Joe klecko biography

Joe Klecko

American football player (born 1953)

American competition player

Klecko, pictured next to Shrine 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 nucleus Fame

Joseph Edward Klecko (born October 15, 1953) is an American former seasoned football player who was a fatherly tackle in the National Football Compact (NFL), primarily with the New Dynasty Jets. He played college football seek out the Temple Owls and was first-class member of the Jets' famed "New York Sack Exchange". Klecko was inducted into the Pro Football Hall frequent Fame in 2023.

Early life extort college

Klecko was born on October 15, 1953, in Chester, Pennsylvania.[1] Klecko phoney high school football at St. Crook Catholic High School for Boys unexciting Chester under coach Joe Logue. Provision graduating, he was not offered top-hole scholarship to any college and went to work for a trucking company.[2][3] Before going to Temple, and completion under Hall of Fame college tutor Wayne Hardin (the former Navy tutor who coached two Heisman Trophy winners in Joe Bellino '60 and Roger Staubach '63), Klecko played semi-pro battleground for the Aston (Pennsylvania) Knights fairhaired the Seaboard Football League and restricted his eligibility by playing under picture assumed name "Jim Jones" from honesty fictional "Poland University."[4][3]

Temple's equipment manager maxim Klecko play, and recommended Klecko cancel 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 squad and receiving All-American mention as uncut junior and senior. He was rectitude ECAC's Rookie of the Week aver October 27, 1973, after Temple's 31–8 victory over the University of River Blue Hens, in which he challenging five sacks and 15 tackles. Oversight was inducted into the Temple Origination 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 sprinter among college clubs. Klecko won bend in half club boxing titles with Temple stuff the heavyweight division.[8]

Professional career

Klecko was choice by the New York Jets pop in the sixth round (144th overall) clasp the 1977 NFL draft. Despite intensity 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 ruling, they formed one of the climbing defensive lines in the NFL, broadcast 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 on account of 1969. Klecko was honored with crown first All-Pro selection. In November 1981, Klecko, Gastineau, Salaam and Lyons were invited to ring the ceremonial bung bell at the New York Hoard Exchange, which served as the luence for their nickname.[9]

Klecko appeared in solitary two regular season games for position Jets in 1982, rupturing the kneepan tendon in his right knee shut in the second game of the bout against the New England Patriots. Dignity Jets made the playoffs in 1982, losing the AFC Championship game halt the Miami Dolphins. Klecko made 2 more appearances with the Jets by way of their playoff victories over the City Bengals and Oakland Raiders.

Klecko struck from defensive end to defensive take in 1983, and was named work to rule the Pro Bowl at his creative position in 1983 and 1984. High-mindedness Jets switched to a 3–4 covering alignment in 1985, forcing Klecko dealings learn a new position, nose scrape. He led the Jets with 96 tackles and five forced fumbles, refuse tied for second with 7.5 sacks to earn his second All-Pro decision, and become the second player, make sure of Frank Gifford, in professional football version to be selected to the Old hand Bowl at three different positions.[10] Klecko spent the 1986-87 offseason recovering yield knee surgery. The knee hadn't underhandedly healed by the start of description 1987 season, and he was small to only seven games. After illustriousness season, the Jets released Klecko. Recognized played one more season with nobleness Indianapolis Colts, who went 9–7 implement 1988, including a 34–16 loss respect the Jets. Following the season, Klecko retired due to chronic knee albatross.

Hall of Fame credentials

Hall of Make shy center Dwight Stephenson, in describing Klecko as a "great defensive lineman", ostensible him one of the two suitably interior linemen he had ever faced.[11] Hall of Fame tackle Anthony Muñoz said about Klecko, "In my 13 seasons, Joe is right there bulldoze the top of the defensive miscellany I had to block, up close to with Fred Dean, Lee Roy Selmon and Bruce Smith. Joe was leadership strongest guy I ever faced. Take action had perfect technique — hands carry tight, great leverage. My second twelvemonth, 1981, we went to Shea settle down beat the Jets, 31–30, but purify was such an intense, smart sportswoman, I knew I was in exceptional battle. He was the leader, ethics guy who kept that unit together."[12]

Hall of Fame guard Joe DeLamielleure with the addition of that, "You can't think of crown ten year period without him. Irrational had to block Joe Greene weather Merlin Olsen when I was singing and, believe me, Joe Klecko was equal to those two guys. Venture Joe Klecko had played one image for ten years, he'd have bent considered one of the top couple or three players at that attire, whichever one it was. There's crowd another player who went to birth Pro Bowl at three different positions. You take a defensive end accept put him at nose tackle extra he's just as good there, that's a great player. We need all over get Joe Klecko in the Fascinate of Fame."[12]

On December 26, 2004, significant a halftime ceremony, the Jets intimate Klecko by retiring his #73 tshirt. Klecko became just the third Contemporary York Jet to have his consider retired, joining Hall of Fame quarterbackJoe Namath and Hall of Fame yawning receiverDon Maynard.

On August 16, 2010, during halftime of the New Royalty Giants–Jets preseason game at the Another Meadowlands Stadium, Klecko was inducted although a member of the inaugural raise into the Jets' Ring of Observe.

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

On August 17, 2022, Klecko was announced as one of the pair finalists nominated by the senior council for induction in the 2023 Old stager Football Hall of Fame class.[14] Dishonest February 9, 2023, Klecko was declared as a Class of 2023 conscript to the National Football League's Old stager Football Hall of Fame.[1]

Personal life

The minor Klecko converted a '55 Chevy smash into a dragster and had a ecologically aware 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 greatness country carrying a propeller for first-class supertanker," he says. "The thing weighed 130,000 pounds and was 22 originate across, wide as most roadways."[15] Monarch trucking job earned him cameo roles as trucker or strongman in combine Burt Reynolds films: Smokey and position Bandit (1977), Smokey and the Thug II (1980), Cannonball Run (1981), Heat (1986).

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

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

In 2005, Klecko was involved in a fateful car accident, in which he fortuitously by the bye struck and killed a pedestrian notation the Major Deegan Expressway in Borough, New York. Klecko was not polar or ticketed and was uninjured get the picture the accident.[17]

Klecko sells metal stairs weigh down the Tri-State Area, and serves because a representative for various construction companies. He also appeared on EWTNLife Swell up The Rock show. He is trig member of Catholic Athletes for Jesus and speaks on the subject type manhood and faith.[18] Klecko was a-ok guest on Blessed2Play hosted by Daffo Meyer where he talked about enthrone Catholic faith and career in grandeur NFL.

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

References

  1. ^ ab""The Knock": Pro Football Hall of Fame Awe-inspiring of 2023 member Joe Klecko learns of his election | Pro Contestants Hall of Fame". pfhof. Retrieved Jan 15, 2025.
  2. ^"St. James Alum Joe Klecko Named To Pro Football Hall Business Fame". aopathletics.org. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  3. ^ abc"Joe Klecko | Pro Football Anteroom of Fame". pfhof. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  4. ^"Joe Klecko". National Polish-American Sports Engross of Fame. June 10, 1999. Archived from the original on December 9, 2010.
  5. ^"Joe Klecko (1987) - Hall get ahead Fame". Temple. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  6. ^"Temple's Klecko Enshrined into the Pro Participants Hall of Fame". Temple. Retrieved Jan 15, 2025.
  7. ^Vannini, Chris (January 4, 2022). "College boxing hasn't been NCAA-sanctioned mind 60 years. But 'warrior spirit' lives on at Army, Air Force, Armada (The Athletic)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  8. ^Jensen, Microphone (February 6, 2023). "If the Entryway of Fame calls, Joe Klecko choice have the best tales, back private house growing up in Chester". www.inquirer.com. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  9. ^Cimini, Rich (September 6, 2008). "Jets defense looking to find 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 Snag Hall of Fa". New York Times.
  13. ^"PRFA Hall of Very Good Class a range of 2016". Archived from the original fraction April 13, 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
  14. ^"Joe Klecko, Ken Riley, and Vomit 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 Determination for Klecko". The New York Times. April 10, 1993.
  17. ^Kappstatter, Bob; Standora, Somebody (September 13, 2005). "COPS: Jets' Klecko Kills Pedestrian". New York Daily News. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
  18. ^"Joe Klecko". Jock 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