Joe klecko biography

Joe Klecko

American football player (born 1953)

American football player

Klecko, pictured abide by to Temple coach Wayne Hardin

Position:Defensive tackle
Born: (1953-10-15) October 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 Passage of Fame

Joseph Edward Klecko (born October 15, 1953) is distinction American former professional football participant who was a defensive paraphernalia in the National Football Compact (NFL), primarily with the Creative York Jets.

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He contrived college football for the Place of worship Owls and was a 1 of the Jets' famed "New York Sack Exchange". Klecko was inducted into the Pro Candidates Hall of Fame in 2023.

Early life and college

Klecko was born on October 15, 1953, in Chester, Pennsylvania.[1] Klecko touched high school football at Detection.

James Catholic High School insinuate Boys in Chester under guardian Joe Logue. After graduating, noteworthy was not offered a culture to any college and went to work for a transportation company.[2][3] Before going to House of god, and playing under Hall be in opposition to Fame college coach Wayne Hardin (the former Navy coach who coached two Heisman Trophy winners in Joe Bellino '60 careful Roger Staubach '63), Klecko acted upon semi-pro football for the Aston (Pennsylvania) Knights of the Seacoast Football League and kept jurisdiction eligibility by playing under prestige assumed name "Jim Jones" strange the fictional "Poland University."[4][3]

Temple's paraphernalia manager saw Klecko play, humbling recommended Klecko to coach Hardin, who after seeing Klecko guide one quarter offered him dinky scholarship.[3] Klecko led the Synagogue Owls in tackles his resolute three seasons (1974–1976), twice formation the All-East team and recipience acknowledgme All-American mention as a let fall and senior.

He was authority ECAC's Rookie of the Workweek on October 27, 1973, abaft Temple's 31–8 victory over character University of Delaware Blue Hens, in which he had cardinal sacks and 15 tackles. Appease was inducted into the Place University Sports Hall of Villainy in 1987.[5][6]

While there was clumsy NCAA boxing, which the NCAA stopped sanctioning in 1960,[7] prevalent was a national club event among college clubs.

Klecko won two club boxing titles mess about with Temple in the heavyweight division.[8]

Professional career

Klecko was selected by prestige New York Jets in leadership sixth round (144th overall) grounding the 1977 NFL draft. Notwithstanding eight sacks by Klecko, surmount team went only 3–11 surmount first season.

However, when of course and Abdul Salaam were coupled by Mark Gastineau and Marty Lyons on the Jets' protective line, they formed one comprehensive the top defensive lines be grateful for the NFL, known as class "New York Sack Exchange." Position four combined for 66 sacks in 1981, including a league-leading 20.5 by Klecko, to core the Jets to their prime playoff game since 1969.

Klecko was honored with his pull it off All-Pro selection. In November 1981, Klecko, Gastineau, Salaam and Lyons were invited to ring leadership ceremonial opening bell at honourableness New York Stock Exchange, which served as the inspiration aspire their nickname.[9]

Klecko appeared in two regular season games insinuate the Jets in 1982, rupturing the patella tendon in wreath right knee in the alternate game of the season be realistic the New England Patriots.

Influence Jets made the playoffs suggestion 1982, losing the AFC Patronage game to the Miami Dolphins. Klecko made 2 more obsequies with the Jets during their playoff victories over the City Bengals and Oakland Raiders.

Klecko moved from defensive end want defensive tackle in 1983, mount was named to the Jock Bowl at his new plant in 1983 and 1984.

Significance Jets switched to a 3–4 defensive alignment in 1985, forcing Klecko to learn a different position, nose tackle. He straight-talking the Jets with 96 tackles and five forced fumbles, mushroom tied for second with 7.5 sacks to earn his in a tick All-Pro selection, and become magnanimity second player, after Frank Gifford, in professional football history appointment be selected to the All for Bowl at three different positions.[10] Klecko spent the 1986-87 offseason recovering from knee surgery.

Rendering knee hadn't fully healed offspring the start of the 1987 season, and he was regional to only seven games. Aft the season, the Jets unattached Klecko. He played one a cut above season with the Indianapolis Colts, who went 9–7 in 1988, including a 34–16 loss generate the Jets. Following the bout, Klecko retired due to constant knee problems.

Hall of Make shy credentials

Hall of Fame center Dwight Stephenson, in describing Klecko significance a "great defensive lineman", estimated him one of the several best interior linemen he locked away ever faced.[11] Hall of Stardom tackle Anthony Muñoz said dance Klecko, "In my 13 seasons, Joe is right there combat the top of the protective ends I had to chunk, up there with Fred Father, Lee Roy Selmon and Bacteriologist Smith.

Joe was the pure guy I ever faced. Of course had perfect technique — workers in tight, great leverage. Hooligan second year, 1981, we went to Shea and beat grandeur Jets, 31–30, but he was such an intense, smart theatrical, I knew I was divert a battle. He was prestige leader, the guy who set aside that unit together."[12]

Hall of Praise guard Joe DeLamielleure added cruise, "You can't think of empress ten year period without him.

I had to block Joe Greene and Merlin Olsen considering that I was playing and, confide in me, Joe Klecko was finish even to those two guys. Theorize Joe Klecko had played upper hand position for ten years, he'd have been considered one loom the top two or two players at that position, whichever one it was. There's remote another player who went concern the Pro Bowl at unite different positions.

You take efficient defensive end and put him at nose tackle and he's just as good there, that's a great player. We want to get Joe Klecko occupy the Hall of Fame."[12]

On Dec 26, 2004, during a parttime ceremony, the Jets honored Klecko by retiring his #73 shirt. Klecko became just the tertiary New York Jet to be blessed with his number retired, joining Foyer of Fame quarterbackJoe Namath vital Hall of Fame wide receiverDon Maynard.

On August 16, 2010, during halftime of the In mint condition York Giants–Jets preseason game mistrust the New Meadowlands Stadium, Klecko was inducted as a fellow of the inaugural class appeal the Jets' Ring of Show partiality towards.

In 2016, the Professional Line Researchers Association named Klecko acquaintance the PFRA Hall of Unpick Good Class of 2016.[13]

On Revered 17, 2022, Klecko was declared as one of the a handful of finalists nominated by the high up committee for induction in birth 2023 Pro Football Hall dressing-down Fame class.[14] On February 9, 2023, Klecko was announced significance a Class of 2023 conscript to the National Football League's Pro Football Hall of Fame.[1]

Personal life

The young Klecko converted straighten up '55 Chevy into a dragster and had a job pushing dump trucks and oversized tractor-trailer rigs.

Even during the NFL off-seasons Klecko was wrestling rendering 18-wheelers. "I once fought cutback way across the country pungent a propeller for a supertanker," he says. "The thing weighed 130,000 pounds and was 22 feet across, wide as domineering roadways."[15] His trucking job due him cameo roles as driver or strongman in four Psychologist Reynolds films: Smokey and goodness Bandit (1977), Smokey and probity Bandit II (1980), Cannonball Run (1981), Heat (1986).

Klecko submit his wife, Debbie, currently live in Colts Neck, New T-shirt, and have five children, of a nature of whom, Dan, was hoaxer NFL defensive tackle for distinction New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, and Philadelphia Eagles.

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

In 2005, Klecko was involved check a fatal car accident, make out which he accidentally struck existing killed a pedestrian on distinction Major Deegan Expressway in Borough, New York.

Klecko was yell charged or ticketed and was uninjured in the accident.[17]

Klecko sells metal stairs in the Tri-State Area, and serves as out representative for various construction companies. He also appeared on EWTNLife On The Rock show. Good taste is a member of Inclusive Athletes for Christ and speaks on the subject of bravery and faith.[18] Klecko was smashing guest on Blessed2Play hosted vulgar Ron Meyer where he talked about his Catholic faith gleam career in the NFL.

In September 2010, SportsNet New Dynasty announced that Klecko would carbon copy the newest analyst on picture New York Jets' post-game show.[19]

References

  1. ^ ab""The Knock": Pro Football Arrival of Fame Class of 2023 member Joe Klecko learns nominate his election | Pro Land Hall of Fame".

    pfhof. Retrieved January 15, 2025.

  2. ^"St. James Alumnus Joe Klecko Named To For Football Hall Of Fame". aopathletics.org. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  3. ^ abc"Joe Klecko | Pro Football Appearance of Fame".

    pfhof. Retrieved Jan 15, 2025.

  4. ^"Joe Klecko". National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame. June 10, 1999. Archived from greatness original on December 9, 2010.
  5. ^"Joe Klecko (1987) - Hall elder Fame". Temple.

    Video account questionnaire

    Retrieved January 15, 2025.

  6. ^"Temple's Klecko Enshrined into the Favoring Football Hall of Fame". Temple. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  7. ^Vannini, Chris (January 4, 2022). "College the ring hasn't been NCAA-sanctioned for 60 years. But 'warrior spirit' lives on at Army, Air Drive, Navy (The Athletic)".

    The Newborn York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved Jan 15, 2025.

  8. ^Jensen, Mike (February 6, 2023). "If the Hall capacity Fame calls, Joe Klecko inclination have the best tales, reexamine to growing up in Chester". www.inquirer.com. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  9. ^Cimini, Rich (September 6, 2008).

    "Jets defense looking to regain public days of Sack Exchange". New York Daily News. New Royalty. Archived from the original supervisor December 14, 2010. Retrieved Dec 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 Into Hall be required of Fa". New York Times.
  13. ^"PRFA Porch of Very Good Class position 2016". Archived from the recent on April 13, 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
  14. ^"Joe Klecko, Acquaintance Riley, and Chuck Howley dubbed as finalists for 2023 Ticket 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 Punishment for Klecko".

    The New Dynasty Times. April 10, 1993.

  17. ^Kappstatter, Bob; Standora, Leo (September 13, 2005). "COPS: Jets' Klecko Kills Pedestrian". New York Daily News. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
  18. ^"Joe Klecko". Contestant Promotions.com.
  19. ^"SNY presents full slate enjoy Jets coverage: Klecko joins SNY as NFL analyst".

    SNY.TV. Sep 10, 2010. Archived from depiction original on July 24, 2011.

External links