Joe Jacoby Named Pro Football Hall Of Fame Finalist
The National Football League announced this week that Washington Redskins great tackle Joe Jacoby, for the first time, has been named one of 15 modern-era finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2016.
For Jacoby, after being a semi-finalist six times, it’s another major hurdle in his pursuit of being enshrined into Pro Football’s Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
Joseph Erwin Jacoby or “Jake” to his friends, was one of the 80 Greatest Redskins, played every position but center during his 13-year career with the Redskins from 1981 to 1993, but became a premiere player at left tackle. He played in 170 total games, starting 146, and was selected to four straight Pro Bowls from 1983 to 1986.
We here at HTTR4LIFE have been actively involved in the process that has pushed Joe’s accomplishments into the faces of the Hall of Fame voters. The process was spear-headed by “The Hogettes” and started back in the summer.
Yeaaaaaaaaaa!!!!! #PFHOF16 pic.twitter.com/RCHSIfMKZr
— Hogettes (@Hogettes) January 8, 2016
The Redskins gave the 6-foot-7, 300-pound Jacoby, who went undrafted out of Louisville, a chance during training camp in July 1981 at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa.
He would be starting for the team at left tackle by halfway through his rookie season.
“Jake was one of the best things that ever happened to us,” Gibbs said.
Jacoby said it was an honor playing for the Redskins during their years of dominance in the 1980s and early ‘90s.
“It was a very special group, a very special time,” he said. “When you look back on it, it was so special because you see the way things have gone with the Redskins since those years. The players and coaches that went through there – we may not see each other on a day-to-day basis anymore, but when we do get together we re-live some of the great times we had when we were playing.”
Jacoby was stout in pass protection, but he was perhaps best known for his strong run blocking, battling defensive stars like the Giants’ Lawrence Taylor, the Cowboys’ Randy White, Harvey Martin and Jim Jeffcoat and the Eagles’ Clyde Simmons and Reggie White at least twice a year.
He retired in July 1994. On Sunday, he will be the Redskins honorary captain in their NFC Wild Card Round playoff matchup against the Green Bay Packers at FedExField.
The final induction list into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Call of 2016 will be announced Febuary 6.
