The late Nineteen Seventies and early Nineteen Eighties have been hardly a heyday for the New York Jets franchise. Their line of defense, nonetheless, was considered one of the crucial fearsome within the NFL throughout the period.
Abdul Salaam was a key a part of that unit, nicknamed the “New York Sack Change.” Salaam died at age 71 on Tuesday.
His widow, Debbie, advised ESPN on Wednesday that Salaam was battling a number of well being points.
Ronald C. Modra/Getty Photos
From 1976-83, Salaam annoyed quarterbacks at defensive deal with on a famed unit with teammates Joe Klecko, Marty Lyons, and Mark Gastineau.
On Aug. 29, 2007, the quartet reunited in New York to ring the precise opening bell on the New York Inventory Change in honor of the beginning of a brand new NFL season. Based on the AP, in addition they reunited this previous summer season to movie interviews for ESPN’s upcoming “30 for 30” documentary on the Jets’ foursome.
“I really feel like I misplaced my finest good friend,” Gastineau told ESPN’s Rich Cimini. “If it wasn’t for Abdul, I would not have made it. He helped me by means of all the pieces.”
Salaam was often called Larry Faulk when he was drafted by the Jets out of Kent State College within the seventh spherical of the 1976 draft. A local of New Brockton, Alabama, Salaam transformed to Islam and adopted his new title in 1977.
Together with Gastineau, Lyons, and Klecko, the Jets’ D-line would obtain fame in an period after they received solely two playoff video games, each in 1983, throughout Salaam’s time on the group.
Klecko, who recorded 77 sacks from 1977-88, would go on to make the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame. Lyons received the Walter Payton Man of the Yr Award in 1984, highlighting an 11-year profession.
“It is a unhappy day once you hear certainly one of your teammates, Abdul Salaam, has handed away,” Lyons said in a video message on his Twitter/X account. “Abdul, on behalf of all of your teammates, the Jets group, and the followers, thanks for making us higher gamers, thanks for making us higher people.
In 1982, Salaam’s ultimate season, the Jets superior to the AFC Championship earlier than dropping 14-0 to the Miami Dolphins.
The Jets set a franchise report with 66 sacks — together with a career-high seven by Salaam — throughout the 1981 season, the 12 months earlier than particular person sacks turned an official statistic.
Salaam was traded to the San Diego Chargers in 1984, however by no means performed for them. He as a substitute selected to retire and spent a few years in his hometown of Cincinnati the place, according to the Jets, he turned an officer and a soccer coach within the native faculty district.
For extra NFL information, go to Newsweek Sports.
