Tag: Joe Klecko Hall of Fame

After 30 years, Joe Klecko finally got to give his Hall of Fame speech

Joe Klecko’s wait for his speech was well worth it.

Thirty years. Thirty long years. That’s how long defensive lineman Joe Klecko waited to finally get enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

“Since 1993, I’ve been waiting to give this speech,” Klecko said as he began his Hall of Fame speech, saying the speech has been in his drawer since 1993. This after being presented by former teammate and New York Sack Exchange member Marty Lyons.

Klecko’s speech included many thanks to a lot of his former teammates and coaches, including the other three members of the New York Sack Exchange, Lyons, Mark Gastineau and Abdul Salaam.

Klecko also thanked Jets ownership over the years, including Leon Hess and Woody and Chris Johnson.

But it was his wife, Debbie, that Klecko seemed to give the most thanks to and it stems from a tryout with a Pennsylvania semipro team that he almost didn’t take up.

“My wife drove me to practice, but when we showed up, I got cold feet,” Klecko said about going to a tryout with the Aston Knights. “So she grabbed my keys out of the ignition and threw them out the window. ‘What’d you do that for?’ I said and got out to try to find the keys. That’s when the coach recognized me and said, ‘Joe, come on over.’

“Who knew when you threw the keys out the window on the practice field 50 years ago, it would end up here?” Klecko said to his wife.

Klecko also poked fun at his son Dan, who won three Super Bowl rings (two with the Patriots, one with the Colts) while Joe did not win a ring. But Joe now has a bust to call his own.

“He had a wonderful career … and he never lets me forget,” Joe said. He then pointed to his bust and said to his son, “Hey, Dan, let’s see when you get one of them.”

Klecko wrapped up his speech by looking for “Fireman Ed” Anzalone and having him lead a “J-E-T-S Jets! Jets! Jets!” chant.

After a 12-year NFL career, including 11 with the Jets and a Defensive Player of the Year award in 1981, and a 30-year wait to finally get the call, Klecko has taken his rightful place in the Hall of Fame as the New York Sack Exchange finally is represented in Canton.

How to watch Hall of Fame induction ceremony, full speech order

How to watch Revis and Klecko’s speeches

Saturday will be a great day for Jets fans. Darrelle Revis and Joe Klecko take their place on football’s ultimate roster, the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

They are among nine players and coaches who will be enshrined into the halls of Canton, Ohio and be forever immortalized in football history.

You can watch the ceremony starting at 12 eastern on ESPN and the NFL Network. You can also stream on the respective websites and apps.

Here is the order in which the speeches will be made, starting with linebacker Zach Thomas and closing with longtime Browns offensive tackle Joe Thomas.

  1. Zach Thomas
  2. Ken Riley (presented posthumously by his son)
  3. DeMarcus Ware
  4. Joe Klecko
  5. Chuck Howley
  6. Darrelle Revis
  7. Don Coryell
  8. Rondé Barber
  9. Joe Thomas

Watch: Joe Klecko gets his Hall of Fame gold jacket

Check out Joe Klecko getting his gold jacket

One of the members of the vaunted New York Sack Exchange of the 1980s is ready to hit the ultimate closing bell for a football player: enter the Hall of Fame.

On Friday, Klecko, along with the other members of the Class of 2023, including Darrelle Revis, received his Hall of Fame gold jacket.

Klecko played 12 NFL seasons, 11 with the Jets. He was the 1981 Defensive Player of the Year with an unofficial 20.5 sacks (sacks became an official stay in 1982).

He is also the only player to be named to the Pro Bowl at all three defensive line positions (end, tackle, nose). His No. 73 was retired by the Jets in 2004 and he was an inaugural member of their Ring of Honor in 2010.

Now, he gets the ultimate title: Hall of Famer. Check out the moment he received his gold jacket.

Marty Lyons to serve as Joe Klecko’s Hall of Fame presenter

Marty Lyons to serve as Joe Klecko’s Hall of Fame presenter

Legendary Jets defensive tackle Joe Klecko will be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August, and one of his running mates on the New York Sack Exchange will share the moment with him as his presenter.

The Hall of Fame made the news official Wednesday that former defensive lineman Marty Lyons will serve as the presenter for Klecko when he is inducted on Aug. 5, two days after the Jets play in the Hall of Fame Game against the Cleveland Browns.

Lyons spent his entire 12-season career with the Jets (1979-1990), playing in 147 games and totaling 43 sacks. He is a member of the Jets’ Ring of Honor as well as a 2011 inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame. From 1979 to 1987, Lyons and Klecko formed the New York Sack Exchange, along with Mark Gastineau and Abdul Salaam.

Come August, Lyons will have the honor of helping Klecko unveil his bust for the Hall of Fame in what is going to be an incredible week for Jets fans and players.

Jets legend Joe Klecko named Senior finalist for Hall of Fame

Jets great Joe Klecko is one step away from immortality in Canton.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame revealed their three senior finalists for induction into the Hall for the Class of 2023. And a member of the New York Sack Exchange is on the list.

Former Jets defensive lineman Joe Klecko is officially on the ballot come January. Klecko played 11 seasons (1977-1987) for the Jets. Here are just a few of his accomplishments in his career:

  • 1981 NFL Defensive Player of the Year
  • Two-time First-Team All-Pro selection (1981, 1985)
  • One-time Second-Team All-Pro selection (1983)
  • Four-time Pro Bowl selection (1981, 1983, 1984, 1985)
  • NFL sack leader in 1981
  • Member of Jets Ring of Honor, No. 73 retired by team

Klecko now needs to get 80 percent of the votes when the committee meets in January to decide who will join the Class of 2023. But by all accounts, Klecko is a near lock to be inducted next August in Canton, Ohio.

Klecko spoke to ESPN about his upcoming shot at the Hall and said it’s a tremendous honor and a “pretty cool phone call”.

Also among the senior finalists are longtime Bears and Cowboys linebacker Chuck Howley, who was MVP of Super Bowl V, the first MVP from the losing Super Bowl team, and former Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Ken Riley.