Bruce Clark was born on May 31, 1958, in New Castle, Pennsylvania. He played college football at Penn State University, becoming the first junior to win the Lombardi Award in 1978. As a member of Penn State, Clark played defensive end and was a consensus All-American that year and the team was a top-5 team throughout the season. Despite back-to-back wins against ACC foes, the Nittany Lions lost to Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, ending their hopes for a National Championship.

 

Clark missed the tail end of his senior season due to a knee injury but was still named a consensus First-Team All-American. In the 1980 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers selected him in the first round. However, Clark decided to play for the Toronto Argonauts in the CFL for two seasons before joining the New Orleans Saints for seven seasons from 1982 to 1988. He finished his NFL career playing for the Kansas City Chiefs in 1989 for one season. He later played a single season for the World League of American Football's Barcelona Dragons, recording seven sacks in 1991.

 

Clark was known for his strength and versatility, playing both nose tackle and defensive end positions. In his 10-season career, he recorded 39.5 sacks and nine fumble recoveries and was named to the Pro Bowl in 1983. Clark retired from professional football and has been involved in various business ventures. He is actively involved in multiple philanthropic and community outreach programs and is a beloved member of the Nittany Lion family.