Saturday will be a big day for former Redskins lineman Joe Jacoby. Because the 58-year-old retired in 1993, he will be 25 years removed from his playing career, which makes this weekend his final chance at earning a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Jacoby is one of 15 finalists this year, his third go-round as a finalist for induction. And he’s had a pretty impressive rooting section — his former defensive foes Lawrence Taylor, Chris Doleman and Charles Haley all have said Jacoby deserves the honor.
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Sporting News caught up with Jacoby to discuss his feelings about the possible induction, his long NFL journey as an undrafted lineman and, of course, his memorable battles against Taylor.
SN: You will be up for the Hall of Fame again this weekend. It’s your third time as a finalist, and you’ve waited 19 years to get the call. Has it been frustrating for you?
JJ: I don’t think there is any frustration on my part. It’s a pretty difficult process, and what I mean by that is, the gentlemen responsible for doing the selecting and voting, they have a very tough task. When they get down to that final 15, all of them are worthy of being in the Hall of Fame. To decide which of the top vote-getters are worthy to be enshrined, that is difficult.
SN: But you had a Hall of Fame career. You played in four Super Bowls, and you were the only member of the Hogs to play in all of that team’s playoff games.
JJ: That’s right. I was in all four Super Bowls, started all four Super Bowls. Only three of us did that, and I was one of the three.
For a guy who was not supposed to be drafted coming out of college, who was not supposed to be in the league, to get 13 years in the league, play four Super Bowls, win three and be part of one of the best offensive lines in league history, it’s an honor to get in that room. To one day be enshrined, it would cap off an unbelievable ride I have had in this game.
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SN: You were not supposed to make the NFL, you were not drafted in 1981. How did a 6-7 left tackle get so overlooked? Were you expecting to get drafted?
JJ: No, I was not expecting it. The college I went to (Louisville) is a little bit better now than it was when I went there. Because of the level of competition we played, I was told there was a possibility I could go late in the draft. There were 12 rounds then, so I was told either the 11th or 12th round, I may have the opportunity.
But most of the teams I talked to were not paying that much attention. It was really just the Redskins; they were the only team I talked to through that process before the draft that said they liked me, they would like to have me either as a late-round draft choice or as a free agent.
SN: How did the Redskins come to be interested?
JJ: I was very fortunate with the Redskins. They were watching another team we were playing against and they saw me on film. They were looking at the defense of the other team and they found me.
SN: Which team?
JJ: The University of Pittsburgh. They had Rickey Jackson, Hugh Green, Greg Meisner, a great defense. But they saw this offensive lineman, 6-7, pretty good weight and he could run. They saw I had potential, so they came down and worked me out and put me through some drills and their interest was still strong after that.
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SN: You got to Redskins camp, and I heard a story once that Russ Grimm, who was a high pick (third round) got you into some curfew trouble, especially as an undrafted rookie.
JJ: I broke curfew with Russ, who ended up being my best friend until this day. (Coach) Joe (Gibbs) sat both of us down. We were up in camp at Dickerson College. Joe said, “I’m planning on both of you guys being around here for a while. I need for you guys to promise me you’re not going to do this again.”
So I listened and I did not even get a chance to get my reply out quick enough. Russ said, “I am not going to lie, I can’t promise that, coach.” Joe got upset, threw down his book and we got fined the max that day. As soon as Joe left, I jumped across the couch and started choking Russ. I was trying to make the team.
SN: Most fans of the NFL remember your battles against Lawrence Taylor most of all. How would you go about handling him over the years?
JJ: Over the years, we knew each other, we got a feel for each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Hopefully, going into the game, you know what your weaknesses are and you try not to let them get exposed where he can take advantage of them. He would do the same thing.
A lot of it coming in is the mental part, but once the ball is snapped, you hope you have done everything right and you let the physical part take over to be successful.
Joe Jacoby lines up against Lawrence Taylor in 1984. (Getty Images)
SN: You played well against him in the NFC championship game in 1987, though they won the game. But you had a giant cast on your hand. How was it dealing with that?
JJ: I had broken two bones in my hand. But the doctors did the best they could to get me back out there with that big old club for protection so it didn’t damage it any further. By the end of the game, carrying that thing around, it got heavy. They had me squeeze some kind of foam thing, maybe gauze pads, in my hand to take pressure off, to stop the jarring. It was not easy.
SN: Would you two trash talk?
JJ: In the 19 or 20 times I played him, we never talked. I am not a trash-talker. I don’t know if he is or not, but he was not with me. There was never anything said between us.
SN: So did you talk to him much off the field?
JJ: After we retired, we played in a couple of golf tournaments together, but we have not spoken much.
There was one time, we were playing in a golf tournament down in Williamsburg, because he is from that area originally. We’re both sitting up there at the bar, and I am with a couple of other Redskins linemen. He sits down next me. And this it the God’s honest truth, this is all we have said to each other in the time we have known each other. He is next to me, and we are both having a drink. He looks at me, and he goes, “You’re one tough son of a bitch.” And my reply back to him was, “You’re not too bad, either.”
That’s all. But there was a mutual respect.