Deacon Jones facts
- David D. "Deacon" Jones is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League for the Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers, and the Washington Redskins.
- Deacon Jones was born in Eatonville, Florida.
- During high school, Jones developed a lump in his thigh and learned that it was a tumor; he had surgery to remove it.
- Deacon Jones was drafted in the fourteenth round of the 1961 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams.
- In 1972, Deacon Jones was included in a multi-player trade with the San Diego Chargers where he was an instant success.
- Deacon Jones concluded his career with the Washington Redskins in 1974.In 1967, Jones claims that he amassed 26 sacks in only 14 games, which (if official) would be the single season record. The term "sack" had not yet been coined at the time, and official sack statistics were not recorded by the NFL until 1982.
- Deacon Jones has worked as a television actor, and appeared in numerous TV programs since the 1970s.
- Deacon recently traveled to Iraq to meet with troops stationed there and U.S. General Tommy Franks.
- Deacon Jones was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1980.
- In 1999, Deacon Jones was named by Sports Illustrated as the "Defensive End of the Century".
