Godwin Turk
Encyclopedia
Godwin Lee Turk is a former American football
linebacker
in the National Football League
. He played for the New York Jets
(1974–1975) and the Denver Broncos
(1976–1978).
in Houston, Texas, Turk first enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley
where he played on the football team
. He then transferred to Southern University
in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
where he completed his college football
eligibility.
. He had surgery on August 14, 1974 to repair ligament
damage to his left shoulder suffered during the 1974 pre-season. The extensive recovery period from the surgery prevented him from playing any regular season games during his rookie
year (1974
) with the Jets. Turk participated in all 14 games in the 1975 season
for the Jets, recording two interceptions
. He wore #56 while he was with the Jets and was listed as being 6’3” tall and weighing 230 lbs. Prior to the 1976 NFL season
, Turk was traded to the Denver Broncos for pick 129, 17th pick in the 5th round, of the 1977 NFL Draft
. The player the Jets selected in 1977 with the 129th pick was Gary Gregory, an offensive tackle from Baylor University
.
Champion’s roster when they played the Dallas Cowboys
in Super Bowl XII
. Turk is infamous for dislocating
his own shoulder
while over exuberantly spiking the ball in jubilation after recovering a turnover
during a regular season home game in Denver.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He played for the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1974–1975) and the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1976–1978).
High school and college
Following graduation from Phillis Wheatley High SchoolWheatley High School (Houston)
Phillis Wheatley High School is a secondary school located at 4801 Providence Street in Houston, Texas, United States with a ZIP code of 77020....
in Houston, Texas, Turk first enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
where he played on the football team
California Golden Bears football
The California Golden Bears football team is the college football team of the University of California. The team plays its home games at California Memorial Stadium, however the team played at San Francisco's AT&T Park in 2011 while Memorial Stadium was being renovated, the team will return to...
. He then transferred to Southern University
Southern Jaguars football
The Southern Jaguars are the college football team representing the Southern University. The Jaguars play in NCAA Division I Football Championship as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.-National championships:*1948*1949*1950*1952*1954*1957...
in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
where he completed his college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
eligibility.
New York Jets
Turk was drafted as a linebacker by the New York Jets as the number 58 pick overall, the 6th selection in the 3rd round, in the 1974 NFL Draft1974 NFL Draft
The 1974 National Football League Draft took place at the Americana Hotel in New York City on January 29–30, 1974. Each of the 26 NFL teams was granted 17 selections for a total of 442 picks....
. He had surgery on August 14, 1974 to repair ligament
Ligament
In anatomy, the term ligament is used to denote any of three types of structures. Most commonly, it refers to fibrous tissue that connects bones to other bones and is also known as articular ligament, articular larua, fibrous ligament, or true ligament.Ligament can also refer to:* Peritoneal...
damage to his left shoulder suffered during the 1974 pre-season. The extensive recovery period from the surgery prevented him from playing any regular season games during his rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
year (1974
1974 New York Jets season
The 1974 New York Jets season was the 15th season for the team and the fifth in the National Football League. It began with the team trying to improve upon its 4–10 record from 1973 under new head coach Charley Winner. The Jets finished with a record of 7–7....
) with the Jets. Turk participated in all 14 games in the 1975 season
1975 New York Jets season
The 1975 New York Jets season was the 16th season for the team and the sixth in the National Football League. It began with the team trying to improve upon its 7–7 record from 1974 under head coach Charley Winner. The Jets finished with a record of 3–11....
for the Jets, recording two interceptions
Interception (football)
An interception, intercept or pick is a move in many forms of football, including Canadian and American football, as well as rugby league, rugby union, Australian rules football and Gaelic football, which involves a pass, either by foot or hand, being caught by an opposition player, who usually...
. He wore #56 while he was with the Jets and was listed as being 6’3” tall and weighing 230 lbs. Prior to the 1976 NFL season
1976 NFL season
The 1976 NFL season was the 57th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 28 teams with the addition of the Seattle Seahawks and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers...
, Turk was traded to the Denver Broncos for pick 129, 17th pick in the 5th round, of the 1977 NFL Draft
1977 NFL Draft
The 1977 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held May 3–4, 1977...
. The player the Jets selected in 1977 with the 129th pick was Gary Gregory, an offensive tackle from Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
.
Denver Broncos
Turk played for the Denver Broncos from 1976 through 1978. He wore # 55. He was a linebacker who participated mostly on special teams. He was on the Bronco’s active roster for 42 games and he was a starter for 5 of those games. He was on the Broncos 1977 American Football ConferenceAmerican Football Conference
The American Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the National Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL....
Champion’s roster when they played the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
in Super Bowl XII
Super Bowl XII
Super Bowl XII was an American football game played on January 15, 1978 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1977 regular season...
. Turk is infamous for dislocating
Dislocated shoulder
A dislocated shoulder occurs when the humerus separates from the scapula at the glenohumeral joint. The shoulder joint has the greatest range of motion of any joint in the body and as a result is particularly susceptible to dislocation and subluxation. Approximately half of major joint...
his own shoulder
Shoulder
The human shoulder is made up of three bones: the clavicle , the scapula , and the humerus as well as associated muscles, ligaments and tendons. The articulations between the bones of the shoulder make up the shoulder joints. The major joint of the shoulder is the glenohumeral joint, which...
while over exuberantly spiking the ball in jubilation after recovering a turnover
Turnover (football)
In American football, a turnover occurs when the team with the ball loses possession of the ball, which is then gained by the other team. The two events that are officially classified as "turnovers" are fumbles or interceptions In American football, a turnover occurs when the team with the ball...
during a regular season home game in Denver.