Clairton reveals ‘Tyler Boyd Stadium’ as new name for high school football field

By: Chris Harlan
Monday, September 16, 2024 | 9:46 PM

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Not only is Clairton’s football stadium getting new turf, new bleachers and new lights, it also has a new name: Tyler Boyd Stadium.

A 2013 graduate now playing in his ninth NFL season, Boyd had a legendary high school career at Clairton and remains rooted in his hometown. He was a record-setting football player for the Bears, who went 63-1 in his four seasons, winning four WPIAL titles and four state championships.

The school announced the name change Monday night.

The stadium, opened in 1930, is undergoing a major rebuild that’s expected to be completed by spring. Naming the new version of the stadium after Boyd was “a no-brainer,” said Clairton athletic director Alexis Trubiani.

“When you say you’re from Clairton, everybody says, ‘We know Tyler Boyd,’” said Trubiani, a Clairton native and school district employee for 17 years. “Every kid knows him and looks up to him. He comes to our baseball games and sits in the stands. We play down at Clairton Park and don’t get a lot of fans in the middle of the day. He comes and sits there like he’s just one of the guys.”

Trubiani said the name change was approved several months ago but wasn’t announced until construction had started. The football team played its final game on the natural grass surface last Friday night.

Few stadiums around Western Pennsylvania are named after a former player who reached the NFL, but Boyd joins a list that includes Joe Montana at Ringgold, Tony Dorsett at Hopewell, Russ Grimm at Southmoreland, Jimbo Covert at Freedom and Myron Pottios at Charleroi. Quaker Valley named its stadium after former NFL coach Chuck Knox.

“It’s good for the community,” Clairton football coach Wayne Wade said. “He’s the most-decorated football player that has come through Clairton. There have been a lot of great football players, but not to the level of Tyler’s success.”

He said Boyd was at practice about six weeks ago and talked with the team.

“He’s had such a great career,” Wade said. “I hope he continues to be a part of the program after he retires.”

The current stadium in Clairton was name in 1998 after Neil C. Brown, a former school principal and football coach. Brown coached the Bears from 1951-60, winning one WPIAL title and finishing twice as runner-up.

The school district announced a fundraising effort last summer to pay for the $6.6 million stadium renovations. Boyd is likely to support the project financially, Trubiani said, but the naming rights weren’t for sale.

“This was the right thing to do, with or without a monetary donation,” Trubiani said. “Tyler really earned this as a Clairton Bear, with what he did for the city and what he continues to do for the youth programs. The school board and the administrative team thought this was a no-brainer.”

Boyd, a multi-sport athlete, was inducted into the WPIAL Hall of Fame in May. As a football player, he finished his Clairton career as a WPIAL record-holder with 117 career touchdowns and ranked fifth in league history in career rushing yards with 5,755. He later starred at Pitt, where he earned all-ACC honors three times.

After eight years with the Cincinnati Bengals, Boyd signed with the Tennessee Titans before this season.

Trubiani said Clairton sees Boyd as a source of pride and a success story, both on and off the field. She recalled Boyd volunteering to help his community starting as far back as high school, when he’d read to students in elementary classes.

“When I say he means the world to the community, he really does,” Trubiani said. “He and his family give to the Clairton community. Naming the stadium after him is well deserved.”

????????We are honored to rename the stadium after Clairton High School 2013 Graduate Tyler Boyd! ????????

????????Tyler and his family continue to give back to the community and youth. Their support for Clairton and love for the Bears is unparalleled! ???? ???? pic.twitter.com/g2lzKoiCDl

— Clairton School (@Clairtonschool) September 16, 2024

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.

Tags: Clairton