Joe Klecko, a four-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro, was just one of the most dominant defensive linemen of the 1980s.
Chosen by the Jets in the sixth round of the 1977 NFL Draft out of Temple, the Chester, Penn., native was a Pro Bowl collection at a few unique positions through his 10 years-moreover operate with Gang Environmentally friendly. Klecko, along with Mark Gastineau, Marty Lyons and Abdul Salaam, fashioned the vaunted “New York Sack Exchange” in 1981. Together they tormented opposing quarterbacks and led the NFL with 66 sacks that time.
Klecko, who begun 131 of his 140 video games with the Jets, concluded with 78 profession sacks. He had his No. 73 retired by the Jets in 2004 and was element of the franchise’s inaugural Ring of Honor course in 2010.
About the only matter Klecko has not been ready to tackle in the course of his stellar profession is enshrinement into the Pro Soccer Corridor of Fame. Now he is between 12 senior finalists for the Pro Soccer Hall of Fame Course of 2023. The 12-particular person Seniors Committee will meet next 7 days. Only a few can get in.
Now a thriving businessman in New Jersey, the Every day Information caught up with Klecko to examine his ideas on the Hall, as nicely as his storied vocation with the Jets.
(Issues and answers have been edited for size and clarity)
Everyday Information: Why do you believe you haven’t obtained a get in touch with to the Hall?
JOE KLECKO: I wish I knew. They only induct one particular dude a year as a Senior Finalist into the Hall. I skipped remaining a Senior Finalist for 2022 by a person vote. [Oakland Raider wide receiver] Cliff Branch was inducted last yr. I am content Department got the nod, but it’s regrettable that he’s not with us any longer to appreciate it. That is the actual shame, supplying gamers these honors just after they die. Howie Prolonged termed me right after he heard the news last yr stating, ‘Kleck, I simply cannot consider it!’, but I explained, ‘Howie, I ain’t leaping off a developing. If it does not operate out, it’s fantastic. And if it does, God bless it.’ [Hall of Fame offensive guard] Joe DeLamielleure makes a terrific circumstance for me. He claimed if I just stayed at one particular posture I’d be in the Corridor. But what is the variance? I even now dominated at every position
EDITORS’ Take note: The Corridor permitted up to 3 senior-pool choices for the Lessons of ‘23, ‘24 and ‘25 earlier this calendar year.
DN: What was the greatest game you ever performed?
JK: Wow. Nobody’s ever asked me that issue ahead of. Wow. There were being some game titles the place I manufactured large performs at the close. If I did not make them, we’d have missing the match. I’d say that when we experienced to acquire, I hardly ever enable any offensive lineman touch my linebackers. I’d yank ‘em down, I’d do whatsoever I experienced to do. So people forms of things took place a large amount.
But I guess my ideal just one was the Eco-friendly Bay match in 1981. It was the conclusion of the yr and we experienced to acquire to go to the playoffs. And we truly set the Giants in the playoffs as well, by beating Environmentally friendly Bay. We beat the crap out of [Packers QB] Lynn Dickey. He was a fantastic quarterback, but their offensive line could not take care of us. I think we experienced 10 or 11 sacks on the day. And no person … no person … ran my way on the remaining facet. I usually experienced the mentality that they [the Jets] required me to earn. I experienced the fortitude to gain.
A further game was towards the Buffalo Expenses the similar year. Ken Jones, the Bills’ still left deal with, had four keeping penalties in opposition to me in the initial half. Just after fifty percent time he altered his jersey variety — like the referee wasn’t heading to heading to discover. He was just holding and dragging me down. He had a really tough day.
DN: What are your thoughts on QB Richard Todd?
JK: Richard? I loved him. What a competitor. Challenging. He obtained the stuffing knocked out of him for a long time. For him to occur in listed here and participate in as well as he did though he was driving the horse… I imply, he took a beating right here. But he was developed like a workhorse so he could take that beating. I adore Richard, and we’re even now friends. In 1981 we have been supposed to be practically nothing, but we designed this staff with Freeman [McNeil] and Wesley [Walker] and offensively we had been executing excellent. Richard was possessing a great yr. We took steppingstones to get to the playoffs towards the [Buffalo] Expenses, but we experienced that video game. It was these a rough decline. We were being coming down the area and Richard throws that interception in the finish zone — that was a rough just one. We could have absent considerably that yr.
DN: How about QB Ken O’Brien?
JK: Ken took a beating as well, but I do not think any criticism of Kenny is warranted. He was a hell of a quarterback. Try to remember, he had that shootout with [Dan] Marino, wherever they put together for like 1,000 yards and Kenny won that activity. If Kenny experienced the jogging sport and the defense that Miami had…wow, but we just didn’t have it at that time. But Kenny gained that video game for us.
DN: Favourite NFL mentor?
JK: Oh Walt Michaels, without the need of a question. Walt drafted me he was just like my dad. A fantastic case in point — I was a very good baseball player when I was youthful. I’m taking part in shortstop, and I was remaining-handed. My father would sit in suitable area so he could catch my dwelling runs. A person time I strike a home operate to win the regionals and everyone’s congratulating me. I had to walk out to my dad mainly because he ain’t gonna stroll back again to me, and as an alternative of congratulating me he says, ‘Why’d you boot the ball at brief?’ And that was just like Walt. If you did your career, you have been the very best man in the earth, but you weren’t gonna get compliments about it. I was employed to that due to the fact that was how I grew up.
A funny tale when I was a rookie, in advance of the previous sport of the year, I was walking down a lodge hallway in Philly, and I noticed Walt coming the other way. When you’re a rookie, you really don't communicate to head coaches, and I’m hoping to stay as significantly absent from him as I can. He’s veering right to me, he knocks me into the planter and he keeps strolling. From Walt, that was a time period of endearment. Other children may possibly have taken it the wrong way, but I considered it was really awesome. My head coach knocked me into the bouquets.
DN: Who was the best offensive lineman you at any time faced?
JK: I played them all. This is an arrogant way to say this, but I just cannot say I at any time had a really poor time in opposition to any person. By situation, [center] Dwight Stephenson from Miami, and Webby [Mike Webster] in Pittsburgh. Webby experienced a good team around him. Stephenson, who I went versus 12 months right after 12 months, was the quickest dude I played in opposition to, with no a question. But that was my mantra — I was the quickest person most people performed from. That’s what made us so competitive. Don Shula constantly claimed, ‘Joe Klecko was the only guy I could not depart Dwight Stephenson to block on his individual.’
At guard, John Hannah. John was the variety of person that if you did defeat him, he wouldn’t get intimidated. He would occur back and try out to chunk your nose off. John was a true competitor. Of study course, at tackle was Anthony Munoz. He’s this sort of a great person — he’s generally plugging me for the Corridor of Fame.
DN: Who was the very best quarterback you at any time confronted?
JK: Without a question, it’s Dan Marino. He just acquired rid of the ball so quickly. His instincts had been outside of any person. The ideal athlete at QB was John Elway, tough quarterback. I try to remember chasing after him, pursuing him to our defensive proper, he’s running still left, and he threw a ball throughout the discipline from the 20-yard line to the conclude zone on a rope. He was remarkable.
DN: Who was the very best functioning again you faced?
JK: In my head it was Earl Campbell. Now, a lot of folks really do not really converse about him substantially simply because he hardly ever got to the Super Bowl, but Earl under no circumstances appeared for highlights. Earl never ever stepped out of bounds. Earl would run a engage in, then get up so gradually, hand the ball to the ref and wander again to the huddle like he was about to die. Then upcoming engage in he’d run for a touchdown. He was unbelievable that way. The only concussion I at any time acquired was from Earl and a guard at the identical time. They were coming around the conclude, so I threw my system in there and, oh man.
DN: Most loved Jets helmet?
JK: The traditional white helmet normally sat well with me, the one particular that Joe [Namath] wore. I only performed my rookie yr with that helmet. I never grew to like the eco-friendly helmet. The white helmet was the custom of the Jets. Not for almost nothing, they have been from a time that the Jets have been Super Bowl champions. Why do you transform one thing like that?
DN: What was your a person 12 months at Baltimore like?
JK: It was unique, I don’t regret it. The motive is I could continue to engage in, and I needed to show all people. And I did. Ron Meyer was the coach. I went there due to the fact they experienced a probability to go to the Super Bowl. They brought in [Hall of Fame running back] Eric Dickerson, they had a excellent offensive line and Gary Hogeboom at quarterback. So, if I could assist the defensive line as much as the pass rush…but they experienced a defensive line mentor that did not leave me in for go speeding, so I do not know the place that came from. It is not like he had studs in there. By the time the stop of the yr came it was a tiny disheartening to be there. So that produced my decision to retire effortless.
DN: Views on NFL participant celebrations now?
JK: Look, I’m as previous college as it gets. I informed my son Danny [who played in the NFL for the Patriots, Colts and Ravens], ‘If you ever sack a quarterback and you start out to celebrate, hurry up and switch around. Due to the fact I’m gonna place you on your ass.’
DN: But wasn’t Gastineau a person of the major sack celebrators of all?
JK: There was practically nothing I could do about Gastineau. They cherished him. They promoted what he preferred to do. He was so good. He was a hell of an athlete, and you weren’t likely to deter him. He was gonna do what he was gonna do no matter what. It brought him fame.
DN: What are your ideas about Robert Saleh, QB Zach Wilson and how the Jets will do this yr?
JK: All people I talk to, whether or not it’s in the media, gamers, or other coaches, all say how tricky Saleh’s groups enjoy for him. That is what you want in a head coach. He’s a great chief. I feel he’s a superior match for what the Jets want to attain. I like the kid QB. He requirements to be a very little a lot quicker with his reads, but he has expertise. He needs to choose benefit of the shorter to intermediate passes. Teams these days have a whole lot of results with the 6- or 7-lawn passes moving the offense down the discipline. Seem, you cannot throw deep towards a Belichick defense. You shouldn’t even test. His major problem will be the offensive line in entrance of him. I observed what transpired to Mekhi [Bekton]. Getting rid of him for the year is going to make issues even rougher. The Jets have a superior coach and a talented defense. I see no reason they can’t be a .500 workforce. Eight wins would be a fantastic time for them. It’s these kinds of a tricky division with the Expenses, Dolphins, and Patriots. Which is 3 particularly fantastic defenses they confront 6 situations a yr.
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