Joe Klecko
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| Joe Klecko | |
|---|---|
| Position(s): Defensive Lineman |
Jersey #(s): 73 |
| Born: October 15, 1953 Chester, Pennsylvania |
|
| Career Information | |
| Year(s): 1977–1988 | |
| NFL Draft: 1977 / Round: 6 / Pick: 144 | |
| College: Temple | |
| Professional Teams | |
| Career Stats | |
| Sacks | 24 |
| Fumble recoveries | 9 |
| Games played | 155 |
| Stats at NFL.com | |
| Career Highlights and Awards | |
Joseph Edward Klecko (born October 15, 1953 in Chester, Pennsylvania) is a former American football player as a defensive lineman for the New York Jets from 1977 to 1987, and the Indianapolis Colts in 1988. He co-anchored the Jets formidable defensive line known as the "New York Sack Exchange" with Mark Gastineau, Abdul Salaam and Marty Lyons. The four combined for 53.5 sacks in 1981, including a league-leading 20.5 by Klecko, who was named the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year by the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA). Klecko is second to Gastineau on the Jets all-time leading sack leaders (as of the 2008-2009 season).
Klecko played at Temple under legendary college coach Wayne Hardin (the former Navy coach who coached 2 Heisman Trophy winners in Bellino '60 and Staubach '63). While at Temple University, Klecko also played semi-pro football for the Aston (Pa.) Knights and kept his eligibility by playing under an assumed name (Jim Jones) and a fake university (Poland University). He also won two NCAA club boxing titles in the heavyweight division. Klecko played high school football at St. James Catholic High School for Boys in Chester, Pa.
On December 26, 2004, during a halftime ceremony, the Jets honored Klecko by retiring his #73 jersey. Klecko became just the third New York Jet to have his number retired, joining Hall of Fame QB Joe Namath and Hall of Fame WR Don Maynard. He was the first player in professional football history to be selected to the Pro Bowl at three different positions (DE, DT and NT).
Klecko is the all-time favorite player of ESPN's Mike Greenberg, of Mike & Mike in the Morning. On the Feb. 2, 2007 Mike & Mike show, Hall-of-Fame offensive lineman Anthony Muñoz said that Klecko was the strongest defensive lineman he had ever faced.
Klecko had a small role in the 1981 Burt Reynolds film Cannonball Run, as well as Reynolds' Smokey and the Bandit and Smokey and the Bandit II and appeared on EWTN Life On The Rock show. Among other pursuits, he is a member of Catholic Athletes for Christ and speaks on the subject of manhood and faith.
His son, Dan, plays for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Klecko and his wife have been residents of Colts Neck Township, New Jersey.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ Holt, Shannon. "Joe Klecko - Blue Collar Player", National Football League Players Association press release dated December 22, 2004. Accessed February 17, 2008. "Klecko and his wife, Debbie, currently reside in Colts Neck, NJ, where Joe serves as a representative for various construction companies."
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