Deacon Jones: dead at 74

[Deus Irae]

The National Football League has lost one of its legends as Hall of Fame defensive end Deacon Jones has died at the age of 74.

Washington Redskins general manager Bruce Allen relayed the news via the team’s official website. He died of natural causes at his home in Southern California.

Deacon Jones passes away at age 74 | ProFootballTalk

Football has lost one of its all-time greats. May he rest in peace.

 

[YearbookCurfew]

I was really sad to hear the news. He was a great football player and he will be missed. Even though I didn't grow up during career, I've seen highlights and saw how great of a player he was on the field. RIP.

 

[Fencer]

I grew up in LA during the Fearsome Foursome era.

RIP.

 

[Froob]

RIP one of the greats.

 

[Fencer]

Just for the record, the Fearsome Foursome were:

LDE Deacon Jones
LT Merlin Olsen
RT Rosey Grier followed by Roger Brown (both were legit members)
RDE Lamar Lundy

I don't know why the best of the bunch were on the left side of the line.

 

[Pewsterbaby]

Just for the record, the Fearsome Foursome were:

LDE Deacon Jones
LT Merlin Olsen
RT Rosey Grier followed by Roger Brown (both were legit members)
RDE Lamar Lundy

I don't know why the best of the bunch were on the left side of the line.

It's such a shame the legacy of The 1960's Los Angeles Rams lives in the shadow of The Lombardi Packers. They were sooo much cooler, culturally speaking. They're mentioned in the original "Little Shop of Horrors" movie. Deacon Jones made a guest appearance on The Brady Bunch. Jim Morrison was a Rams fan in the 60's too, as he cruised the psychedelic L.A. strip.
Gimme a good football team in swinging Los Angeles instead of one in nowhere's-ville Wisconsin any year, especially during the 60's.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

It's such a shame the legacy of The 1960's Los Angeles Rams lives in the shadow of The Lombardi Packers. They were sooo much cooler, culturally speaking. They're mentioned in the original "Little Shop of Horrors" movie. Deacon Jones made a guest appearance on The Brady Bunch. Jim Morrison was a Rams fan in the 60's too, as he cruised the psychedelic L.A. strip.
Gimme a good football team in swinging Los Angeles instead of one in nowhere's-ville Wisconsin any year, especially during the 60's.

Absolutely but Little Shop of Horrors ( with Nicholson as dental patient) was released in 1960 before the Fearsome foursome.....

 

[RayClay]

In those defense oriented days, front fours were a glamour item for a while. The Purple People eaters of Minnesota come to mind also. Deacon Jones was likely the best pass rusher of these.

Contrary to some newer fans beliefs, the Pats were quite competitive in the early sixties as these four man fronts became prominent and had one of the best (though the NFL was a tougher defensive league).

Who had the best four man front in the AFL? This guy wrote the book and he says...

Ok, this should be fun. As many of you know already, our guest blogger, Dave Steidel, wrote one of the all-time great AFL books, Remember the AFL.

Here are Dave Steidel’s thoughts on the AFL’s best team units. These are a lot of fun, and ought to spark some healthy discussion.

Just in case you all need a kick-start… Hey Bills fans! What do you think about the Patriots beating out Day, Dunaway, Sestak and McDole as the AFL’s all-time best front four?!?!?!


FRONT FOUR

1. Patriots: Larry Eisenhauer, Jim Hunt, Houston Antwine, Bob Dee

All-Time Best AFL Units

 

[patsfan13]

Deacon Jones was as good a DE as I have ever seen. Can never decide if he or Reggie White was better.

 

[RobAllan]

Sign the beast!

 

[Tunescribe]

I thought he was older than 74. That's too young! He sure was a character.

 

[Joey007]

Sign the beast!

Seriously, that's uncalled for. :nono:

 

[Joey007]

I am saddened to hear about Deacons passing. I have always thought of him as one of the games most dominant defenders ever. May he rest in peace.

 

[IndyKen]

An "old school" footballer if there ever was one. Invented the "head slap" as I recall. And what a "bigger than life" character and persona he had.......RIP Deacon - truely one of the all time greats.

 

[DaBronxPats14]

RIP D.Jones I remember you & Fearsome Foursome Well. I was a Viking's Fan back then Tarkenton jersey and all & if Pat's didn't get robbed on that Sugarbear Hamilton penalty VS Raiders it would have been Pats/Vikes Superbowl in 76 my first year bein a Pats Fan as well.

 

[363839]

Rest in Peace, Deacon Jones. You were one of the best.

 

[Ive_Killed_People]

And the NFL breathes a sigh of relief. Yes he was a great great player. But he was also a terrible terrible ambassador for modern day NFL sensibilities. How can you convince the fans and players you are concerned about safety and not denounce every word that comes out of Deacon Jones' mouth? The NFL used him as a mouthpiece for the Hall of Fame and he comes across like your 90 year old grandpa at at an NAACP meeting. He bragged he caused more concussions than anyone ever, this at a time when players are blowing their own brains out. He said his only regret was he didnt kill more QBs. Why was this guy given a pass? As butthurt a world as we live in how did this guy get away with it? RIP

 

[patsfaninpa]

Deacon was awesome. RIP big fella. Loved his quote in the NFL Network special on the Fearsome Foursome. "I didn't invent the head-slap. But, DaVinci didn't invent painting either."

My buddy is a big Rams fan. Always has been his whole life. Merlin Olson was his favorite player. He went to a card show to get all of the Foursome's autographs. Everyone obliged. Said he heard Merlin sigh, when he asked for a specific request. He told me that he asked Deacon to sign his Rams helmet NFL All-Time Sack Leader. He said Deacon told him he can't because the NFL doesn't recognize him for that. My buddy says; "I do!" Deacon told him; "Tell you what, put that helmet on let me slap you upside your head." Cracked everybody up. Said he was just engaging and great to talk to. I think meeting Deacon moved him to number one on his favorite Ram player list.

 

[captain stone]

I wonder how many sacks Deacon produced during his career, and where he would rank today.
It's a shame that pre-1982 game logs are considered by the league to be too unreliable to use
as a basis for crediting players from the 1970s and earlier.