argonauts players Sportspeople from Littleton, Colorado Players of American football from Colorado Players of Canadian football from Texas