Temple University Athletics
Former Owl Klecko Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
2.9.23 | Football
PHILADELPHIA - After a long wait, former Temple defensive star Joe Klecko is being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The National Football League made the announcement on the NFL Honors on Thursday night, February 9.
At the formal induction of the 2023 Hall of Fame Class in Canton, Ohio, this August, Klecko will be joined by fellow Senior finalists linebacker Chuck Howley (Bears 1958-59, Cowboys 1961-73) and cornerback Ken Riley (1969-83); Don Coryell, in the Contributor/Coach category; and five Modern-Day honorees – cornerback Ronde Barber (Buccaneers 1997-2012), cornerback Darrelle Revis (Jets 2007-12 and 2015-16, Buccaneers 2013, Patriots 2014, Chiefs 2017), offensive lineman Joe Thomas (Browns 2007-17), linebacker Zach Thomas (Dolphins 1996-2007, Cowboys 2008), and linebacker DeMarcus Ware (Cowboys 2005-13, Broncos 2014-16). Riley and Coryell will be honored posthumously.
Inducted into the Temple Athletics Hall of Fame in 1987, Klecko led the Owls in tackles in each of three consecutive seasons. He had 114 in 1974, 104 in 1975, and 105 in 1976. He earned honorable mention All-America honors in both 1974 and 1975.
It has been a long wait for Klecko to get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was eligible in 1988, first as a Modern Era candidate and as a Senior candidate but has never advanced to the finalist stage until this year.
After being selected in the sixth-round in the 1977 draft, Klecko had an illustrious career with the Jets and Colts. In 12 NFL seasons, Klecko registered 78 sacks and was best known along with fellow Jets' defensive linemen Mark Gastineau, Marty Lyons, and Abdul Salaam as the "New York Sack Exchange."
Klecko's best season came during the 1981 campaign as he recorded a then-NFL record 20.5 sacks and was runner-up for the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year. During his time with the Jets, Klecko was named to four Pro Bowls and earned two first-team All-Pro honors – once at defensive end and once at nose guard.
Joe's son Dan, is also a member of the Temple Athletics Hall of Fame, making the Klecko's the only multi-generation honorees from the football program. Dan was also a defensive lineman who earned second team All-America honors in 2002 and was inducted into the Temple HOF in 2014.
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At the formal induction of the 2023 Hall of Fame Class in Canton, Ohio, this August, Klecko will be joined by fellow Senior finalists linebacker Chuck Howley (Bears 1958-59, Cowboys 1961-73) and cornerback Ken Riley (1969-83); Don Coryell, in the Contributor/Coach category; and five Modern-Day honorees – cornerback Ronde Barber (Buccaneers 1997-2012), cornerback Darrelle Revis (Jets 2007-12 and 2015-16, Buccaneers 2013, Patriots 2014, Chiefs 2017), offensive lineman Joe Thomas (Browns 2007-17), linebacker Zach Thomas (Dolphins 1996-2007, Cowboys 2008), and linebacker DeMarcus Ware (Cowboys 2005-13, Broncos 2014-16). Riley and Coryell will be honored posthumously.
Inducted into the Temple Athletics Hall of Fame in 1987, Klecko led the Owls in tackles in each of three consecutive seasons. He had 114 in 1974, 104 in 1975, and 105 in 1976. He earned honorable mention All-America honors in both 1974 and 1975.
It has been a long wait for Klecko to get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was eligible in 1988, first as a Modern Era candidate and as a Senior candidate but has never advanced to the finalist stage until this year.
After being selected in the sixth-round in the 1977 draft, Klecko had an illustrious career with the Jets and Colts. In 12 NFL seasons, Klecko registered 78 sacks and was best known along with fellow Jets' defensive linemen Mark Gastineau, Marty Lyons, and Abdul Salaam as the "New York Sack Exchange."
Klecko's best season came during the 1981 campaign as he recorded a then-NFL record 20.5 sacks and was runner-up for the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year. During his time with the Jets, Klecko was named to four Pro Bowls and earned two first-team All-Pro honors – once at defensive end and once at nose guard.
Joe's son Dan, is also a member of the Temple Athletics Hall of Fame, making the Klecko's the only multi-generation honorees from the football program. Dan was also a defensive lineman who earned second team All-America honors in 2002 and was inducted into the Temple HOF in 2014.
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