View source for Joe Klecko

{{Short description|American football player (born 1953)}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| image       = coach and klecko.jpg
| image_size  =
| caption     = Klecko, pictured next to Temple coach Wayne Hardin
| position    = [[Defensive tackle]]
| number      = 73
| birth_date  = {{birth date and age|1953|10|15|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Chester, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| height_ft   = 6
| height_in   = 3
| weight_lbs  = 263
| draftyear   = 1977
| draftround  = 6
| draftpick   = 144
| high_school = [[St. James High School for Boys|St. James]] {{nowrap|(Chester, Pennsylvania)}}
| college     = [[Temple Owls football|Temple]]
| teams       =
* [[New York Jets]] ([[1977 NFL season|1977]]–[[1987 NFL season|1987]])
* [[Indianapolis Colts]] ([[1988 NFL season|1988]])
| statlabel1  = Games played
| statvalue1  = 155
| statlabel2  = [[Quarterback sack|Sacks]]
| statvalue2  = 78
| statlabel3  = [[Fumbles|Fumble recoveries]]
| statvalue3  = 9
| highlights  =
* [[NFL Defensive Player of the Year]] ([[NEA NFL Defensive Player of the Year|NEA]], [[Pro Football Writers Association|PFWA]]) (1981)
* 2× First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1981 All-Pro Team|1981]], [[1985 All-Pro Team|1985]])
* Second-team All-Pro ([[1983 All-Pro Team|1983]])
* 4× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1982 Pro Bowl|1981]], [[1984 Pro Bowl|1983]]–[[1986 Pro Bowl|1985]])
* [[List of National Football League season sacks leaders|NFL sacks leader]] (1981)
* [[George Halas Award]] (1982)
* [[New York Jets|New York Jets Ring of Honor]]
* [[New York Jets#Retired numbers|New York Jets No. 73]] retired
* 2× First-team All-East ([[1974 All-East football team|1974]], [[1975 All-East football team|1975]])
| pfr         = K/KlecJo00
| HOF         = Joe-Klecko 
}}

'''Joseph Edward Klecko''' (born October 15, 1953) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[defensive tackle]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL), primarily with the [[New York Jets]]. He played [[college football]] for the [[Temple Owls football|Temple Owls]] and was a member of the Jets' famed "[[New York Sack Exchange]]". Klecko was inducted into the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] in 2023.

==Early life and college==
Klecko was born on October 15, 1953, in [[Chester, Pennsylvania]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title="The Knock": Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2023 member Joe Klecko learns of his election {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2023/the-knock-pro-football-hall-of-fame-class-of-2023-member-joe-klecko-learns-of-his-election/ |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=pfhof |language=en}}</ref> Klecko played high school football at St. James Catholic High School for Boys in Chester under coach Joe Logue. After graduating, he was not offered a scholarship to any college and went to work for a trucking company.<ref>{{Cite web |title=St. James Alum Joe Klecko Named To Pro Football Hall Of Fame |url=https://aopathletics.org/news/2023/2/17/st-james-alum-joe-klecko-named-to-pro-football-hall-of-fame.aspx |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=aopathletics.org |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Joe Klecko {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/joe-klecko/ |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=pfhof |language=en}}</ref> Before going to Temple, and playing under Hall of Fame college coach [[Wayne Hardin]] (the former [[Navy football|Navy]] coach who coached two [[Heisman Trophy]] winners in [[Joe Bellino]] '60 and [[Roger Staubach]] '63), Klecko played semi-pro football for the [[Aston, Pennsylvania|Aston]] (Pennsylvania) Knights of the [[Seaboard Football League]] and kept his eligibility by playing under the assumed name "Jim Jones" from the fictional "Poland University."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://polishsportshof.com/inductees/football/joe-klecko/|title=Joe Klecko|publisher=National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame|date=June 10, 1999|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101209062119/http://polishsportshof.com/inductees/football/joe-klecko/|archive-date=December 9, 2010}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

Temple's equipment manager saw Klecko play, and recommended Klecko to coach Hardin, who after seeing Klecko play one quarter offered him a scholarship.<ref name=":1" /> Klecko led the Temple Owls in tackles his last three seasons (1974–1976), twice making the All-East team and receiving All-American mention as a junior and senior. He was the [[East Coast Conference|ECAC]]'s Rookie of the Week on October 27, 1973, after Temple's 31–8 victory over the [[Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football|University of Delaware Blue Hens]], in which he had five sacks and 15 tackles. He was inducted into the Temple University Sports Hall of Fame in 1987.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Joe Klecko (1987) - Hall of Fame |url=https://owlsports.com/honors/hall-of-fame/joe-klecko/145 |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=Temple |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Temple's Klecko Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://owlsports.com/news/2023/8/5/temples-klecko-enshrined-into-the-pro-football-hall-of-fame |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=Temple |language=en}}</ref>

While there was no [[NCAA]] boxing, which the NCAA stopped sanctioning in 1960,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vannini |first=Chris |date=January 4, 2022 |title=College boxing hasn't been NCAA-sanctioned for 60 years. But 'warrior spirit' lives on at Army, Air Force, Navy (The Athletic) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3048505/2022/01/04/college-boxing-hasnt-been-ncaa-sanctioned-for-60-years-but-its-warrior-spirit-lives-on-at-army-navy-air-force/ |access-date=2025-01-15 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> there was a national club competition among college clubs. Klecko won two club boxing titles with Temple in the heavyweight division.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jensen |first=Mike |date=2023-02-06 |title=If the Hall of Fame calls, Joe Klecko will have the best tales, back to growing up in Chester |url=https://www.inquirer.com/college-sports/temple/joe-klecko-temple-jets-hall-of-fame-20230206.html |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=www.inquirer.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Professional career==
Klecko was selected by the New York Jets in the sixth round (144th overall) of the [[1977 NFL draft]]. Despite eight sacks by Klecko, his team went only 3–11 his first season. However, when he and [[Abdul Salaam (American football)|Abdul Salaam]] were joined by [[Mark Gastineau]] and [[Marty Lyons]] on the Jets' defensive line, they formed one of the top defensive lines in the [[National Football League|NFL]], known as the "New York Sack Exchange." The four combined for 66 sacks in [[1981–82 NFL playoffs|1981]], including a league-leading 20.5 by Klecko, to lead the Jets to their first playoff game since [[AFL playoffs, 1969|1969]]. Klecko was honored with his first [[All-Pro]] selection. In November 1981, Klecko, Gastineau, Salaam and Lyons were invited to ring the ceremonial opening bell at the [[New York Stock Exchange]], which served as the inspiration for their nickname.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/2008/09/06/2008-09-06_jets_defense_looking_to_regain_glory_day.html|title=Jets defense looking to regain glory days of Sack Exchange|newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]|date=September 6, 2008|location=New York|first=Rich|last=Cimini|access-date=December 11, 2010|archive-date=December 14, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214083708/http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/2008/09/06/2008-09-06_jets_defense_looking_to_regain_glory_day.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:1986 Jeno's Pizza - 30 - Joe Cribbs (Joe Klecko crop).jpg|thumb|left|Klecko playing for the Jets in 1981]]
Klecko appeared in only two regular season games for the Jets in 1982, rupturing the patella tendon in his right knee in the second game of the season against the [[New England Patriots]]. The Jets made the playoffs in [[1982–83 NFL playoffs|1982]], losing the [[American Football Conference|AFC]] Championship game to the [[Miami Dolphins]]. Klecko made 2 more appearances with the Jets during their playoff victories over the [[Cincinnati Bengals]] and [[Oakland Raiders]].

Klecko moved from [[defensive end]] to [[defensive tackle]] in 1983, and was named to the [[Pro Bowl]] at his new position in [[1984 Pro Bowl|1983]] and [[1985 Pro Bowl|1984]]. The Jets switched to a 3–4 defensive alignment in 1985, forcing Klecko to learn a new position, [[nose tackle]]. He led the Jets with 96 tackles and five forced fumbles, and tied for second with 7.5 sacks to earn his second All-Pro selection, and become the second player, after [[Frank Gifford]], in professional football history to be selected to the Pro Bowl at three different positions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thejetsblog.com/2008/07/17/tjb-hall-of-fame-joe-klecko/|title=TJB Hall of Fame: Joe Klecko|author=Bassett|date=July 17, 2008|publisher=The Jets Blog.com}}</ref> Klecko spent the 1986-87 offseason recovering from knee surgery.  The knee hadn't fully healed by the start of the 1987 season, and he was limited to only seven games.  After the season, the Jets released Klecko. He played one more season with the [[Indianapolis Colts]], who went 9–7 in 1988, including a 34–16 loss to the Jets. Following the season, Klecko retired due to chronic knee problems.

==Hall of Fame credentials==
Hall of Fame center [[Dwight Stephenson]], in describing Klecko as a "great defensive lineman", considered him one of the two best interior linemen he had ever faced.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.profootballhof.com/story/2000/10/20/233/|title=Dwight Stephenson Chat Transcript|date=October 20, 2000}}</ref> Hall of Fame tackle [[Anthony Muñoz]] said about Klecko, "In my 13 seasons, Joe is right there at the top of the defensive ends I had to block, up there with [[Fred Dean]], [[Lee Roy Selmon]] and [[Bruce Smith (defensive end)|Bruce Smith]]. Joe was the strongest guy I ever faced. He had perfect technique — hands in tight, great leverage. My second year, 1981, we went to [[Shea Stadium|Shea]] and beat the Jets, 31–30, but he was such an intense, smart player, I knew I was in a battle. He was the leader, the guy who kept that unit together."<ref name="nyt2008-11-07">{{cite news | title = Time Has Come for Klecko to Go Into Hall of Fa|first = Dave |last = Anderson |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/08/sports/football/08anderson.html |newspaper = [[New York Times]] |date = November 7, 2008}}</ref>

Hall of Fame guard [[Joe DeLamielleure]] added that, "You can't think of his ten year period without him. I had to block [[Joe Greene]] and [[Merlin Olsen]] when I was playing and, believe me, Joe Klecko was equal to those two guys. If Joe Klecko had played one position for ten years, he'd have been considered one of the top two or three players at that position, whichever one it was. There's not another player who went to the Pro Bowl at three different positions. You take a defensive end and put him at nose tackle and he's just as good there, that's a great player. We need to get Joe Klecko in the Hall of Fame."<ref name="nyt2008-11-07"/>

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 [[quarterback]] [[Joe Namath]] and Hall of Fame [[wide receiver]] [[Don Maynard]].

On August 16, 2010, during halftime of the [[New York Giants]]–Jets preseason game at the [[New Meadowlands Stadium]], Klecko was inducted as a member of the inaugural class into the Jets' Ring of Honor.

In 2016, the [[Professional Football Researchers Association]] named Klecko to the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.profootballresearchers.com/hall-of-very-good-2016.htm |title=PRFA Hall of Very Good Class of 2016 |access-date=December 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413094415/http://www.profootballresearchers.com/hall-of-very-good-2016.htm |archive-date=April 13, 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

On August 17, 2022, Klecko was announced as one of the three finalists nominated by the senior committee for induction in the 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/joe-klecko-ken-riley-chuck-howley-named-as-finalists-for-2023-hall-of-fame-induction/amp/|title=Joe Klecko, Ken Riley, and Chuck Howley named as finalists for 2023 Hall of Fame induction |date=August 17, 2022 }}</ref> 
On February 9, 2023, Klecko was announced as a Class of 2023 inductee to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.<ref name=":0" />

==Personal life==
The young Klecko converted a '55 Chevy into a dragster and had a job driving dump trucks and oversized tractor-trailer rigs. Even during the NFL [[off-season]]s Klecko was wrestling the 18-wheelers. "I once fought my way across the country carrying a propeller for a supertanker," he says. "The thing weighed 130,000 pounds and was 22 feet across, wide as most roadways."<ref>{{cite web | title=Killer with a Baby Face | work=Sports Illustrated Vault &#124; SI.com | url=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 }}</ref> His trucking job earned him [[Cameo appearance|cameo]] roles as a trucker or strongman in four [[Burt Reynolds]] films: ''[[Smokey and the Bandit]]'' (1977), ''[[Smokey and the Bandit II]]'' (1980), ''[[The Cannonball Run (film)|Cannonball Run]]'' (1981) and ''[[Heat (1986 film)|Heat]]'' (1986).

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

In 1993, Klecko was sentenced to three months in prison for [[perjury]] in an insurance fraud case.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/04/10/sports/sports-people-football-jail-sentence-for-klecko.html?mcubz=0 | title=Jail Sentence for Klecko | date=April 10, 1993 | work=The New York Times}}</ref>

In 2005, Klecko was involved in a fatal car accident, in which he accidentally struck and killed a pedestrian on the [[Major Deegan Expressway]] in [[Bronx, New York]]. Klecko was not charged or ticketed and was uninjured in the accident.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/cops-jets-klecko-kills-pedestrian-article-1.642515 | title=COPS: Jets' Klecko Kills Pedestrian | first1=Bob | last1=Kappstatter | first2=Leo | last2=Standora | date=September 13, 2005 | work=New York Daily News | access-date=December 27, 2018}}</ref>

Klecko sells metal stairs in the Tri-State Area, and serves as a representative for various construction companies. He also appeared on [[EWTN]] ''Life On The Rock'' show. He is a member of Catholic Athletes for Christ and speaks on the subject of manhood and faith.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.athletepromotions.com/athletes/Joe-Klecko-appearance-booking-agent.php|title=Joe Klecko|publisher=Athlete Promotions.com}}</ref> Klecko was a guest on Blessed2Play hosted by Ron Meyer where he talked about his Catholic faith and career in the NFL.

In September 2010, [[SportsNet New York]] announced that Klecko would be the newest analyst on the New York Jets' post-game show.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sny.tv/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100910&content_id=14497962&vkey=2|title=SNY presents full slate of Jets coverage: Klecko joins SNY as NFL analyst |publisher=SNY.TV |date=September 10, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724093320/http://www.sny.tv/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100910&content_id=14497962&vkey=2 |archive-date=July 24, 2011}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{commons category-inline}}

{{Jets1977DraftPicks}}
{{NFL sack leaders}}
{{Jets Retired Numbers}}
{{Jets Ring of Honor}}
{{2023 Football HOF}}
{{Pro Football Hall of Fame members}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Klecko, Joe}}
[[Category:1953 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Chester, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:American people of Polish descent]]
[[Category:American Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:American football defensive ends]]
[[Category:American football defensive tackles]]
[[Category:Indianapolis Colts players]]
[[Category:NFL players with retired numbers]]
[[Category:New York Jets players]]
[[Category:Temple Owls football players]]
[[Category:Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees]]