In January of 2023, Joe Namath touched down at Newark Airport. He put on the iconic gold jacket worn by fellow inductees in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and stepped into an SUV. Colt’s Neck, New Jersey was his destination. After a short car ride, he walked up & knocked on a red-stained door waiting for an answer. The homeowner greeted Namath like an old friend before he received the news. The resident, a 69-year-old Joe Klecko heard Namath congratulate him on his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2023.
While other names are also deserving, many of the sport’s greatest athletes were puzzled by his lengthy absence from Canton. Klecko’s name has been on a long list of deserving inductees but never voted in. Even after an incredible 11-year career, the 35-year wait for Klecko is finally over.
The Life and Career of Joe Klecko
“Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.” Aristotle
Born on October 15, 1953, Joe Klecko had the kind of blue-collar upbringing one would expect in Chester, PA. The standout athlete made a name for himself on the gridiron of St James Catholic High School for Boys. However, his football prowess wasn’t just against high schoolers. The adolescent Klecko played semi-pro ball as a member of the Aston Knights. He achieved this by giving the Seaboard Football League a false identity under the name of Jim Jones out of Poland University. His creativity paid off as his experience helped him improve more for college scouts. Soon enough, he earned an opportunity to play college football at Temple University.
Temple University
A main recruitment tool for Klecko’s acceptance was playing for head coach Wayne Hardin. Hardin was in his second season at Temple during Klecko’s freshman year & was widely respected in college football. The long-time Navy coach led two cadets to win the Heisman Trophy Joe Bellino and Roger Staubach. Klecko managed to get on the disciplinarian’s good side after a dominant performance against the University of Delaware. The freshman was all over the field finishing with 15 tackles and five sacks in a 31-8 Owls victory. Klecko remained dominant leading the team in tackles his final three seasons and becoming an All-American in both his junior and senior seasons.
Welcome to the NFL… and Queens
After the conclusion of the 1976 season, the Temple graduate would make his way to the NFL. While it was a long wait, Klecko was selected with the 144th overall pick by the New York Jets. The 6th round pick joined a valuable draft class for the organization along with future All-Pros Marvin Powell & Wesley Walker on offense, both selected in the first two rounds. He finished his rookie season with eight sacks, which made an immediate impact in Shea Stadium. While productive in his first two seasons, the 1979 NFL Draft would create a tremendous opportunity for New York going forward.
‘ The New York Sack Exchange ‘
After going 8-8 in 1978, the Jets’ first two picks in the 1979 draft were on the defensive line. Alabama lineman Marty Lyons with the 14th overall pick & ECU defensive end Mark Gastineau with the 41st pick. Gastineau and Lyons would join Klecko and Abdul Salaam on the defensive front seven.
As the decade changed, the quartet made their presence known with Klecko & Gastineau reaching double-digit sacks for the first time. The following year, the duo of Klecko & Gastineau had a combined 40.5 of the team’s staggering total of 66 sacks for the season. Klecko would become 1st team All-Pro as the league leader in sacks & Gastineau 2nd team All-Pro. Along with Salaam and Lyons, the four rang the opening bell of the Stock exchange in November. This fab four of defensive dominance became known as the ‘New York Sack Exchange’, striking terror in the hearts of offensive lines. With a record of 10-5-1, New York made the postseason for the first time in 12 seasons. Alas, the team fell to Buffalo in the wildcard game 31-27.
While Klecko looked to build off his solid season in 1982, a ruptured patella tendon during the second game cost him a majority of the season. Gastineau took on a more active role in Klecko’s absence & the Jets reached the postseason in consecutive seasons for only the second time in franchise history. They managed to capture victories against the Bengals and Raiders for the right to face Miami in the AFC Championship game. With an opportunity to reach their second Super Bowl appearance, New York lost 14-0 in the infamous ‘Mud Bowl’ game. The Dolphins lost to the Washington Redskins the following week in the Super Bowl.
A new position, the same production
Before the 1983 season began, Klecko received an obstacle more significant than just returning from the knee injury. The organization had to deal with the abrupt resignation of head coach Walt McDaniels. His successor, offensive coordinator Joe Walton decided to move Klecko off the edge and into the interior of the line as a defensive tackle. Klecko took the position change in stride, earning 6.5 sacks and his second Pro Bowl appearance two seasons later, after the hiring of a new defensive coordinator. This meant the Jets changed their defensive scheme to a 3-4 base. With this change in philosophy, Klecko would once again have to learn a new position.
Joe took to the nose tackle with ease in 1985. He was their leading tackler and had five forced fumbles along with 7.5 sacks. He earned his second 1st team All-Pro honors that season making history as the second athlete in NFL history to reach the Pro Bowl at three separate positions after Frank Gifford. His success propelled New York to an 11-5 record & a playoff spot before losing to the Patriots in the wildcard game.
Saying goodbye
Father time comes for us all, and unfortunately, Klecko was no exception. His body dealt with the toll of playing on the line for nearly a decade. Klecko’s production deteriorated as the Jets made the playoffs again in 1986, losing to the Browns in the divisional round. In 1987, Klecko only played 7 games and recorded a single sack. Following the season’s end, the New York Jets released Klecko. Soon, Klecko would spend his final season as an Indianapolis Colt before retiring from the sport in 1988.
Life after retirement
Although he walked away from the game, Joe Klecko always kept the game close to him. While he never won a Super Bowl, Joe got to experience that high first hand watching his son Daniel win three championships between New England & Indianapolis. Today, Joe spends his time with his family as much as he can while working as a metal step salesman. He even got some time on movie sets appearing in four different Burt Reynolds movies over the years.
Klecko’s legacy to the Jets is unrivaled. Few defensive players could have made such an impact on the organization (except for the fellow class of 2023 inductee Darrelle Revis). Klecko’s skill set made him a force on the defensive line & made offensive linemen’s hearts pound in fear. His nearly 35-year journey has kept him waiting it failed to rob the joy of seeing two New York Jets welcomed into Canton is nothing short of a sight to behold. A fitting way for New York to begin the season after making headlines all off-season.
Main Image: Julie Vennitti Botos / USA TODAY NETWORK
