The BIZARRE Ending to Tony Eason's NFL CAREER | 1989 Jets

During the 1989 NFL season, the New England Patriots cut quarterback Tony Eason, and he was claimed on waivers by the New York Jets. And initially, Eason refused to report to the team because the Jets had Ken O'Brien on their roster. The bizarre reason why he didn't want to play with O'Brien? Turns out, the two men were best friends, and Eason was willing to sacrifice his NFL career so as not to ruin their relationship
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#nfl #patriots #jets #nyjets #nflthrowback #football
Members of the 1989 Jets:
Pat Leahy
Joe Prokop
Ken O'Brien
Pat Ryan
Tony Eason
Kyle Mackey
Mark Malone
Leander Knight
Erik McMillan
Freeman McNeil
George Radachowsky
Carl Howard
AB Brown
Nuu Faaola
Brad Baxter
Terry Williams
Johnny Hector
Kerry Glenn
Rich Miano
James Hasty
John Booty
Roger Vick
Michael Mitchell
Bobby Humphrey
Tim Cofield
Joe Mott
Adam Bob
Jim Sweeney
Troy Benson
Alex Gordon
Jeff Lageman
Kevin McArthur
Kyle Clifton
Dan Alexander
Jeff Criswell
Dave Cadigan
Reggie McElroy
Jeff Oliver
Curt Singer
Adam Schreiber
Mike Withycombe
Gerald Nichols
Mike Haight
Greg Werner
KD Dunn
Billy Griggs
Mickey Shuler
Jo-Jo Townsell
Michael Harper
Chris Dressel
Wesley Walker
Keith Neubert
Chris Burkett
Al Toon
Phil Epps
Titus Dixon
Sanjay Beach
Dennis Byrd
Paul Frase
Ken Rose
Marty Lyons
Scott Mersereau
Ron Stallworth
Marvin Washington
Joe Walton (head coach)
Tony Eason played for the following teams:
1983 Patriots
1984 Patriots
1985 Patriots
1986 Patriots
1987 Patriots
1988 Patriots
1989 Patriots
1989 Jets
1990 Jets

[@flyinelvis69]

Great story. Who else looked at the Pats iniforms and helmet and wished they would go backnto those?

[@Ozark_Bule]

One really important thing I've learned by watching this channel is that if I'm ever called on the play emergency QB by an NFL team, all I have to do is spike the ball on every down and I'll have a better passer rating than quite a few real QBs.

[@r.williamcomm7693]

Tony Eason was always a good person & got to experience success in helping to get his team to a Super Bowl beating Dan Marino’s Dolphins (only team to beat the 15-1 Bears) & defeat in being pummeled & benched in that SB vs the brutal 1985 Bears. He saw the Pats bring in Doug Flutie & saw his Hall of Fame WR Head Coach Raymond Berry fired by Victor Kiam. And Ken O’Brien was also another one of the hood guys of the game in both victory & defeat. They both had good attitudes & were more than their jobs.

[@gilbertgiles]

gotta give it to Eason tbh. He didn't even check with his buddy before he took his position and stuck with it. Showed real integrity imo.

[@TheAlfrulz]

Not knowing anything about this, I was skeptical of Tony Eason refusing to play for the Jets in 1989 simply because I remember him appearing as the Jets backup QB in the classic video game Tecmo Super Bowl.

[@DwayneIsKing]

Eason a real one tbh. It might be stupid, but willing to sacrifice your career for your friendship is one of the realest things I've heard

[@OhThankKevin]

remember KOB’s infant child was asked by a reporter who should start in 1990- the child said “Uncle Tony!”

[@billslocum9819]

As a Jets fan in the 80s, I remember Eason as a very dangerous opposing QB. Not surprising the Jets would have picked him, because he was always sharp in the games where he played us. He would have been a league MVP if he just played the Jets 16 times a year. Dan Marino didn't scare me like Eason did.

[@lordrayden3045]

Out of the class of ‘83 QBs taken, blackledge was the only total bust of the bunch

[@mfgreviews5028]

Money doesn't control every man. Tony had one of the softest touches ever with throws that just glided into receivers hands.

[@nasetvideos]

That is an incredible story. I remember Eason so well and his time with the Patriots. Great reporting here.

[@marcus813]

I can understand Eason's reluctance to join the Jets given the dynamics involved. Too bad the Steelers were too far down the list to claim him because I think that Eason would've jumped at the chance to go to Pittsburgh.

[@troyc4250]

Yeah the QB class of 83. What a class!

[@CTubeMan]

1. Fun fact, Eason was the only quarterback taken in the first round in 1983 to not be interviewed in 30 for 30’s “Elway to Marino”.

[@davidames8980]

I don’t think you realize Tony was a pro bowl caliber quarterback but wrecked his throwing shoulder in ‘87 against the Raiders and could never throw the ball the same.

[@mrmoose6619]

Thanks for filling in a lot of blanks on Tony Eason. I remember him having a solid potential team HOF type career in New England and then all of a sudden falling off the cliff and ending up as a part time Jet starter... and then that was it.

[@dougmaclennan8654]

Eason had very good years in 1984 and 1986. He had a great arm, but he would drop his head when rushed and take a lot of sacks.

[@jamesnakamura]

I went UC Davis and briefly met Bo Eason and watched both him and Ken O’Brien. Loved hearing this story!

[@johnchedsey1306]

For all we know, Eason might have been basically over playing professional football and was content flirting with retirement. Either way, both he and O'Brien demonstrated real friendship and communication. It is crazy neither of them managed to have a consistently great career as they both definitely looked like world beaters at times.

[@troyc4250]

Wow I never knew this. Outstanding work.