Jethro Pugh
Encyclopedia
Jethro Pugh, Jr. is a former American football
defensive tackle in the National Football League
for the Dallas Cowboys
.
in North Carolina at the age of 16, where he eventually became an All-CIAA
defensive end
in 1963 and 1964. He is one of 5 persons to have his jersey retired by Elizabeth City State University
. The others are: Mike Gale
, Anthony Hilliard, Marvin Trotman and Celeste Trahan.
In 1979, he was inducted into the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
(CIAA) Hall of Fame.
In 1980 he was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.
In 2010 he was inducted into the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame.
He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
fraternity.
in the 11th round of the 1965 NFL Draft
and was also offered a contract to play with the Oakland Raiders
of the AFL
.
Pugh was only 20 years old when he started his professional career as a backup defensive end
for the Cowboys. At the end of the 1966 season
, he was moved to left defensive tackle replacing Jim Colvin
in the starting lineup.
He played with the Cowboys for his entire career, from 1965
through 1978
. His 14 seasons represent the fourth-longest career in Cowboys history; only Ed "Too Tall" Jones, Bill Bates
and Mark Tuinei
played more years.
Although he was widely regarded as an excellent player, he was never voted to a Pro Bowl
. Pugh's achievements as a professional athlete were largely overshadowed for most of his career by his defensive line teammates, who were Pro Bowl
regulars. When Pugh started, he had to compete for attention with Hall of Famer Bob Lilly
and George Andrie
; when they retired, Pugh played in the same defensive line with Randy White
, Harvey Martin
and Ed "Too Tall" Jones.
Even though he was a physical player against the run, he utilized his athletism to become a great pass rusher for a defensive tackle.
Pugh was the player who was blocked by Jerry Kramer
on the Green Bay Packers
' final play of the Ice Bowl
, the 1967 NFL championship game. Kramer's block on Pugh cleared the way for Bart Starr
to score on a 1-yard quarterback sneak with 16 seconds remaining, lifting Vince Lombardi
's team to a 21-17 victory in minus-15 degree weather at Lambeau Field
. Kramer's block was replayed by CBS
after the game, leading to Kramer titling his memoir of the 1967 season
: Instant Replay
.
While Quarterback sack
s were not an official NFL statistic during Pugh's career, he is unofficially credited with a career total of 95.5. He led the Cowboys in sacks each season from 1968
to 1973
with a high mark of 15.5 in 1968
. He averaged 12½ sacks, during one amazing stretch of his Cowboys career (1968
–1973
), .
Pugh led the team in sacks for five consecutive seasons (1968
–1972
), a record that stood until 2010
when DeMarcus Ware
reached six. He ranks fifth on the Cowboys all-time sacks list.
He helped the Cowboys win 4 NFC
Championships, 2 Super Bowls, and qualify for the NFL post-season for 13th straight seasons (played a total of 23 playoff games).
.
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...
defensive tackle 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...
for 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...
.
College career
After going to high school at Southwestern (Windsor, NC), Pugh attended Elizabeth City State UniversityElizabeth City State University
Elizabeth City State University is a public, historically black college located in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, in the United States...
in North Carolina at the age of 16, where he eventually became an All-CIAA
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association is a college athletic conference, mostly consisting of historically black colleges and universities. Recent addition Chowan University is the first non-HBCU to play in the conference. Conference teams participate in the NCAA's Division II...
defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
in 1963 and 1964. He is one of 5 persons to have his jersey retired by Elizabeth City State University
Elizabeth City State University
Elizabeth City State University is a public, historically black college located in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, in the United States...
. The others are: Mike Gale
Mike Gale
Michael Eugene Gale is a retired American basketball player.Gale was a 6'4" guard at Elizabeth City State University. He was drafted in the third round of the 1971 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls and by the Kentucky Colonels in the 1971 American Basketball Association draft...
, Anthony Hilliard, Marvin Trotman and Celeste Trahan.
In 1979, he was inducted into the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association is a college athletic conference, mostly consisting of historically black colleges and universities. Recent addition Chowan University is the first non-HBCU to play in the conference. Conference teams participate in the NCAA's Division II...
(CIAA) Hall of Fame.
In 1980 he was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.
In 2010 he was inducted into the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame.
He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...
fraternity.
Professional career
He was selected by the Dallas CowboysDallas 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 the 11th round of the 1965 NFL Draft
1965 NFL Draft
The 1965 National Football League Draft took place on November 28, 1964. The first player selected was Tucker Frederickson, back from Auburn, by the New York Giants. The draft was marked by the failure of the St...
and was also offered a contract to play with the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the AFL
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
.
Pugh was only 20 years old when he started his professional career as a backup defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
for the Cowboys. At the end of the 1966 season
1966 NFL season
The 1966 NFL season was the 47th regular season of the National Football League, and the season after which was played Super Bowl I, though it was called the AFL-NFL World Championship Game. The league expanded to 15 teams with the addition of the Atlanta Falcons, thus an odd number of teams...
, he was moved to left defensive tackle replacing Jim Colvin
Jim Colvin
James Reginald Colvin is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League for the Baltimore Colts, the Dallas Cowboys, and the New York Giants. He played college football at the University of Houston and was drafted in the eighth round of the 1960 NFL Draft....
in the starting lineup.
He played with the Cowboys for his entire career, from 1965
1965 NFL season
The 1965 NFL season was the 46th regular season of the National Football League.Because the Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Colts ended up tied in the Western Conference standings after the regular season ended, a conference playoff game was held in Green Bay. Although the Packers had defeated the...
through 1978
1978 NFL season
The 1978 NFL season was the 59th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded the regular season from a 14-game schedule to 16. Furthermore, the playoff format was expanded from 8 teams to 10 teams by adding another wild card from each conference...
. His 14 seasons represent the fourth-longest career in Cowboys history; only Ed "Too Tall" Jones, Bill Bates
Bill Bates
William Frederick Bates is a former American football safety in the National Football League who spent his entire career with the Dallas Cowboys.-Early years:...
and Mark Tuinei
Mark Tuinei
Mark Pulemau Tuinei was an American football offensive tackle in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys...
played more years.
Although he was widely regarded as an excellent player, he was never voted to a Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
. Pugh's achievements as a professional athlete were largely overshadowed for most of his career by his defensive line teammates, who were Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
regulars. When Pugh started, he had to compete for attention with Hall of Famer Bob Lilly
Bob Lilly
Robert Lewis Lilly is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League and photographer. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980.-College career:...
and George Andrie
George Andrie
George Joseph Andrie is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League. Andrie prepped at Catholic Central High School.-College career:...
; when they retired, Pugh played in the same defensive line with Randy White
Randy White
Randy White may refer to:*Randy White , American football player*Randy White , American basketball player*Randy White , Canadian politician and accountant...
, Harvey Martin
Harvey Martin
Harvey Banks Martin was an American football defensive end in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys from 1973 until 1983. He started playing football in high school, only because he overheard his father tell his mother that he was ashamed that his son did not play like his friends'...
and Ed "Too Tall" Jones.
Even though he was a physical player against the run, he utilized his athletism to become a great pass rusher for a defensive tackle.
Pugh was the player who was blocked by Jerry Kramer
Jerry Kramer
Gerald Louis "Jerry" Kramer is a former professional football player, author and sports commentator, best remembered for his 11-year NFL career with the Green Bay Packers as an offensive lineman...
on the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
' final play of the Ice Bowl
Ice Bowl
The term Ice Bowl may refer to several different sporting events that are or were scheduled during cold weather:* Ice Bowl , a college football game held in Fairbanks, Alaska from 1948 to 1952...
, the 1967 NFL championship game. Kramer's block on Pugh cleared the way for Bart Starr
Bart Starr
Bryan Bartlett "Bart" Starr is a former professional American football player and coach. Wearing #15, he was the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers from 1956 to 1971 and head coach from 1975 to 1983, compiling a record of 52–76–3 ....
to score on a 1-yard quarterback sneak with 16 seconds remaining, lifting Vince Lombardi
Vince Lombardi
Vincent Thomas "Vince" Lombardi was an American football coach. He is best known as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers during the 1960s, where he led the team to three straight league championships and five in seven years, including winning the first two Super Bowls following the 1966 and...
's team to a 21-17 victory in minus-15 degree weather at Lambeau Field
Lambeau Field
Lambeau Field is an outdoor football stadium in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the home of the NFL's Green Bay Packers. Opened in 1957 as City Stadium, it replaced the original City Stadium as the Packers' home field...
. Kramer's block was replayed by CBS
NFL on CBS
The NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS television network's coverage of the National Football League's American Football Conference games, produced by CBS Sports.-Market coverage and television policies:...
after the game, leading to Kramer titling his memoir of the 1967 season
1967 NFL season
The 1967 NFL season was the 48th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 16 teams with the addition of the New Orleans Saints. The league's teams were realigned into four divisions: the Capitol and Century Divisions in the Eastern Conference, and the Central and...
: Instant Replay
Instant Replay
Instant replay is the process of replaying previously occurred events through the use of video technology.Instant replay may also refer to:*Instant replay in American football*Instant Replay , 1969...
.
While Quarterback sack
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
s were not an official NFL statistic during Pugh's career, he is unofficially credited with a career total of 95.5. He led the Cowboys in sacks each season from 1968
1968 NFL season
The 1968 NFL season was the 49th regular season of the National Football League. As per the agreement made during the 1967 realignment, the New Orleans Saints and the New York Giants switched divisions; the Saints joined the Century Division while the Giants became part of the Capitol Division.The...
to 1973
1973 NFL season
The 1973 NFL season was the 54th regular season of the National Football League. The season featured O.J. Simpson becoming the first man to rush for 2,000 yards in one season...
with a high mark of 15.5 in 1968
1968 NFL season
The 1968 NFL season was the 49th regular season of the National Football League. As per the agreement made during the 1967 realignment, the New Orleans Saints and the New York Giants switched divisions; the Saints joined the Century Division while the Giants became part of the Capitol Division.The...
. He averaged 12½ sacks, during one amazing stretch of his Cowboys career (1968
1968 NFL season
The 1968 NFL season was the 49th regular season of the National Football League. As per the agreement made during the 1967 realignment, the New Orleans Saints and the New York Giants switched divisions; the Saints joined the Century Division while the Giants became part of the Capitol Division.The...
–1973
1973 NFL season
The 1973 NFL season was the 54th regular season of the National Football League. The season featured O.J. Simpson becoming the first man to rush for 2,000 yards in one season...
), .
Pugh led the team in sacks for five consecutive seasons (1968
1968 NFL season
The 1968 NFL season was the 49th regular season of the National Football League. As per the agreement made during the 1967 realignment, the New Orleans Saints and the New York Giants switched divisions; the Saints joined the Century Division while the Giants became part of the Capitol Division.The...
–1972
1972 NFL season
The 1972 NFL season was the 53rd regular season of the National Football League. The Miami Dolphins became the first NFL team to finish a championship season undefeated and untied when they beat the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII.-Major rule changes:...
), a record that stood until 2010
2010 NFL season
The 2010 NFL season was the 91st regular season of the National Football League.The regular season began with the NFL Kickoff game on NBC on Thursday, September 9, at the Louisiana Superdome as the New Orleans Saints, Super Bowl XLIV champions, defeated the Minnesota Vikings 14–9.Tom Brady,...
when DeMarcus Ware
Demarcus Ware
DeMarcus Ware is an American football linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He was drafted with the 11th overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft out of Troy University...
reached six. He ranks fifth on the Cowboys all-time sacks list.
He helped the Cowboys win 4 NFC
NFC
NFC may refer to:* Nagacorp FC, a Cambodian sporting club* National Finance Center, a division of the United States Department of Agriculture* National Football Conference, a constituent conference of the National Football League...
Championships, 2 Super Bowls, and qualify for the NFL post-season for 13th straight seasons (played a total of 23 playoff games).
Post-Football life
Pugh owns a number of Western-themed gift shops at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in Texas. He also hosts an annual Jethro Pugh Celebrity Golf Tournament in Dallas to raise funds for the United Negro College FundUnited Negro College Fund
The United Negro College Fund is an American philanthropic organization that fundraises college tuition money for black students and general scholarship funds for 39 private historically black colleges and universities. The UNCF was incorporated on April 25, 1944 by Frederick D. Patterson , Mary...
.
External links
- Database Football: Jethro Pugh
- Cowboys Top 50 Players of All-Time