After a protracted wait, former Jets defensive star Joe Klecko is one step nearer to being inducted into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame.
Klecko was one in all three Senior finalists named to the Corridor of Fame Wednesday afternoon. Chuck Howley, a former exterior linebacker for the Chicago Bears (1958-59) and the Dallas Cowboys (1961-1973) and former Bengals cornerback Ken Riley (1969-1983) have been the opposite two senior finalists.
Now that Klecko, Howley and Riley have emerged from the group of 12 senior former into consideration, they'll every be thought of together with 15 modern-era gamers and a coach and contributor, to be inducted into the Professional Soccer Class of 2023 Corridor of Fame class in January. Klecko can be elected if he receives 80% approval in the course of the balloting course of. Nevertheless, for senior finalists, that's often thought of a formality.
It has been a protracted look forward to Klecko to get into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame. He was eligible in 1988, first as a Trendy Period candidate and as a senior candidate however has by no means superior to the finalist stage till now.
After being chosen within the sixth-round choice within the 1977 draft out of Temple, Klecko had an illustrious profession with the Jets. In 11 seasons, Klecko registered 78 sacks as he together with Mark Gastineau, Marty Lyons, and Abdul Salaam shaped the group “New York Sack Trade.
Klecko’s finest season got here in the course of the 1981 marketing campaign as he recorded 20.5 sacks as he was runner-up for the NFL’s Defensive Participant of the 12 months. Throughout his time with the Jets, Klecko was named to 4 Professional Bowls and earned two first-team All-Professional honors – as soon as at defensive finish and as soon as at nostril guard.
The 2023 Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame class could possibly be particular with Klecko and former Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis, who can be eligible for the primary time. Throughout his profession with the Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots and Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, Revis was a seven-time Professional Bowler, four-time first-team All-Professional, and profitable Tremendous Bowl XLIX with the Patriots.
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