Behind the Bronze: Deacon Jones

Two-hundred-sixty bronze busts reside in the Hall of Fame Gallery inside the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. They "immortalize" the greatest players, coaches, and contributors that this game has produced.

Deacon Jones

Deacon Jones is one of the fiercest defensive ends ever to step on a football field. He specialized in harassing quarterbacks and is credited with coining the term "sack." He rose from an unknown 14th-round draft pick into an eight-time Pro Bowler. Twice named NFL Defensive Player of the Year, he was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980. Deacon's HOF Bio>>>

Hobbies: Golf. That's been my hobby ever since I left the game. I also like to cook and that's been a favorite of mine for many years.

Last Book You Read: I'm in the process of finishing up Bill Clinton's book, My Life.

Favorite Movie: I'm not a movie guy, I'm a television guy. I don't like going to the movies.

Favorite Music: The Blues.

Favorite Food: Barbequed ribs.

Favorite Current NFL Player: DeMarcus Ware

Favorite Athlete in Another Sport: Kobe Bryant. I love that guy. He's my favorite right now.

Favorite NFL Team as a Child: I don't know that I had one. I didn't know that much about the NFL until I got to the Rams.

First Job: Picking oranges.

Your Favorite NFL Stadium During Your Career (other than the Coliseum): I guess I have to go where I had some great games on the road, the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.

One Person Who Influenced You Most in Life: George Allen.

Did you have any pre-game rituals/superstitions? Yeah, I did the same thing I won with. I never changed anything. I got to the stadium earlier than most guys. I was ready and dressed by 9:30. I liked being there before the enemy arrived.

Watch: Deacon Jones recalls his most memorable games.

Was there a reason for choosing No. 75? That was a lineman's number and it was available. I got to wear it throughout my entire career.

Toughest Opponent: There a number of guys I put in that category. I played against some tough guys many of whom are in the place where you're sitting (the Hall of Fame). Early in my career, my first three years in the business was Bob St. Clair from the 49ers. He was a problem. He was big and he could get it done. Then, came Jim Parker, then Bob Brown. Those three guys fall in that category, pick any one you want!

How would you spend time during the offseason? Working. I had a job. My first job I sold Volkswagens, the Bugs. I could never demonstrate them because I couldn't fit in one.

What makes you most proud about your Hall of Fame career: The fact that I was a 14th-round draft choice and I was black player who came during a time when it was tough to get a shot at making a team. I had it tough. I came all the way from the bottom to the top.

Do you remember where you were when you learned that you had been elected to the Hall of Fame? Absolutely. I was working for the Miller Brewing Company and we brought some customers to the Super Bowl. I was sitting in a lobby of a hotel in downtown L.A. when I got the news. I just screamed! I bought champagne for everyone in the lobby, I just went wild! It was the greatest day of my life, I'll never forget that.

How did you go about picking George Allen as your presenter? He was the man! He was the man who took my career at the right time and he developed it. I loved him as a coach. I thought the world of him. He taught me the game. I knew his family. We went through eight years of a lot of things. There was no choice for me when it came to picking my presenter. It was going to be him.

If you could do your Enshrinement Speech over today, what would you change? Nothing … I thought it was one of the damn greatest speeches, I know I've ever given.

Your greatest accomplishment outside of football: The Deacon Jones Foundation.