Terry Bradshaw gets set to go live during the Fox Broadcast.” width=”1000″ height=”667″ />
This holiday season, as with every holiday season, people across the country gather together to celebrate another year.
Along with good company and good food, families will sit in front of their televisions to watch football.
The holiday has long signaled a bounty of college and professional games which includes the Detroit Lions as one of the participating teams.
Families remark how grateful they are to be together and marvel at what has transpired over the previous year. It’s also a time for sports fans to remember holiday gridiron battles of the past.
One recollection that is conjured this time of year with Browns fans centers on a turkey.
However, he is still remembered for taking down an opposing quarterback of one of Cleveland’s biggest rivals during a ‘must-have’ game.
We take this time to look back fondly at the career of Turkey Jones and, specifically, his biggest moment as a pro.
The Infamous Tackle That Ended Terry Bradshaw’s Day Reliving Turkey Jones’ SlamIn 1976, the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers were bitter rivals. Both teams were struggling with 1-3 records heading into their Week 5 matchup It was a hard-hitting affair, with quarterbacks taking brutal shots from the opposing defenses Late in the fourth quarter, Turkey Jones delivered one of the most infamous hits in NFL history on Terry Bradshaw that essentially ended the future Hall of Famer’s day.
Joe “Turkey” Jones was a defensive end drafted by the Browns in 1970. He earned his nickname as a rookie when veterans sent him on a fake quest to find free turkeys By 1976, Jones was a starting D-lineman using his 6’7″ height to disrupt offenses
Meanwhile, Bradshaw was the Steelers’ star QB After winning Super Bowl X in 1975, Pittsburgh’s 1976 title defense started slowly at 1-3 In Cleveland, Bradshaw took numerous hits but kept returning to the game. Trailing 18-10 in the fourth quarter, the tough QB was trying to mount a comeback.
On one fateful play, Jones beat his man and wrapped up Bradshaw after the whistle. Showing no signs of hearing the play’s end, Jones lifted Bradshaw high in the air and violently slammed him down. The QB lay motionless as trainers rushed to check him. A 15-yard penalty was called on Jones, who later apologized and claimed he never heard the whistle blow.
Bradshaw was eventually carted off, unable to return after the brutal body slam. Backup Mike Kruczek entered and threw a 45-yard pass, setting up his own TD run. But the two-point try failed, leaving Pittsburgh trailing 18-16. The Steelers couldn’t complete the rally as the “Turkey Slam” helped Cleveland hold on for the upset win.
The controversial hit instantly became part of the heated Browns-Steelers rivalry’s lore. Pittsburgh fans vilified Jones for the body slam they deemed unnecessary and dangerous. Yet many Browns fans felt it was a clean, hard football play. Some Pittsburgh players even admitted Jones may not have heard the whistle before violently planting Bradshaw into the turf.
While no foul was called initially, the late hit penalty on Jones showed officials also deemed the tackle excessively late. Bradshaw was unable to return, replaced by Kruczek for the rest of the game. The extent of his injuries from Jones’ slam were unclear immediately after the game.
The next day, Bradshaw was diagnosed with a concussion from the play. He was forced to miss the Steelers’ next game entirely. When he returned the following week, Pittsburgh began a nine-game winning streak en route to the AFC title game. Despite missing time, Bradshaw finished the year strong and had many great seasons left in his Hall of Fame career.
As for Jones, he said postgame he felt sorry that a “quality player” like Bradshaw got hurt on the hit. Browns coach Forrest Gregg praised Jones for playing his best game, pressuring Bradshaw all day. While the late hitmarred the performance, Jones dominated before the slam.
The 1976 victory helped the Browns finish 9-5, just missing the playoffs. For the Steelers, the loss was part of a 1-4 start before their season turned around. Overall, the Turkey Slam lived on in rivalry lore for its controversy, violence, and impact on both teams’ seasons.
Over 45 years later, NFL fans still recall that collision when discussing the Browns-Steelers bitter rivalry. Turkey Jones’ bodyslam of Bradshaw in 1976 remains one of the NFL’s most infamous tackles. The play encapsulated the heated competition between both squads.
While Jones earned criticism from some for ending Bradshaw’s day, others contend it was just hard-nosed, physical football. Browns and Steelers players and fans remain divided on whether that tackle crossed the line. But there’s no denying Turkey Jones’ slam of Terry Bradshaw in 1976 is firmly cemented in the lore of one of the NFL’s top rivalries.
College and the Birth of a Nickname
Joseph Willie Jones was born on January 7, 1948 in Dallas, Texas.
He grew up in the heart of football country and eventually made his way to Tennessee State University to play college ball.
After a respectable college career, Jones was selected by the Browns with the 36th overall pick in the second round of the 1970 NFL draft.
It is rumored that Jones’ memorable nickname came about as a Cleveland rookie.
Former teammates claim that the moniker was bequeathed when Jones was the subject of a prank pulled by Browns veterans.
As the story goes, some of these wily vets convinced Jones that there were various farms outside the greater Cleveland area that were giving away free turkeys for the upcoming holidays.
Jones was dispatched to track down said turkeys and return them forthwith to the Browns facility.
Eager to show his new teammates that he could secure the gratis birds, Jones scoured the countryside.
He finally gave up searching after many hours, long after the other Browns rookies gave up their search.
Not realizing he was being duped, Jones fell for the same prank the following year.
However, there also happens to be a number of former college teammates who claim they gave Jones the nickname while at Tennessee State.
According to his Tiger pals, Jones got the name because he bobbed his head like a turkey when he ran.
Hence, Jones looked like a turkey.
Playing at the defensive end position, Jones played well enough in his rookie year to start five games.
He started eight games in 1971, but was sidelined by a knee injury for the entire 1972 season.
In 1973, Jones started all 14 games and was a consistent member of the Browns defense.
Despite the fact that he was a valued member of the team, Cleveland traded Turkey to the Eagles before the 1974 season.
He did well for the Eagles, starting 13 games in ‘74 and five to begin the 1975 season.
However, the Eagles chose to cut Jones during the season and he was quickly reunited with the Browns.
Terry Bradshaw vs Joe “Turkey” Jones
FAQ
How did Joe Turkey Jones get his nickname?
What nationality is Terry Bradshaw?
Who was Terry Bradshaw’s first wife?
What happened to Terry Bradshaw on Fox?
Did Turkey Jones Slam Terry Bradshaw?
The Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers rivalry seems to be renewed, which dates back to when Turkey Jones slammed Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw. One of the scariest moments in the history of the Cleveland Browns -Steelers rivalry came when Joe “Turkey” Jones sacked future Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw in Week 5 of the 1976 season.
Who slams Terry Bradshaw?
Jones lined up for a play, beat the offensive lineman ( Larry Brown) and wrapped his arms around quarterback Terry Bradshaw. Whistles blew, but Jones ignored them or didn’t hear them and lifted Bradshaw up high, and slammed the Pittsburgh QB on his head.
Who flipped Terry Bradshaw?
CLEVELAND, Ohio – One of the most famous hits in the history of the Browns-Steelers football rivalry was when Joe “Turkey” Jones flipped Pittsburgh quarterback Terry Bradshaw onto the Cleveland Stadium turf on Oct. 10, 1976. Bradshaw was carted off the field, returning to join his team later in the day after X-rays.
Why is Browns defensive end Turkey Jones called Turkey Jones?
It did not come on Thanksgiving weekend, but it did involve 250 pounds of turkey, in the form of Browns defensive end Turkey Jones. He received that nickname because he is the only player in Browns history to fall for the fake turkey gag two years in a row.