Gary Jeter
Encyclopedia
Gary Michael Jeter is a former professional American football
defensive end
in the National Football League
. An All-America
n at the University of Southern California
in 1976, Jeter was drafted
by the New York Giants in the first round (fifth overall) in the 1977 NFL Draft
.
, Los Angeles Rams
and New England Patriots
. During his professional career, he amassed 79 sacks. He was a starter with the Giants through the 1981 season and was a back-up in 1982. As a rookie in 1977 he was an All-Rookie selection and recorded 3 sacks, a number he matched in 1978. In 1979 he had 4 sacks. In 1980 he led the Giants with 10 sacks and was an alternate to the Pro Bowl. In 1981 he had 7 sacks as the resurgent Giants defence led by Lawrence Taylor
, made the play-offs for the first time in Jeter's career. In 1982, slowed by a left-knee injury and by the player's strike, Jeter played only four games and did not record a sack.
On April 9, 1983, Jeter was traded to the Los Angeles Rams for the 1983 season. Jeter spent that season as a backup and as a designated pass rusher——who would come in to rush the quarterback on likely passing downs. He recorded 6½ sacks in that role. In 1984 Jeter had back trouble and missed most of the season. In 1985 he came back healthy and resumed the "designated" role for the Rams totalling 11 sacks, which again was second on the team. Gary was voted Comeback Player of the Year after the 1985 season. In 1986 (8 sacks) , 1987 (7 sacks), and 1988 Jeter performed exceptionally well in his role, getting a career-high 11½ sacks in 1988, including 5 in one game against the Los Angeles Raiders on September 18, 1988, for which he was awarded the NFC Player of the Week.
After the 1988 season the Rams left Jeter an unprotected "Plan B" free agent and the New England Patriots
signed him to do the same job he'd been doing in Los Angeles—to come off the bench of third down and rush the quarterback. He ended the 1989 season with 7 sacks. Jeter was released by the Patriots August 29, 1990. The Los Angeles Rams agreed to terms with him, however, he failed the team physical due to a chronic back problem.
.
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 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 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...
. An All-America
1976 College Football All-America Team
The 1976 College Football All-America team is composed of various organizations that choose College All-America teams that season. The organizations that chose the teams were Associated Press, United Press International, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Football Writers Association of America,...
n at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
in 1976, Jeter was drafted
NFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
by the New York Giants in the first round (fifth overall) in 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...
.
College career
Jeter played for USC from 1974-77 and was a member of 1974 National Championship team. In 1976 First-team All-American and while at USC he played in three Rose Bowls (1974, 1975, and 1977). He was a three-time All-Conference First-team (1974, 1975, 1976) and won USC’s Defensive Player of the Year Award in 1975Professional career
Jeter played in 13 NFL seasons from 1977 to 1989 for the New York GiantsNew York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Los Angeles Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
and New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
. During his professional career, he amassed 79 sacks. He was a starter with the Giants through the 1981 season and was a back-up in 1982. As a rookie in 1977 he was an All-Rookie selection and recorded 3 sacks, a number he matched in 1978. In 1979 he had 4 sacks. In 1980 he led the Giants with 10 sacks and was an alternate to the Pro Bowl. In 1981 he had 7 sacks as the resurgent Giants defence led by Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Julius Taylor , nicknamed "L.T.", is a Hall of Fame former American football player. Taylor played his entire professional career as a linebacker for the New York Giants in the National Football League...
, made the play-offs for the first time in Jeter's career. In 1982, slowed by a left-knee injury and by the player's strike, Jeter played only four games and did not record a sack.
On April 9, 1983, Jeter was traded to the Los Angeles Rams for the 1983 season. Jeter spent that season as a backup and as a designated pass rusher——who would come in to rush the quarterback on likely passing downs. He recorded 6½ sacks in that role. In 1984 Jeter had back trouble and missed most of the season. In 1985 he came back healthy and resumed the "designated" role for the Rams totalling 11 sacks, which again was second on the team. Gary was voted Comeback Player of the Year after the 1985 season. In 1986 (8 sacks) , 1987 (7 sacks), and 1988 Jeter performed exceptionally well in his role, getting a career-high 11½ sacks in 1988, including 5 in one game against the Los Angeles Raiders on September 18, 1988, for which he was awarded the NFC Player of the Week.
After the 1988 season the Rams left Jeter an unprotected "Plan B" free agent and the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
signed him to do the same job he'd been doing in Los Angeles—to come off the bench of third down and rush the quarterback. He ended the 1989 season with 7 sacks. Jeter was released by the Patriots August 29, 1990. The Los Angeles Rams agreed to terms with him, however, he failed the team physical due to a chronic back problem.
Personal life
Jeter currently resides in Plainsboro, NJ.He is working for USI Services Group in Springfield, NJ. USI Services Group is one the leaders in providing Landscape/Design, Janitorial & Security Guard Services to a number of fortune 500 companies throughout the United States. His daughter Kayla Jeter is a standout Volleyball player, earning All-American honors and has an athletic scholarship to University of TennesseeUniversity of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
.