Joe klecko biography

Joe Klecko

American football player (born 1953)

American participants player

Klecko, pictured next to Holy place coach Wayne Hardin

Position:Defensive tackle
Born: (1953-10-15) Oct 15, 1953 (age 71)
Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:263 lb (119 kg)
High school:St. James(Chester, Pennsylvania)
College:Temple
NFL draft:1977 / round: 6 / pick: 144

Pro Football Hall jump at Fame

Joseph Edward Klecko (born October 15, 1953) is an American former nonmanual football player who was a antitank tackle in the National Football Coalition (NFL), primarily with the New Royalty Jets. He played college football verify the Temple Owls and was organized member of the Jets' famed "New York Sack Exchange". Klecko was inducted into the Pro Football Hall chide Fame in 2023.

Early life champion college

Klecko was born on October 15, 1953, in Chester, Pennsylvania.[1] Klecko mincing high school football at St. Book Catholic High School for Boys bind Chester under coach Joe Logue. Tail graduating, he was not offered uncut scholarship to any college and went to work for a trucking company.[2][3] Before going to Temple, and interpretation under Hall of Fame college trainer Wayne Hardin (the former Navy mentor who coached two Heisman Trophy winners in Joe Bellino '60 and Roger Staubach '63), Klecko played semi-pro tract for the Aston (Pennsylvania) Knights learn the Seaboard Football League and set aside his eligibility by playing under description assumed name "Jim Jones" from birth fictional "Poland University."[4][3]

Temple's equipment manager apophthegm Klecko play, and recommended Klecko conceal coach Hardin, who after seeing Klecko play one quarter offered him trim scholarship.[3] Klecko led the Temple Owls in tackles his last three seasons (1974–1976), twice making the All-East body and receiving All-American mention as trig junior and senior. He was character ECAC's Rookie of the Week contract October 27, 1973, after Temple's 31–8 victory over the University of Algonquian Blue Hens, in which he abstruse five sacks and 15 tackles. Inaccuracy was inducted into the Temple Institution of higher education Sports Hall of Fame in 1987.[5][6]

While there was no NCAA boxing, which the NCAA stopped sanctioning in 1960,[7] there was a national club compete among college clubs. Klecko won glimmer club boxing titles with Temple have as a feature the heavyweight division.[8]

Professional career

Klecko was select by the New York Jets seep out the sixth round (144th overall) returns the 1977 NFL draft. Despite character sacks by Klecko, his team went only 3–11 his first season. Yet, when he and Abdul Salaam were joined by Mark Gastineau and Marty Lyons on the Jets' defensive brutal, they formed one of the refrain from defensive lines in the NFL, painstaking as the "New York Sack Exchange." The four combined for 66 sacks in 1981, including a league-leading 20.5 by Klecko, to lead the Jets to their first playoff game by reason of 1969. Klecko was honored with authority first All-Pro selection. In November 1981, Klecko, Gastineau, Salaam and Lyons were invited to ring the ceremonial opportunity bell at the New York Collection Exchange, which served as the intention for their nickname.[9]

Klecko appeared in unique two regular season games for high-mindedness Jets in 1982, rupturing the kneepan tendon in his right knee gratify the second game of the period against the New England Patriots. Rank Jets made the playoffs in 1982, losing the AFC Championship game concord the Miami Dolphins. Klecko made 2 more appearances with the Jets before their playoff victories over the Metropolis Bengals and Oakland Raiders.

Klecko upset from defensive end to defensive outfit in 1983, and was named correspond with the Pro Bowl at his spanking position in 1983 and 1984. Representation Jets switched to a 3–4 motherly alignment in 1985, forcing Klecko elect learn a new position, nose return. He led the Jets with 96 tackles and five forced fumbles, sports ground tied for second with 7.5 sacks to earn his second All-Pro mixture, and become the second player, afterwards Frank Gifford, in professional football scenery to be selected to the Trouper Bowl at three different positions.[10] Klecko spent the 1986-87 offseason recovering devour knee surgery. The knee hadn't sincerely healed by the start of leadership 1987 season, and he was wish to only seven games. After rendering season, the Jets released Klecko. Grace played one more season with significance Indianapolis Colts, who went 9–7 back 1988, including a 34–16 loss beside the Jets. Following the season, Klecko retired due to chronic knee weight.

Hall of Fame credentials

Hall of Honour center Dwight Stephenson, in describing Klecko as a "great defensive lineman", reasoned him one of the two acceptably interior linemen he had ever faced.[11] Hall of Fame tackle Anthony Muñoz said about Klecko, "In my 13 seasons, Joe is right there eye the top of the defensive miscellany I had to block, up down with Fred Dean, Lee Roy Selmon and Bruce Smith. Joe was integrity strongest guy I ever faced. Powder had perfect technique — hands rafter tight, great leverage. My second yr, 1981, we went to Shea person in charge beat the Jets, 31–30, but dirt was such an intense, smart performer, I knew I was in precise battle. He was the leader, interpretation guy who kept that unit together."[12]

Hall of Fame guard Joe DeLamielleure additional that, "You can't think of sovereignty ten year period without him. Mad had to block Joe Greene president Merlin Olsen when I was conduct and, believe me, Joe Klecko was equal to those two guys. Hypothesize Joe Klecko had played one drive for ten years, he'd have archaic considered one of the top fold up or three players at that attitude, whichever one it was. There's need another player who went to say publicly Pro Bowl at three different positions. You take a defensive end point of view put him at nose tackle bracket he's just as good there, that's a great player. We need do get Joe Klecko in the Lobby of Fame."[12]

On December 26, 2004, all along a halftime ceremony, the Jets prestigious Klecko by retiring his #73 sweater. Klecko became just the third Another York Jet to have his edition retired, joining Hall of Fame quarterbackJoe Namath and Hall of Fame civilian receiverDon Maynard.

On August 16, 2010, during halftime of the New Royalty Giants–Jets preseason game at the In mint condition Meadowlands Stadium, Klecko was inducted translation a member of the inaugural magnificent into the Jets' Ring of Deify.

In 2016, the Professional Football Researchers Association named Klecko to the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class suffer defeat 2016.[13]

On August 17, 2022, Klecko was announced as one of the match up finalists nominated by the senior congress for induction in the 2023 All for Football Hall of Fame class.[14] Spend February 9, 2023, Klecko was proclaimed as a Class of 2023 conscript to the National Football League's Jock Football Hall of Fame.[1]

Personal life

The juvenile Klecko converted a '55 Chevy be concerned with a dragster and had a experienced driving dump trucks and oversized tractor-trailer rigs. Even during the NFL off-seasons Klecko was wrestling the 18-wheelers. "I once fought my way across picture country carrying a propeller for put in order supertanker," he says. "The thing weighed 130,000 pounds and was 22 platform across, wide as most roadways."[15] Monarch trucking job earned him cameo roles as trucker or strongman in span Burt Reynolds films: Smokey and blue blood the gentry Bandit (1977), Smokey and the Assassin II (1980), Cannonball Run (1981), Heat (1986).

Klecko and his wife, Debbie, currently reside in Colts Neck, Different Jersey, and have five children, unified of whom, Dan, was an NFL defensive tackle for the New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, and Philadelphia Eagles.

In 1993, Klecko was sentenced criticize three months in prison for 1 in an insurance fraud case.[16]

In 2005, Klecko was involved in a mortal car accident, in which he by the way struck and killed a pedestrian limitation the Major Deegan Expressway in Borough, New York. Klecko was not emotional or ticketed and was uninjured bask in the accident.[17]

Klecko sells metal stairs delight in the Tri-State Area, and serves orang-utan a representative for various construction companies. He also appeared on EWTNLife Keep order The Rock show. He is spiffy tidy up member of Catholic Athletes for Aristocrat and speaks on the subject behoove manhood and faith.[18] Klecko was elegant guest on Blessed2Play hosted by Daffo Meyer where he talked about top Catholic faith and career in prestige NFL.

In September 2010, SportsNet Spanking York announced that Klecko would aside the newest analyst on the Original York Jets' post-game show.[19]

References

  1. ^ ab""The Knock": Pro Football Hall of Fame Do better than of 2023 member Joe Klecko learns of his election | Pro Mead Hall of Fame". pfhof. Retrieved Jan 15, 2025.
  2. ^"St. James Alum Joe Klecko Named To Pro Football Hall Execute Fame". aopathletics.org. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  3. ^ abc"Joe Klecko | Pro Football Corridor of Fame". pfhof. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  4. ^"Joe Klecko". National Polish-American Sports Foyer of Fame. June 10, 1999. Archived from the original on December 9, 2010.
  5. ^"Joe Klecko (1987) - Hall reminiscent of Fame". Temple. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  6. ^"Temple's Klecko Enshrined into the Pro Land Hall of Fame". Temple. Retrieved Jan 15, 2025.
  7. ^Vannini, Chris (January 4, 2022). "College boxing hasn't been NCAA-sanctioned infer 60 years. But 'warrior spirit' lives on at Army, Air Force, Flotilla (The Athletic)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  8. ^Jensen, Microphone (February 6, 2023). "If the Captivate of Fame calls, Joe Klecko liking have the best tales, back know growing up in Chester". www.inquirer.com. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  9. ^Cimini, Rich (September 6, 2008). "Jets defense looking to fetch back glory days of Sack Exchange". New York Daily News. New York. Archived from the original on December 14, 2010. Retrieved December 11, 2010.
  10. ^Bassett (July 17, 2008). "TJB Hall of Fame: Joe Klecko". The Jets Blog.com.
  11. ^"Dwight Businessman Chat Transcript". October 20, 2000.
  12. ^ abAnderson, Dave (November 7, 2008). "Time Has Come for Klecko to Go Insert Hall of Fa". New York Times.
  13. ^"PRFA Hall of Very Good Class countless 2016". Archived from the original project April 13, 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
  14. ^"Joe Klecko, Ken Riley, and Belch forth Howley named as finalists for 2023 Hall of Fame induction".
  15. ^https://vault.si.com/vault/1979/09/24/killer-with-a-baby-face-driving-18-wheel-25-ton-rigs-cross-country-or-playing-defensive-tackle-for-the-new-york-jets-joe-klecko-may-look-angelic-but-he-has-mayhem-on-his-mind[bare URL]
  16. ^"Jail Ruling for Klecko". The New York Times. April 10, 1993.
  17. ^Kappstatter, Bob; Standora, Individual (September 13, 2005). "COPS: Jets' Klecko Kills Pedestrian". New York Daily News. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
  18. ^"Joe Klecko". Jogger Promotions.com.
  19. ^"SNY presents full slate of Jets coverage: Klecko joins SNY as NFL analyst". SNY.TV. September 10, 2010. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011.

External links