In 1985, they misplaced the wild-card sport to New England after quarterback Ken O’Brien, the league’s top-rated passer that season, suffered a concussion and missed the second half. The Jets dedicated 4 turnovers.
And in 1986, the Jets had a divisional playoff victory seemingly sewn up. Main by 20-10 with 4 minutes remaining, they’d the Browns at second-and-24. Cleveland quarterback Bernie Kosar threw an incomplete cross. However Gastineau hit him late, leading to first down by penalty, and Cleveland went on to win in double-overtime.
In the meantime, Klecko benefited from Donald Trump’s largess. Trump had taken over the Generals of america Soccer League, which was began as a low-cost low season diversion for N.F.L. followers. However as soon as Trump obtained his fingers on the crew, he needed one of the best gamers obtainable, and he wooed Klecko.
The Jets, to maintain Klecko, made him the highest-paid defensive participant within the league at $830,000.
However the accidents had piled up. And after the 1987 season, the Jets’ crew orthopedist, the famous Dr. James A. Nicholas — a pioneer in sports activities drugs — suggested Klecko to stop.
Regardless of having undergone critical knee surgical procedure, and shoulder surgical procedure, and affected by assorted issues, Klecko demurred. He felt his wage had one thing to do with the Jets not wanting him to play any longer.
He signed with the Indianapolis Colts and ended his profession after the 1988 season.
However for Jets followers and those that knew him, he was the gritty, grind-it-out, selfless animator of the protection all these years. He made these round him higher. Certainly, as he stated, “I all the time felt that the crew wanted me, it doesn’t matter what.”