Joe Delaney
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Joe Delaney | |
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| Date of birth: | October 30, 1958 |
| Place of birth: | Henderson, Texas |
| Date of death: | June 29, 1983 (age 24) |
| Place of death: | Monroe, Louisiana |
| Career information | |
| Position(s): | Running back |
| Height: | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Weight: | 184 lb (83 kg) |
| Jersey №: | 37 |
| College: | Northwestern State |
| NFL Draft: | 1981 / Round: 2 / Pick 41 |
| Organizations | |
| As player: | |
| 1981-1982 | Kansas City Chiefs |
| Career highlights and Awards | |
| Pro Bowls: | 1982 |
| Awards: | 1981 UPI AFC Rookie of Year |
| Stats at DatabaseFootball.com | |
| College Football Hall of Fame | |
Joe Alton Delaney (October 30, 1958 - June 29, 1983)[1][2] was an American football player whose promising career was cut short after just two seasons in the National Football League.[3]
He was a two-time All-American athlete for the Northwestern State Demons football team as well as a track and field star. Delaney played two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, and was chosen as the AFC Rookie of the Year in 1981 by United Press International.
Delaney died on June 29, 1983 while attempting to rescue three children from drowning in a lake, and he was posthumously awarded the Presidential Citizen's Medal from President Ronald Reagan. His jersey number 37 for the Chiefs has not been worn since his death.
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[edit] Collegiate career
Delaney was born in Henderson, Texas on October 30, 1958, and attended Haughton High School in Louisiana.[2] He was a starting wide receiver by his junior year at Haughton, and major Division I schools like Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana State pined for him because of his unbelievable speed.[4]
Delaney played for the Northwestern State Demons from 1977 to 1980.[5] He was a two-time All-American selection in 1979 and 1980.[6] He met his future wife Carolyn in college and they had two children by his senior year.[4]
On October 28, 1978, Delaney carried the ball 28 times and gained 299 yards for Northwestern State against Nicholls State University with 263 of the yards coming in the game's second half.[5] Delaney's rushing stats in the second half of the game are an NCAA record. In the same game, he scored four touchdowns, one on a 90-yard run, and led his team to a 28-18 victory.[5][6]
Delaney finished his career at Northwestern State with 3,047 yards rushing, 31 touchdowns, and 188 points.[5] In 1980, his senior season, he ranked 8th in the nation in all-purpose rushing yards.[5] On November 22, 1980 he played his last game and the school retired his jersey, No. 44, at halftime.[5][6] Delaney was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1997.[3]
At Northwestern State, Delaney also starred in track. He ran 100 yards in 9.4 seconds in high school and was on the Northwestern State track and field team which won the NCAA 400-meter relay in 1981. He holds the school 200 meter dash record with a 20.64 clocking.[6]
[edit] Professional career
| I’ve played against the best—O.J. Simpson, Gale Sayers, Walter Payton and (Delaney) ranks right up there with them...He is great with a capital G. |
| ~Elvin Bethea, Houston Oilers hall of fame defensive end.[7] |
Delaney was selected in the second round of the 1981 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. United Press International named him Rookie of the Year of the American Football Conference for the 1981 NFL season after he rushed for 1,121 yards and set four club records.[6] Delaney's effort helped propel the Chiefs to a 9-7 record, the team's first winning season since 1973.[3] In his rookie season, he was selected to the Pro Bowl after setting Chiefs' records for most yards in a season (1,121), most yards in a game (193 vs. Houston), most consecutive 100-yard-plus games (three) and most 100-yard games in a season (five). He averaged 4.6 yards per carry and 9.1 yards per reception during his career.[8]
In one game against the Dallas Cowboys in his rookie season, he broke loose for a 75-yard touchdown run, but an offside penalty brought it back. On the next play, he was gone for an 80-yard touchdown.[4]
A strike by NFL players and an eye injury limited Delaney’s playing time in the 1982 NFL season.[6] He underwent surgery to repair a detached retina.[7]
[edit] Death
Delaney had a lifelong history of helping others.[5] On June 29, 1983 in Monroe, Louisiana, Delaney dove into a pond and tried to save three children who were screaming for help.[5] The children were floundering in a water hole left by recent construction work.[8] He was an inexperienced swimmer, but he reacted in his unselfish fashion.[4][9] One child was saved while two children and Delaney died by drowning.[5]
Three thousand people attended Delaney's memorial service on July 4,[10] which was held in his high school's gymnasium.[7]
President Ronald Reagan honored Delaney with the Presidential Citizens Medal on July 13.[7]
| “ | He made the ultimate sacrifice by placing the lives of three children above regard for his own safety. By the supreme example of courage and compassion, this brilliantly gifted young man left a spiritual legacy for his fellow Americans.[5] | ” |
Delaney's heroism is honored through an annual award for one of the NFL's best running backs who also demonstrates admirable character and unselfishness, traits that were embodied by Delaney.[6] The award is given by ProFootballTalk.com.[6]
The NCAA posthumously awarded Delaney the NCAA Award of Valor in 1984.[3][6]
Northwestern State’s football permanent team captains award, the Joe Delaney Memorial Leadership award, is named in his honor, as is the annual spring football game and a golf tournament that generates support for the athletic program.[4][6] A permanent shrine honoring him sits under the home stands at Northwestern State's Turpin Stadium and his No. 44 Demon jersey hangs in the football offices.[4][6]
Louisiana Governor Dave Treen presented the Louisiana State Civilian Bravery Award to Delaney's family following his death.[8]
A group of fans in Kansas City formed the "37Forever Foundation," which works with the American Red Cross to provide swimming lessons for underprivileged children.[4][6][10] The Kansas City Chiefs unofficially retired Delaney's jersey number 37 following his death,[9][10] and was elected to the team's Hall of Fame in 2004.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ Joe Delaney at Pro Football Reference. Accessed 13 March 2008.
- ^ a b Joe Delaney at Database Football. Accessed 13 March 2008.
- ^ a b c d e Joe Delaney, 2004 Hall of Fame Inductee, Kansas City Chiefs KCChiefs.com. Accessed 13 March 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g Vernellis, Brian. Remembering Joe Delaney: 'I think about . . . how life would be if he were still around' Shreveport, LA Times. Published 4 July 2003. Accessed 14 March 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Joe Delaney biography at the College Football Hall of Fame. Accessed 13 March 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Northwestern State great Joe Delaney's name will go on NFL award Championship Subdivision News. Published 26 February 2008. Accessed 13 March 2008.
- ^ a b c d Kansas City Chiefs History: 1980's KCChiefs.com. Accessed 13 March 2008.
- ^ a b c NCAA Award of Valor Winners - Joseph Alton Delaney NCAA.org, Accessed 25 March 2008.
- ^ a b Sangimino, Pat. Chiefs should pause to honor a hero KFOXTV.com. Published 26 July 2001. Accessed 13 March 2008.
- ^ a b c Reilly, Rick. No ordinary Joe Sports Illustrated. Published 2 July 2003. Accessed 13 March 2008.
[edit] External links
- Joe Delaney: Don't let the memory fade The Landmark. Published 24 September 2002. Accessed 13 March 2008.
- Demon great Joe Delaney enters KC Chiefs' Ring of Honor Sunday NSUDemons.com. Published 22 September 2004. Accessed 10 March 2008.
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