(AP Image)
RELATED LINKS:
– Jones Made One Last Point Before Retiring
–Chris Cooley Goes Undercover At Courtyard Marriott
As the Washington Redskins prepare to host the St. Louis Rams on Sunday, it seems fitting to look back on the career of Deacon Jones, a longtime Ram who finished his 14-year career with the Redskins and is considered one of the best defensive ends in NFL history.
Jones, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980, passed away in summer 2013.
He joined the NFL in 1961, spending 11 seasons in Los Angeles with the Rams before joining the San Diego Chargers for two years. Given the nickname “the Secretary of Defense,” Jones’ most marketable attribute was his pass-rushing, which netted him 173.5 total sacks, a statistic that wasn’t around during his playing days.
During the final season of his career, playing with the Redskins, Jones added another special feature to his impressive resume: an extra point.
The Redskins Blog ran a feature about the improbable kick, when head coach George Allen let his defensive end take a shot at the goalposts. The Redskins were ahead 41-0 against the Chicago Bears and quarterback Joe Theismann, in his first year with the team, held the snap for the Jones, listed as the team’s backup kicker.
Former Virginia senator and governor George Allen recalled the story a few years ago after hearing it from his father.
“In those days the goalposts were at the front of the end zone as opposed to the back,” said Allen. “The snap went back, Theismann put the ball down — Deacon didn’t kick him — the kick hit one upright, ricocheted into the other, and went in. Double bankshot, the goalposts are going [back and forth].”
Quite the retirement gift.
