Tag: Joe Klecko

Joe Klecko gets Fireman Ed to lead Jets chant during Hall of Fame speech

A Fireman Ed speech to wrap up Joe Klecko’s long-awaited Hall speech.

Jets legendary defensive lineman Joe Klecko is officially in the halls of Canton, Ohio after the enshrinement ceremony Saturday at Tom Benson Stadium.

Klecko spoke of his career and thanked many of his teammates and, most importantly, his wife Debbie. He also got the most famous Jets fan to close out his speech with a “J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS” chant.

That fan is, of course, none other than Fireman Ed. At the end of Klecko’s speech, he asked where Ed was. When Ed was spotted, Klecko asked to lead the crowd in a loud chant. Needless to say, the vast group of Jets fans in attendance obliged the Hall of Famer.

A fitting way to end Klecko’s 30-year wait to get into the Hall of Fame, a wait that was more than worth it.

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.

NFL Honors turns into historic night for Jets

An unprecedented night for the New York Jets at the NFL Honors Thursday.

The NFL Honors is a time to celebrate the best players and moments of the just-completed regular season and some teams end up having reason to celebrate more. For the Jets, this year’s event became a huge night for the franchise.

Not only did Jets players take home both Rookie of the Year awards — Garrett Wilson on offense, Sauce Gardner on defense — but the Jets have not one, but two new members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Darrelle Revis and Joe Klecko.

In fact, the night was so big, it was unprecedented.  No team had ever accomplished such a feat in the same year before. No team had ever claimed both the Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year as well as having two players elected to the Hall of the Fame all in the same year.

What had the potential to be a great night for the Jets turned into a historic one and all are absolutely deserving of their respective accomplishments Thursday night.

Joe Thomas, Darrelle Revis among nine members of 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame class

The Pro Football Hall of Fame welcomed nine new enshrinees to its ranks. Here is the 2023 Hall of Fame class.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has welcomed the following players, coaches, and contributors to its ranks with the 2023 class:

Joe Thomas, Darrelle Revis, DeMarcus Ware, Ken Riley, Joe Klecko, Chuck Howley, Ronde Barber, Don Coryell, and Zach Thomas.

There were 15 modern-era finalists, with Dwight Freeney, Revis and Thomas as the three first-ballot players.

The new enshrinees, in order of announcement on the NFL Honors show, and their official biographies from the Pro Football Hall of Fame:

Joe Klecko elected to Hall of Fame

Joe Klecko elected to Hall of Fame

One of the leaders of the New York Sack Exchange can finally ring the bell in Canton, Ohio. Joe Klecko is a Hall of Fame member.

The great Jets defensive lineman was elected Thursday as part of the NFL Honors ceremony. He was nominated by the Seniors Committee back in August to be among the finalists for induction.

A sixth-round pick in 1977, Klecko was a force on the defensive line for the Jets, including 20.5 sacks in 1981, one season before sacks became an official stat.

Klecko was a four-time Pro Bowl selection (1981, 1983-1985) and two-time First-Team All-Pro selection (1981, 1985). He was also named to the Second Team All-Pro in 1983.

His No. 73 is retired by the Jets and he is an inaugural member of the Jets’ Ring of Honor. Now, he is forever immortalized in the halls of Canton.

Joe Klecko named winner of Maxwell Football Club Legends Award

Joe Klecko named winner of Maxwell Football Club Legends Award

Former New York Jets great defensive tackle Joe Klecko was named the winner of the 18th Maxwell Football Club Legends Award presented by Mohegan Pennsylvania, as announced by Maxwell Football Club Director Mark Wolpert.

The four-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time All-Pro was one of the key figures of the great “New York Sack Exchange” of the 1980s and is a senior finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2023.

The 1981 Jets, led by Klecko, remains the franchise single-season record holder with 66 sacks, led by Klecko’s 20.5 sacks.

Klecko’s No. 73 was retired by the team in 2004 and he became a member of the Jets’ Ring of Honor in 2010 as part of their inaugural class. In 2019, Klecko was named to the Jets’ All-Time team.

Notes from Thursday’s practice leading into Falcons week

A few notes from a light practice Thursday.

The Jets had a light, non-padded practice Thursday as they gear up for joint practices Friday and Saturday with the Atlanta Falcons. That leads up to the teams’ meeting for their second preseason game Monday night on ESPN. As we get set for the Jets to work out with the Falcons, here are a few notes from the media landscape on Thursday’s practice, the last amongst themselves for a few days.

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Jets’ Joe Klecko named Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist

#Jets’ Joe Klecko named Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist:

Former Former Jets All-Pro defensive lineman Joe Klecko is among 24 seniors, coaches and contributors selected as finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023.

Specifically, Klecko is selected as one of the 12 finalists to be enshrined in the senior category. The 12-person Seniors Committee will meet Aug. 16, and each committee member will present one finalist.

Klecko made the final cut in 2021, but he missed out in the end to wide receiver Cliff Branch.

The Hall of Fame plans to induct three senior candidates this year.

A noted run stopper, Klecko had 78 career sacks, 20 of them coming in one season in 1981. He finished second for Defensive Player of the Year behind Lawrence Taylor.

Klecko played a decade for the Green & White from 1977 to 1987. He rounded out his career in 1988 with the Indianapolis Colts.

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