Gold Jacket Spotlight: Joe Klecko’s journey from semi-pro ball to Hall of Fame
Gold Jacket Spotlight
Published on : 10/23/2023
A simple, and sometimes surprising, act can change a person’s direction in life.
It wouldn’t be a stretch to proclaim JOE KLECKO'S path to a Pro Football Hall of Fame playing career began with a purposeful toss of his car keys out of the car window by his then-girlfriend and future wife, Debbie.
Joe’s ascension from the key-tossing incident to enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023 is the focus of this week’s Gold Jacket Spotlight.
Having no collegiate football scholarships in hand upon completion of high school, Joe, working as a truck driver, was invited to try out for the Aston Knights, a semi-professional team playing in the Seaboard Football League.
Joe has described the career-changing act that occurred upon his arrival to the Knights’ tryouts on several occasions, including his enshrinement speech, sharing: “When we pulled up, I got cold feet, made a few excuses to Debbie about not trying out, and when she suddenly grabbed my keys out of the ignition and threw them out the window, I said, ‘What the heck did you do that for?’
“So,” Joe continued, “When I went out to try and get the keys, the guy seen me and said, ‘Joe, come on over.’ I tried out for the team, and I made it. But if it wasn't for Debbie making me get out of my car, I wouldn't be sitting here today wearing this Gold Jacket.”
John DiGregorio, Temple University’s equipment manager and supporter of the Knights, persuaded Temple head football coach Wayne Hardin to watch Joe play and offer the defensive lineman a scholarship.
Hardin observed Joe play and quickly offered him the final scholarship available. Joe rewarded the coach’s decision by leading the team in tackles for three consecutive seasons and being selected an honorable mention All-American in 1974 and 1975.
In the 1977 NFL Draft, the New York Jets selected Joe in the sixth round (144th overall).
“Being drafted in the sixth round was, to me, a knock,” Joe said. In explaining his approach to his first training camp in a conversation on the “Official Jets Podcast” in 2022, he added, “My mentality was I was a little upset that I was drafted in the sixth round. My mentality was that if I don’t make this team, you’re going to know I was here for some reason or another.”
Joe continued,” I was never going to let anybody get away with anything, whether it brought the attention of the coaches or not. I was going to let them know what kind of person I was on the field. On the field, I was not going to be toyed with.”
Joe proceeded to spend the next 11 seasons as a member of the Jets and concluded his playing career with a season in Indianapolis. During that 155-game span, Joe earned All-Pro recognition twice and appeared in four Pro Bowls.
Those four Pro Bowl selections are historic, as Joe remains the only player in NFL history selected to all three positions across the defensive line: end, tackle and nose.
“He turned out to be a helluva pick for us,” said Walt Michaels, the Jets’ coach from 1977 to 1982. “If they held that draft again, Joe would go in the first round.”
While Michaels was looking in a rear-view mirror when he offered that acknowledgement, it was the future Debbie Klecko who already believed in Joe’s future when she tossed his keys out of the car’s window.
It wouldn’t be a stretch to proclaim JOE KLECKO'S path to a Pro Football Hall of Fame playing career began with a purposeful toss of his car keys out of the car window by his then-girlfriend and future wife, Debbie.
Joe’s ascension from the key-tossing incident to enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023 is the focus of this week’s Gold Jacket Spotlight.
Having no collegiate football scholarships in hand upon completion of high school, Joe, working as a truck driver, was invited to try out for the Aston Knights, a semi-professional team playing in the Seaboard Football League.
Joe has described the career-changing act that occurred upon his arrival to the Knights’ tryouts on several occasions, including his enshrinement speech, sharing: “When we pulled up, I got cold feet, made a few excuses to Debbie about not trying out, and when she suddenly grabbed my keys out of the ignition and threw them out the window, I said, ‘What the heck did you do that for?’
“So,” Joe continued, “When I went out to try and get the keys, the guy seen me and said, ‘Joe, come on over.’ I tried out for the team, and I made it. But if it wasn't for Debbie making me get out of my car, I wouldn't be sitting here today wearing this Gold Jacket.”
John DiGregorio, Temple University’s equipment manager and supporter of the Knights, persuaded Temple head football coach Wayne Hardin to watch Joe play and offer the defensive lineman a scholarship.
Hardin observed Joe play and quickly offered him the final scholarship available. Joe rewarded the coach’s decision by leading the team in tackles for three consecutive seasons and being selected an honorable mention All-American in 1974 and 1975.
In the 1977 NFL Draft, the New York Jets selected Joe in the sixth round (144th overall).
“Being drafted in the sixth round was, to me, a knock,” Joe said. In explaining his approach to his first training camp in a conversation on the “Official Jets Podcast” in 2022, he added, “My mentality was I was a little upset that I was drafted in the sixth round. My mentality was that if I don’t make this team, you’re going to know I was here for some reason or another.”
Joe continued,” I was never going to let anybody get away with anything, whether it brought the attention of the coaches or not. I was going to let them know what kind of person I was on the field. On the field, I was not going to be toyed with.”
Joe proceeded to spend the next 11 seasons as a member of the Jets and concluded his playing career with a season in Indianapolis. During that 155-game span, Joe earned All-Pro recognition twice and appeared in four Pro Bowls.
Those four Pro Bowl selections are historic, as Joe remains the only player in NFL history selected to all three positions across the defensive line: end, tackle and nose.
“He turned out to be a helluva pick for us,” said Walt Michaels, the Jets’ coach from 1977 to 1982. “If they held that draft again, Joe would go in the first round.”
While Michaels was looking in a rear-view mirror when he offered that acknowledgement, it was the future Debbie Klecko who already believed in Joe’s future when she tossed his keys out of the car’s window.
Previous Article
Statue of Hall of Famer Paul Brown unveiled in Ohio hometown
After about 22 months of planning, about 500 people gathered on West Main Street to watch the unveiling of Paul Brown Park in Norwalk, Ohio.
Next Article
Celebrating Hall of Fame tight ends on National Tight Ends Day
On Oct. 27, 2019, the NFL celebrated the first official National Tight Ends Day, creating a league-wide festivity. With the Week 7 “holiday” upon us, the Pro Football Hall of Fame celebrates the tight ends who have received a Gold Jacket.