David Deacon Jones never played for the Rams in St. Louis. But that will not keep the organization from mourning the loss of one of the greatest players in league history.
Jones who starred for the Los Angeles Rams from 1961 to 1971 died of natural causes Monday night at his Southern California home. He was 74.
Deacon Jones was one of the rare players who changed the way the game was played Rams executive vice president Kevin Demoff said in a team release Tuesday. In this day and age the term great is often overused but it only begins to describe Deacon Jones as a player and a person. His combination of God given talent and relentless effort made him one of the greatest players to ever put on an NFL uniform. His spirit laughter and gentle nature off the field made him a friend to all. Deacon was a legend in every sense of the word and he ll truly be missed by the Rams our fans and the NFL community. Our prayers are with Deacon s wife Elizabeth on this sad day.
Jones played two seasons with the San Diego Chargers before finishing up his career with the Washington Redskins in 1974. A six time All Pro selection who was named to nine Pro Bowls including a string of seven straight as a Ram (1964 70) Jones was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1980 and was one of just three defensive ends named to the league s 75th anniversary all time team in 1994 following a vote of journalists and league personnel.
The Rams retired his No. 75 in 2009.
A 14th round selection out of Mississippi Vocation College (now known as Mississippi Valley State) in 1961 the 6 foot 5 270 pound Jones was a larger than life figure on and off the football field. He is credited with coining the term sack and parlayed his rare combination of size speed agility and drive to become perhaps the best pass rusher in the history of the game.
Jones popularized the head slap a move the NFL outlawed in 1977. The late George Allen who coached Jones with the Rams and the Redskins once called him the greatest defensive end of modern football.
Because sacks did not become an official NFL stat until 1982 Jones total is uncertain. His impact as a premier pass rusher and team leader is not.
Jones who was nicknamed the Secretary of Defense was the leader of the Rams Fearsome Foursome combining with Merlin Olson Rosey Grier and Lamar Lundy to form perhaps the most dominant defensive front in NFL history. Lundy died at 71 in 2007 and Olson was 69 when he passed away in 2010. At age 80 Grier is the unit s lone surviving member.
Jones unofficial stats include 159 sacks with the Rams and 173 overall. In 1967 he registered 21 sacks and became the first defensive lineman to record 100 solo tackles in a season. He reached double figures in sacks seven times including three seasons with 20 or more.
The NFL s defensive player of the year in 1967 and 1968 Jones missed just five games in 14 NFL seasons.
Deacon Jones was one of the most prolific defenders ever to play the game of football Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. His tenacity on the field attitude and his determination to sack the quarterback propelled his Hall of Fame career and made him one of the most recognizable figures in sports. Beyond the football field Deacon was a well respected ambassador for the Rams organization and a beloved person in the NFL community.
Working in LA Jones made appearances on several popular TV shows during his career including The Brady Bunch Bewitched and The Odd Couple and was also in Heaven Can Wait a 1978 film starring Warren Beatty. He also appeared in a popular series of beer commercials for Miller Lite.
In 1997 he founded the Deacon Jones Foundation serving as president and CEO. The foundation was established to assist young people and their communities with a comprehensive program that includes education mentoring corporate internship and community service.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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