David "Deacon" Jones, a Hall of Fame defensive end who spent his years playing for the Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers and Washington Redskins, passed away of natural causes in his home yesterday at the age of 74, according to reports.
Jones was a noted pass rusher, whose propensity for sacking opposing quarterbacks was legendary. It's unknown how prolific he really was at rushing the passer, though, because sacks did not become an official statistic until his career was over. He was a 14th-round pick out of Mississippi Valley State, a school that would later produce Jerry Rice.
The Rams, where Jones spent the majority of his career, unofficially credited him with 159.5 sacks in Los Angeles and 173.5 for his career. He was part of the "Fearsome Foursome." Deacon also was a beacon of durability, missing just five games in his 14-year career.
Former teammate and fellow Hall of Famer Jack Youngblood said of Jones, "Deacon Jones has been the most inspirational person in my football career."
Washington Redskins general manager Bruce Allen, whose father coached Deacon Jones on the Rams, expounded on a similar sentiment.
"Deacon Jones was one of the greatest players in NFL history. Off the field, he was a true giant. "His passion and spirit will continue to inspire those who knew him. He was a cherished member of the Allen family and I will always consider him my big brother."
Current Rams defensive end Chris Long, son of Hall of Famer Howie Long, talked about respecting the game and players like Jones who paved the way. "The thing we've got to remember being players in this era is to really respect the game 'back when,' because those guys could really play. Deacon Jones is a perfect example. This whole league and everybody in this game should honor the past and the players who played in that era."
© Copyright 2024 Sports World News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
