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Pass Rusher Joe Klecko terrorized quarterbacks in the NFL in the '80s. Source: https://nypost.com/2022/07/28 (May be subject to copyright) |
Yet, in the end, Joe Klecko seized the limelight when he was recently inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The years before
After a standout college career with the Temple Owls, Klecko was taken in the sixth round of the 1977 NFL Draft.
After a standout college career with the Temple Owls, Klecko was taken in the sixth round of the 1977 NFL Draft.
He would record eight quarterback sacks in his rookie season; record eight sacks and a fumble recovery in 1978; seven sacks in 1979; and hit double digits for the first time in 1980 with 10.5 sacks.
As the new decade dawned, Joe Klecko was poised to breakout, with a little help from his friends.
New York Sack Exchange
Over a span of four seasons, the Jets assembled one of the most formidable defensive lines in the NFL. Klecko joined Abdul Salaam who the Jets drafted in 1976 then, in 1979, they were joined by Mark Gastineau and Marty Lyons.
Over a span of four seasons, the Jets assembled one of the most formidable defensive lines in the NFL. Klecko joined Abdul Salaam who the Jets drafted in 1976 then, in 1979, they were joined by Mark Gastineau and Marty Lyons.
The four of them began to gell and, in 1981, the four of them combined for 66 sacks. Their efforts helped lead the Jets to their first playoff game since 1969. They hosted their AFC East rival, the Buffalo Bills, in the AFC Wildcard Game at Shea Stadium, losing by a score of 31-27. Klecko did register a sack in that game.
Klecko led the league with 20.5 sacks, was voted All-Pro and was named to his first Pro Bowl. He was also the Newspaper Enterprise Association NFL Defensive Player of the Year and the Professional Football Writers of America NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Klecko, Gastineau, Lyons and Salaam were invited to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange in November. Thus they became the New York Sack Exchange.
AFC Championship Game
Joe Klecko hurt his knee against New England in the second game of the 1982, and would play in just two games in the regular season.
Joe Klecko hurt his knee against New England in the second game of the 1982, and would play in just two games in the regular season.
That season was interrupted by a players’ strike part way through. Instead of the usual playoff format, the NFL decided to stage a 16-team tournament, with the eight teams with the best records in each conference qualifying for the playoffs.
The Jets were the sixth seed in the AFC and would go to Cincinnati to play the Bengals at Riverfront Stadium in the first round of the playoffs. The Bengals were coming off their first ever AFC Championship, a trip to the Super Bowl in 1981, and were the number three seed in the AFC. However, the Jets handled the Bengals easily, winning by a score of 44-17
Meanwhile, the top-seeded Los Angeles Raiders, led by rookie sensation Marcus Allen beat the Cleveland Browns and would host the Jets at the L.A. Coliseum in the AFC semi-final. The Jets shut down Allen, going on to a 17-14 victory and a spot in the AFC Championship Game.
Awaiting them at the Orange Bowl in Miami were their AFC East rival, the second seed Dolphins. The game was rainy and the felt was mucky, limiting any sort of offensive chances. It was the Dolphins’ defence that reigned supreme, including AJ Duhe who had three interceptions, returning one for a touchdown and setting up another, as Miami beat the Jets by a score of 14-0.
Joe Klecko played in all three playoff games, recording one sack.
New position
Klecko was moved from defensive end to defensive tackle in 1983. He registered 6.5 sacks and recovered a fumble en route to his second Pro Bowl selection.
Klecko was moved from defensive end to defensive tackle in 1983. He registered 6.5 sacks and recovered a fumble en route to his second Pro Bowl selection.
In 1984, Klecko had three sacks and recovered two fumbles, and was selected to his third Pro Bowl.
The 1985 season saw Klecko change positions again, moving to nose tackle. Klecko led the Jets with 96 tackles, five forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and was tied for second in the league with 7.5 sacks. He earned his second All-Pro selection, and was named to his fourth Pro Bowl. Klecko became the second player, after Frank Gifford, to be selected to the Pro Bowl at three different positions.
End of the line
Joe Klecko struggled with knee problems for the remainder of his career. In 1986, he played in 11 games, registering four sacks then, in 1987, he played in just seven games, recording three sacks.
Joe Klecko struggled with knee problems for the remainder of his career. In 1986, he played in 11 games, registering four sacks then, in 1987, he played in just seven games, recording three sacks.
He was released after the 1987 season. He joined my beloved Indianapolis Colts for the 1988 season, appearing in 15 games, recovering one fumble and having no sacks.
The knee problems had taken their toll, so he retired at the end of the season.
Joe Klecko finished his career playing in 155 games, recording 78 sacks and recovering nine fumbles.
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall Of Fame earlier this year in 2023.
Tough as nails
Joe Klecko always seemed like a tough, no-nonsense guy to me. I recently watched “A Football Life” profile on the NFL Network on Jim Kelly. He was cocky and kind of over-confident when he came into the NFL in 1986, after two years in the USFL.
Joe Klecko always seemed like a tough, no-nonsense guy to me. I recently watched “A Football Life” profile on the NFL Network on Jim Kelly. He was cocky and kind of over-confident when he came into the NFL in 1986, after two years in the USFL.
His Bills were playing the Jets, and Kelly had driven Buffalo down to the New York one-yard line. At that point Klecko was called for offside by referee Red Cashin. He said Red, that’s not on me.
He walked past Kelly to line up for the next play, when he heard the Buffalo quarterback mutter, “On a first name basis huh?”.
Well, Klecko went back to the huddle and said he thought, if he took a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty, the ball would be moved a few inches. So, as Kelly crouched behind centre, Klecko jumped offside and knocked him on his butt.
That was classic Klecko.
Parting thoughts
It was when Joe Klecko was playing nose tackle where I remember him best, looking intense every time he lined up over the centre, almost touching helmets with him.
It was when Joe Klecko was playing nose tackle where I remember him best, looking intense every time he lined up over the centre, almost touching helmets with him.
He, like Salaam, Lyons, and Gastineau was relentless in his pursuit of the quarterback.
On second thought, I don’t think he was overshadowed by Gastineau, he just was not as flamboyant.
Besides that, his numbers speak for themselves.
Joe Klecko was never in anyone’s shadow.
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