A Tribute To Deacon Jones

((HT: Hall of Fame Players Classic and Foundation))

Megan Holland gave the HQ the heads-up on this one...

Reid Slider is an intern with the Classic and wrote this tribute to Deacon Jones with Jones' memorial service set for this weekend in Los Angeles.

Figured we'd let you read it... Reid's a junior in university...

Deacon Jones stood in his three-point stance waiting for the quarterback to take the snap from under center. His mind was racing, trying to figure out the snap count, and in doing so, beat even the offensive lineman off the snap. With a flurry of motion and agility, he swiped past Minnesota’s offensive tackle and made his way towards the quarterback in the purple jersey, now as vulnerable as ever. He reached out to pull future Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton to the turf, to record what he had just recently termed a “sack.” But, and this was something so unusual to Deacon, the quarterback shook him off and Deacon Jones fell to the ground as the quarterback escaped the pocket and looked downfield. This moment of humility, so unusual for Deacon Jones, seemed to ignite a fire in Deacon, as he launched himself off the ground and chased down Tarkenton to record just one of what became an estimated 173.5 sacks.

Just two days after Deacon’s passing, Jack Youngblood told me that he believed Deacon’s sack total to be “well over 200,” but due to the league’s inability to keep sack totals until 1982, we’ll never know for sure. This play, though just a single incident in his vast career, told you everything you needed to know about the type of player, and person, Deacon Jones was. This was one play of one ball game of one season out of the astronomical number of games that Deacon Jones would appear in for the Rams, Chargers and Redskins, but that’s not what it was to him. For Deacon Jones, this was his chance to shine and showcase his incomparable talent to the fans and even to other players on the field that day. So he gave everything he had on every play. When some players would have accepted the defeat of being shaken off by a future Hall of Fame player, and just told themselves “I’ll get him next time,” Deacon couldn’t. He willed himself to that sack just like he willed himself to many things in life. He simply would not let himself give anything less than 100%. It’s truly incredible to watch, because you can see the determination and drive, but also the humility and the caring side of him. Because on this, play, just like every single play of his career, he wraps up the quarterback and makes a form tackle instead of going for the big hit.

It’s not like he couldn’t, considering he was 6’5 and 270 pounds. I’d challenge anyone who’s ever seen Jones play to find a moment where he was attempting to hurt someone. I really don’t think there’s a play out there where it even almost occurred. And that was the great thing - the most admirable thing – about Deacon. He was the fiercest of competitors but the most respectful of opponents.

This is just one of the many reasons we celebrate the career and life of Deacon Jones. We celebrate him because he’s the player we’d kill to have on our favorite team and the man we strive to be.

For those who haven’t already heard the story of Deacon Jones, it begins in Eatonville, Florida, in a four-bedroom house, occupied by 10 family members. Deacon was a standout football player in high school and went on to play college football for South Carolina State, but his participation in a civil rights protest led to the revocation of his scholarship. Fortunately, an opportunity presented itself in the form of the small Mississippi Vocational College, and Deacon continued his college career on the football team there. Coincidentally, that college would become Mississippi Valley State, the program that produced Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice.

Jones went on to enter the NFL with little fanfare, as a 14th round draft choice for the Rams. Tom Mack said that Deacon was “aggressive enough to show everybody that he belonged there.” However, Deacon would impress the coaches and fans out of the gate, amassing 8 sacks in his rookie season. After earning a starting spot next to Hall of Fame defensive tackle Merlin Olsen, his fame and productivity rose greatly. Jones was selected to the All-Pro Team every year from 1964-1970. With the numbers he continually put up, he received the nickname “Secretary of Defense.

As his takedowns piled up, Jones felt the need for a more succinct word to describe taking down the quarterback, so after much though, he settled on “sack,” a term which is used by basically everyone to describe the play today. During his time with the Rams, Chargers, and Redskins, he took many rookies under his wing. Jack Youngblood said “I watched him from day one… he taught me how to play the game.” As Jones’ NFL experience grew, his talent and accomplishments rose to levels previously never experienced by any defensive player, even in today’s age.

The NFL did not begin keeping statistics on sacks until the 1982 season, but if they had, there would be a different name atop the list on single season sack leaders. The record would not belong to New York Giant great Michael Strahan, nor would he rank second on the list. Deacon Jones would have the two greatest statistical seasons ever for a defensive end. In 1967, he recorded 26 sacks and the following year he got to the quarterback 24 times. He was awarded the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award for both seasons. One of the tricks that Jones invented for getting to the quarterback was slapping the offensive tackle at the ear hole, a move he believed caused them to close their eyes, allowing him to move past. Eventually, the NFL outlawed that move but not before Deacon Jones used it in his arsenal of pass rushing moves that helped him get to the quarterback a believed 173.5 times. If recorded, that would be third all-time, behind Hall of Fame companions Bruce Smith and Reggie White.

After leaving the Rams, Jones played for the Chargers and Redskins, retiring in 1974. During his retirement, he stayed active by working with companies such as the Miller Brewing Company and Epson America, while also partnering with the NFL and Champion Products to promote their throwback designs. Later on in life, he founded the Deacon Jones Foundation to reach out to young people and their communities to assist and offer valuable skills through programs such as educational mentoring, and community service. He also traveled to Iraq with the NFL to visit American soldiers stationed overseas.

Deacon Jones was the consummate professional who played the game the right way and will always be remembered for his impact on the game today. He is survived by his wife Elizabeth, son and grandson, Gregory and Noah Pinto.