Ron Jessie
No. 89, 81 | |||||||
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Position: | Yuma (AZ) | ||||||
College: | Kansas | ||||||
NFL draft: | 1971 / Round: 8 / Pick: 206 | ||||||
Career history | |||||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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Player stats at NFL.com · PFR |
Ron Ray Jessie (February 4, 1948 – January 13, 2006) was an American football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills. He played college football at the University of Kansas.
Early years
Jessie attended
After high school, he initially enrolled at
Jessie received a scholarship from the
In
In 2010, he was inducted into the Imperial Valley College Hall of Fame.
Professional career
Dallas Cowboys
Jessie was selected by the
Detroit Lions
As a rookie, Jessie contributed mainly on kickoff returns. The next year, he became a starter at wide receiver and the team's deep threat, which included an 82-yard touchdown reception.
On April 8,
The courts ruled in favor of the
Los Angeles Rams
Jessie's best season was in 1976, when he was voted to the Pro Bowl after registering 34 receptions for 779 yards and six touchdowns. The next year, he was placed on the injured reserve list after suffering a knee injury against the San Francisco 49ers.[7]
In 1979, Jessie was placed on the injured reserve list after suffering a broken leg against the New Orleans Saints,[8] that also prevented him from playing in the 31–19 Super Bowl loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
On July 31, 1980, he was traded to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a seventh-round draft choice (#187-Victor Simmons).[9]
Buffalo Bills
Jessie was used in a reserve role during his two years with the Buffalo Bills.
NFL career statistics
Legend | |
---|---|
Led the league | |
Bold | Career high |
Regular season
Year | Team | Games | Receiving | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
1971 | DET | 14 | 1 | 4 | 87 | 21.8 | 51 | 0 |
1972 | DET | 14 | 14 | 24 | 424 | 17.7 | 82 | 4 |
1973 | DET | 14 | 12 | 20 | 364 | 18.2 | 84 | 3 |
1974 | DET | 12 | 12 | 54 | 761 | 14.1 | 46 | 3 |
1975 | RAM | 14 | 14 | 41 | 547 | 13.3 | 34 | 3 |
1976 | RAM | 14 | 14 | 34 | 779 | 22.9 | 58 | 6 |
1977 | RAM | 3 | 3 | 9 | 139 | 15.4 | 21 | 0 |
1978 | RAM | 16 | 16 | 49 | 752 | 15.3 | 49 | 4 |
1979 | RAM | 6 | 6 | 11 | 169 | 15.4 | 39 | 2 |
1980 | BUF | 16 | 3 | 4 | 56 | 14.0 | 20 | 1 |
1981 | BUF | 15 | 0 | 15 | 200 | 13.3 | 44 | 0 |
138 | 95 | 265 | 4,278 | 16.1 | 84 | 26 |
Playoffs
Year | Team | Games | Receiving | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
1975 | RAM | 2 | 2 | 8 | 104 | 13.0 | 18 | 0 |
1976 | RAM | 2 | 2 | 2 | 60 | 30.0 | 41 | 0 |
1978 | RAM | 2 | 2 | 10 | 150 | 15.0 | 29 | 1 |
1980 | BUF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
1981 | BUF | 2 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 12.0 | 12 | 0 |
9 | 6 | 21 | 326 | 15.5 | 41 | 1 |
Personal life
After retiring as a player, Jessie became a scout for the Los Angeles Rams. He died in 2006, after suffering a heart attack in his Huntington Beach home.[10]
In 1997, after playing
A T-shirt bearing Jessie's last name was responsible for half the title of Rick Springfield's hit song "Jessie's Girl."
References
- ^ "Huddler Jessie Joins Jayhawks For Grid Drills". Retrieved February 19, 2023.
- ^ "Chargers trade Post to Denver". Retrieved February 19, 2023.
- ^ "Lions Lose Jessie To Birmingham Club". Retrieved February 19, 2023.
- ^ "Rams sign Ron Jessie". Retrieved February 19, 2023.
- ^ "Just before retirement, Rozelle reflects". Retrieved February 19, 2023.
- ^ "Lions, Rozelle Rule Cut Down by Judge". Retrieved February 19, 2023.
- ^ "Rams still not happy after win". Retrieved February 19, 2023.
- ^ "Transactions". Retrieved February 19, 2023.
- ^ "Bills get Ron Jessie from Rams". Retrieved February 19, 2023.
- ^ "Former Rams receiver Ron Jessie dies". Retrieved February 19, 2023.
- ^ "Changing of The Guard". Retrieved February 19, 2018.