Former NFL player Darrelle Revis speaks during his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo David Dermer, Pool)
It’s about damn time for two of the best defensive players in New York Jets history to finally be enshrined into the hallowed halls of Canton, Ohio.
Saturday afternoon saw thousands of Jets fans take the pilgrimage to the Pro Football Hall of Fame to see cornerback Darrelle Revis and defensive tackle Joe Klecko finally honored among the greatest to ever walk on a field.
For Klecko, his enshrinement is the final chapter of a long journey that started out being one of the brightest defensive stars in Jets’ history.
A member, along with Mark Gastineau, of the “New York Sack Exchange” Klecko was an All-Pro twice, including in 1981 when he unofficially led the NFL with 20 1/2 sacks and finished second to Lawrence Taylor in the Defensive Player of the Year voting. Klecko helped the Jets reach the playoffs multiple times during his career while also being on the doorstep of a Super Bowl berth twice. The Jets’ top interior defender hadn’t played in a game for over 30 years and was the HOF Senior Selection Committee’s choice to finally be awarded the tremendous honor.
“I’ve been waiting 30 years to give this speech,” Klecko said as he began his speech. “You know, I’m in a lot of Hall of Fames. I’m in the Jersey Hall of Fame, the Pennsylvania Hall of Fame, the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the Temple Hall of Fame, and hell, I’m even in the Polish Hall of Fame. Now, there’s only one Hall of Fame I have left. That’s His. I know God knows how much I love him, and every blessing in our lives is because of him.”
Klecko gave credit to the Jets’ current ownership to get him to this position, as well as teammates that helped him throughout his playing career – most notably fiery pass-rushing dynamo Mark Gastineau whom he called “one of the biggest personalities in…
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