Hall of Fame defensive end, Deacon Jones, has passed away at age 74. The Washington Redskins have said he has did of “natural causes” at his home in Southern Cal.
During his most dominant years, he was played alongside fellow Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen, Rosey Grier and Lamar Lundy – the tandem teetered on “unblockable”. His old coach, George Allen, called him the “greatest defensive end of modern football.”
Here are just a few of his career highlights:
- first lineman with 100 solo tackles
- coined the term “sack”
- member of he Hall of Fame
- unofficially 173.5 sacks (sacks were not a recorded stat until the 1980’s)
- made the NFL’s 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
- played in 7-straight Pro Bowls, 8 in his career
- was the leader of one of the most feared defensive units of all-time – the Fearsome Foursome
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell tweeted the following: “Even with his fellow Hall of Famers, Deacon Jones held a special status. He was an icon among the icons. He is warmly regarded by his peers not only as one of the greatest players in history but also for his influence & sense of humor.”
Deacon Jones quite literally revolutionized the game with the way he attacked the Quarterback and put pressure on the passing game. His innovation of being a lineman who wasn’t just there to help stop the run, but created havoc in the passing attack was unique, and has forever altered the positions of Defensive End and Defensive Tackle. His impact on profootball today can not be overstated.
We at LWOS offere our condolences to his family, friends, former teammates, and fans. Deacon Jones is a legend and will forever be missed.
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Photo Credit: Legacy.com
