Just How Dominant Was Deacon Jones?

[@aubreysteele4466]

In the 60s I hated Deacon Jones-he was so dominant and was instrumental in beating my favorite team numerous times. As an old man, I love him for his dedication to excellence-he was driven by unmatched fury except for Dick Butkus. A very little unknown fact that I picked up in a sports magazine from the late 1960s. Every year the Rams would draft a few running backs for a look-see. Jones would challenge the fastest of them to a forty-yard foot race with money on the results. At 6'-5" and 270 lbs, he was never beaten until Willie Ellison was drafted who had been a sprint track star in college. RIP, Deacon-you live on in our hearts and minds.

[@loubromberg4976]

I know the race story, that was definitely true!

[@frankiecrocker]

Great video! I found it because I was searching for videos on Deacon Jones, I just like to watch them from time to time to remember his greatest. Deacon came into the NFL when I was 1 years old and I knew who he was by time I was 8. He was the greatest.

[@ravellxivrobinson4979]

You did him justice... RIP Deacon

[@thomaswoods1365]

I was born in 1961. My earliest recollection of the NFL was the1968 season. That's 8 years before my city of Seattle got a team. The Rams instantly became my favorite team for one reason. Deacon Jones. My favorite NFL player of all time. It's difficult to get people to understand why because the record books haven't shown it. This video is exceptional because it exactly reveals what I've always known. Greatest pass rusher in history. No one is even close in my book. He was the first defensive lineman that could dominate the outcome of a game. Sorry, like Butkus is to linebackers, Deacon is to defensive lineman. There will never be another as great. It just won't happen. The numbers prove it.

[@alexm.2891]

Deacon is a legend. Love the slap he does on the helmet

[@jamescoleakaericunderwood2503]

I was 6 years old when Dad took me to my first Ram game in 1969 ...I wish he was alive to see this broken down like you've discovered! George Allen said it best ..." You don't Coach a player like Deacon Jones...you just turn him loose! " A must mention... Merlin Olsen was such an anchor that attributed to Deacon's style...they were fun to watch! Merlin Olsen lived across the street from my Jr high school in Downey CA ✌️ Thanks I really appreciate and enjoyed this! PS we got free tickets to all the Pro Bowl games at the Coliseum, Pop worked for the Los Angeles Times! Eric Underwood Class of 81 Downey High school CA ✌️❤️

[@LunaticTheCat]

You make a very convincing case for him being the best or one of the best pass rushers ever.

[@tommygodwin609]

I FUCKING LOVE THIS VIDEO MAN!!!!!! FINALLY HE GETS SOME LOVE!!! I was born in 1990 and fell in love with Deacon in middle school when my coach let me know who he was! Best pass rusher of all time.

[@jeromedavis2278]

The true GOAT! Secretary of defense!

[@JohnMileyArchive]

Thank you, Thank you for sketching out what I have been screaming for Decades! Growing up in Chicago in the 60s I was obsessed with Deacon Jones. I would key in on him during every play and follow him even if he were guesting on the Brady Bunch or Odd Couple. Conditions of the time have blurred his achievements as explained in the video. No pass rusher since has ever surpassed his excellence.

[@salvadorsanchez6232]

The focus and Real in his eyes when he in the zone gives me chills 🙏

[@ThomasBaroody-wc2kz]

RIP DEACON Best DE of all time. Would be just as great today. Ran a 4.5 at 275 lbs

[@chadweddle702]

Thank you for keeping this man’s legacy going! I watched a documentary on him in the 90s and got the chills then and after watching your synopsis of his career. He was an animal!

[@daveburns3886]

Fantastic piece.. I was a ram fan in 70’s and he had/ has no peer.. there are some great documentary pieces of the fearsome foursome and their relationships from 60’s til death.. Merlin Olsen and deacon couldn’t have grown up or had more different personalities but loved each tone like brothers, and Rosie Grier led a stellar and unique life post football- everyone should look it up- truly moving

[@minoew5]

Man...this video is really well done. You factored in every variable to show how truly great he was. He is a third of the reason why my youngest son is named Deacon.

[@MikeKennedyNFL]

🙌

[@benballesteros6346]

I saw him play. He was unbelievable.

[@gregoryzeren5806]

Love the stats. Please do the same with running backs! The new players allegedly with more yards in so many more games they have played. My opinion they are punks after Walter Payton.

[@tommclain8893]

My all time favorite D player, a self creative man with humorous quips. R.I.P. GOAT DE

[@tyhodges6641]

He was a bad man to go up against! His nickname was 'DEACON' for a good reason.

[@Ebd1990]

I found out about him in the 2000s. I remember saying to my dad it was this defensive guy named Deacon Jones who said they are now making football cheerleading with all the new rules. My daddy looked at me and said Deacon said it and he meant it, because he was a Beast. So I looked up Deacon, and yes this man was great.

[@ronalddesiderio7625]

Bar non was my favorite football player in the 70’s as a kid. RIP Deacon Jones 🙏🏼

[@johntobin3235]

Deacon Jones - 6'5", 260-270 lbs ran a 4.5 forty

[@Seadog..C5]

I was born in 1952. I learned about football in 1960. My dad had a black Cadillac and I took a can of white spray paint to it. It had "Fearsome Foursome" on the driver side. My dad left it there until he sold the car. I am so fortunate to have grown up when I did

[@johnalbano9595]

The fearsome foursome... history not to be repeated..😳

[@CAPUTO000]

very well done.

[@masterchaoss]

Great video man! Hopefully the algorithm blows this up for you.

[@MikeKennedyNFL]

Thank you, sir! I have a love-hate relationship with the algorithm gods lol

[@chicagojeff]

Excellent work my guy

[@iamthegreatcornholio7836]

he was absolutely otherworldly.

[@criderv11]

Definitely one of the GOATS!

[@tufstuff2586]

Deacon Jones was so dominate his real name Dave Jones was changed to Deacon, he wore his nickname on the back of his jersey, and he created the sack basically cause no one could stop him. An amazing player he would dominate today cause of his size, aggression, speed, and intimidation.

[@loubromberg4976]

Remember Deacon Was next to Merlin Olsen, Jones might have assisted Merlin Who ended up with the sack. Also, the entire FEARSOME FOURSOME was dominant So other members of the front line namely Rosie Grier, Merlin, Lamar Lundy might Have also gotten credit for the sack even though Deacon could have the substantial Factor in the sack, that is, the QB runs away from Jones into the hands of another Defensive lineman. Remember Merlin is in the HOF too. And Jones also played With Jack Youngblood another HOF early in his career. Unfortunately I do not Believe there I are stats for assists in sacking, Deacon was and will always Be the Secretary of Defense😎

[@gregorysantilli3293]

Lou, you nailed it. If you watch the clips number 74 is right next to 75 in most of the clips. Merlin Olsen was incredible. My dad introduced me to Rosy Grier when I was a kid. The Fearsome Foursome was just that. I can't think of any front four that compares, though Kansas City was in there. Glad he's getting his due, as should the rest of the Fearsome Foursome.

[@gregorysantilli3293]

Just watched some of the clips again. Merlin should get credit for a bit of Jones sacks. The clips show the offense double teaming Merlin nearly all of the time, leaving Jones alone to take the offensive tackle. Merlin STILL drives the guard and center back into the pocket, breaking it down, and forcing the quarterback to scramble, right into Deacon's grasp. One of the clips shows a formation with Jones at left end and Merlin at right end. They meet at the quarterback, at about the same time.

[@shawnyoung8752]

You and lou remember. After them came Purple people eaters. Eller , Page, Marshall. Then the Steel Curtain. I despised Pitts in 70s. Have to admit their front of Greene, White, holmes was together for 8 years. For 1 season defense 85 Bears. Ditka chased off Ryan and cost the bears at least 2 superbowl chances. I almost forgot the chiefs. Not a 3 4 man gang. Yet Buck Buchannan, Bell, Culp, Lanier was a scary bunch.

[@Alan_CFA]

Merlin Olsen was phenomenal -from Wikipedia: Olsen played professionally (1962-1976) for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League. A leading defensive star of his era, he missed only two games in his 15-season NFL career. He was named the NFL's Rookie of the Year in 1962 and was First-team All-Pro in 1964, and 1966 through 1970. He was voted Second-team All-Pro in 1965, 1973 and 1974. It might’ve happened, but I never saw Olsen fooled on a screen pass. Three guys went after the QB, Olsen went to where the back was about to catch the ball. I always wondered why any team would throw a screen to his side 😁

[@RDYC]

I was so lucky to see them play as a kid. My grandparents had season tickets, 50 yd line 5th row.

[@pp3k3jamail]

💥💥 I just looked up this dude that you said was the single season sack leader Al Baker wow. I consider myself a football historian I had a football encyclopedia back in 1992 when I was like 8 years old and I never heard of that guy Al Baker but I look up his stats he was a damn good player. Three Time pro bowler All pro he probably should've went to the pro bowl more times but the NFC was stacked with good defensive ends. He had double digit sacks six times. His first three years in the NFL are crazy. 23, 16 and 17.5 sacks are ridiculous. He had seasons with 13 sacks, 10 sacks, 9 sacks 8.5 sacks 7.5 sacks I watched a ton of NFL films growing up Steve Sabol and I've never heard of Al Baker i never heard of any of his accomplishments NFL films never did a biography or a video about him. Back in the 2000s it used to be this great show that uses to come on NFL Network called NFL top 10s, it ran from 2006-2012. It actually ran past 2012 but after 2012 it was corny and they were replacing a lot of the NFL historians and NFL experts with corny celebrities and comedians and rappers, singers and Miss America's and it just wasn't good anymore. But the original NFL top 10s from 2006 to 2012 they had episode called top 10 rookie seasons in April 2009, Al Baker had 23 sacks his rookie year that wasn't even on the top 10 list nor was it even mentioned in the honorable mentions. They had another episode top 10 single seasons performances in June 2007, Al Baker wasn't on that list and he wasn't even honorable mention It was another episode called top 10 pass rushers in July 2007, Al Baker wasn't on that list nor was he mentioned in the honorable mentions.

[@MikeKennedyNFL]

You are so right about the NFL Top 10 show. I loved it so much growing up and would watch every episode 10+ times. Then they took away the actual analysts who knew what they were talking about in favor of “entertainment” and I had to quit watching. But yeah, I’d never really heard of Al Baker either until this new sack data came out, which is such a shame. It shouldn’t take that for a guy as good as this to get some attention.

[@KevinBarry-j8w]

And when he set the record, he was a rookie too

[@sionrouge1697]

The Man said he hated quarterbacks and damn He was right

[@chrisbrimhall1613]

Also was a part of one of the most dominant defensive lines in NFL history

[@markgraham2312]

Beyond excellent!

[@charlesfox1955]

Outstanding…!

[@randomhuman19]

The Rams must have the overall greaestt DL in NFL history with Jones, Olsen, Donald and Youngblood

[@johndreyer9730]

Best pash rusher of all time

[@mattmccluskey4242]

Deacon Jones is my first pick in any draft.

[@TyrMartin]

Hey can you compare his best season to AL Bakers 23 sack season I can't seem to find the sack rates or passing rates to make a good comparison between the two.

[@sportswikipedia5739]

Great video

[@MikeKennedyNFL]

Preciate you!

[@sportswikipedia5739]

@@MikeKennedyNFL Do you have a favorite NFL team?

[@MikeKennedyNFL]

I grew up a Steelers fan but have grown more detached over the years as I’ve become more of an analyst. You?

[@jarhead6632]

1967 he had 26 sacks in 14 games and 6 in pre season

[@yezzir8929]

Yo sick Deacon Jones Vid! Hey what's the name of those ffVII remixes?

[@MikeKennedyNFL]

All linked in the description, my friend!

[@LanceUppercut]

Haha, that was my past couple days, too (getting lost in the new data)! Add on, even when you era adjust sack% (since the ball is being held for less and less time as years goes on; it's harder to get sacks now), Deacon's prime is still the most dominant of all time. (Does this era "penalty" adjust enough to reflect rule changes that made pass rushing easier, like the fact that OL couldn't extend their arms, or DJ could literally pound blockers in the ear hole of their helmet? IDK, but everyone who played then had the same advantages and only he walked away as dominant. And, IMO, such further adjustments likely wouldn't be enough to lower him from the top tier of all time pass rushers).

[@MikeKennedyNFL]

I love your comments because you always bring up good points that make me think. I agree with your final takeaway because I think the biggest thing is how next-level dominant he was over his peers who all had the same advantages/disadvantages he had. His sack totals might not be as inflated, but I think he would have found a way to dominate in any era, even if he wasn’t allowed to get away with some of his older techniques nowadays.

[@LanceUppercut]

@@MikeKennedyNFL Thanks! I really appreciate your videos because sports media (be it videos or articles) is so diluted by things aimed at the "mainstream audience" - which isn't bad inherently, but they don't try to make those people grow, to be able to defend their takes with analysis & reasoned argumentation. We need more of you 100+ people viewing this video to like & comment, so those aforementioned people can get exposed to these ideas & arguments!

[@kevinbarry7475]

What happened to Harvey Martin of The Cowboys 23 sacks in 1977, in a 14 game season?

[@markwatson8051]

Thank you

[@mitch1847]

When a team runs the ball, the defense has less time to get to the QB. Deacon found a way before the ball was handed off. That's next level.

[@richardaquino1640]

It’s about time someone got the facts straight….

[@jgrj52]

In short Deacon Jones was incredibly dominant

[@KingKong-fj4dk]

Not disputing your overall analysis. Just pointing out that Reggie White had 21 sacks in 12 games not 15 games in 1987. It was a strike shortened season.

[@vinrusso821]

NO!! How can you not have Harvey Martin stats?? In 1977 he had 23 sacks in 14 games the most ever in a season.

[@MikeKennedyNFL]

Not according to Pro Football Reference.

[@shawnyoung8752]

Did any if you recall a nbc show that

[@johnliberty3647]

The Head Slap being legal had a lot to do with jones success. I still believe Jones was one of the best but the head slap gave his era an advantage

[@4dhumaninstrumentality789]

3:02 Straight up video game stats, geez…

[@janineboitard6492]

Leveling the playing field to compare sacks is extremely difficult unless you standardize rules across all eras. The Deacon head slap, now illegal, gave him tremendous advantage to disorient blockers.

[@GhostOfexistence-c7j]

He was unblockable he has more sacks than what's said. The man coined the term sack him and Reggie white are the 2 goats of defense the secretary of defense and the minister of defense. Much love to deacons legend and to Reggie whites. Bruce smiths dont count it took him nearly 50 more games and favre gave him a lay down for the record breaking sack.

[@lmrizzo3349]

I think he coached Peter Brady

[@lenpey]

The narrator failed to mention Ricky Jackson. So I guess the narrator doesnt know his history, either.

[@MikeKennedyNFL]

Found the salty Saints fan. Please tell me where it was necessary to mention his name. Also, you can’t even spell his name correctly so I wouldn’t be talking if I was you.

[@adenosborne1966]

Greatest defensive player ever.