Deacon Jones, the NFL’s Original Sack Master, Dies at 74

Not even once in a generation does an athlete come along that truly changes the game they play in. Deacon Jones was a game-changer -- literally, figuratively, and any other way you can define the term.

The Hall of Fame Defensive End has passed away at the age of 74.

Jones played in the NFL before the quarterback sack was an official stat kept by the league.  Had he been credited with his sack stats during his career, he undoubtedly would've retired the games all time sack leader.

Stat nerds have gone back and looked at tape from NFL films, as well as studied play-by-play audio from Jones' games.  They estimate he had over 170 sacks in his career.  Deacon Jones said he had more than that.

Jones once said he had 19 sacks in a single game. That would be an untouchable record in today's NFL. Game-changer!

Jones played for the Los Angeles Rams during their "Fearsome Foursome" days.  He was likely the most feared athlete on the planet during that time.  Jones signature move was the head slap. He would chop at the head of an offensive lineman, disorient them, and rush past them. The move was made illegal by the NFL after his retirement.  Game-changer!

Jones was a 14th round pick out of Mississippi Vocational College (now known as Mississippi Valley State) and was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980.  He was selected as one of three defensive ends on the all-NFL 75th Anniversary Team in 1994.

He was outspoken and gregarious. He was violent on the field, and thoughtful off of it.  After retirement from football, he was a broadcaster, an actor, became famous for his Miller Lite commercials, and started the Deacon Jones Foundation in Anaheim Hills. His foundation provided college funding for inner city kids in return for their going back to their communities for volunteer work.

[via New York Times]