Jeff Bostic
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey Lynn Bostic is a former American football
offensive lineman who played for the Washington Redskins
in the National Football League
.
, Bostic was named All-ACC in 1979 as an offensive lineman for the Tigers. He was also named to Clemson’s All-Centennial Team in 1996, and inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 1997. In 1999, he was placed in the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame.
from 1980 to 1993, helping them win Super Bowl
s XVII
, XXII
and XXVI
and becoming the only Clemson player to play for three Super Bowl Championship teams. He was also named one of the 70 greatest players in Redskins history. Bostic was one of "The Hogs
," the Redskins' famed offensive line which also included guards Russ Grimm
and Mark May
, tackles Joe Jacoby
and George Starke
, and a few other new additions over the years.
In 1981, in his second year, he replaced Bob Kuziel
as the starting center (American football)
for the Redskins in all 16 games. He continued in that position until his final year, 1993, though missing important amounts of games because of injuries in 1984, 1985, 1987, and 1992.
In 1982, the strike-shortened season at 9 regular season games, the offensive line was potent throughout their 8-1 won-lost regular season, with Bostic at center, guards Russ Grimm
and Mark May
, and tackles Joe Jacoby
and George Starke
starting all 9 games. The same line prevailed in the playoffs, except that Fred Dean (offensive lineman)
replaced May at right guard because of an injury in games 1,2, and 4. The team defeated in succession in the 1982-83 NFL playoffs the Detroit Lions
, the Minnesota Vikings
, the Dallas Cowboys
, and the Miami Dolphins
, rushing respectively for 175, 204, 137, and 276 yards, with mainly John Riggins
as the running back. The Redskins won Super Bowl XVII
with Bostic and the interior line bowling over nose tackle Bob Baumhower
and the two interior linebackers A.J. Duhe and Earnie Rhone
.
In 1983, Washington won the eastern division of the NFC with a 14-2 won-lost record, thanks to the same offensive line, leading the NFL with 541 points scored (33.8 points/game). They beat the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round of the 1983-84 NFL playoffs and the San Francisco 49ers
in the NFC championship game, passing for more yards than the previous year, but also with some more hefty running: 130 and 172 rushing yards, respectively, but they could not push off so easily the defensive line of the Oakland Raiders
, losing Super Bowl XVIII
. Although they won the eastern division of the NFC again in 1984, they lost the divisional round of the 1984-85 NFL playoffs to the Chicago Bears
. The Redskins became a force again in 1986 with a 12-4 record, winning a wild card game against the Los Angeles Rams and the divisional round of the 1986-87 NFL playoffs against the Chicago Bears
with 138 and 134 rushing yards, respectively, but could neither pass (150 yards) nor run (40 yards) much against the New York Giants
powerful defense, losing the NFC title game.
The 1987 NFL season was another strike year and another Super Bowl win for the Redskins, with 15 games played instead of 16 and owners sending in replacement players. Bostic started only 5 games during the regular season. However, with guards Raleigh McKenzie
(replacing the injured Russ Grimm
) and R.C. Thielemann and with tackles Joe Jacoby
and Mark May
, he started every game of the 1987-88 NFL playoffs, where the Redskins had a modest 72 yards on the ground against the Chicago Bears
in the divisional round, but demolished the Minnesota Vikings
in the NFC title game and the Denver Broncos
in Super Bowl XXI
with 161 and a 280 yards on the ground, respectively. In the Super Bowl, Greg Kragen
at nose tackle with Karl Mecklenburg
and Ricky Hunley
at interior linebackers could not match up, and especially could not handle the Redskins' counter trey
misdirection, where the left side of the line pulled on the opposite side.
Washington returned to the playoffs in the 1990 season (1990-91 NFL playoffs). With an offensive line composed of Bostic, Raleigh McKenzie
(replacing the injured Russ Grimm
again) and Mark Schlereth
at guards, Jim Lachey
and Joe Jacoby
at tackles, the Redskins beat the Philadelphia Eagles
in a wild card game, with 93 rushing yards, but could not get by Joe Montana
and the San Francisco 49ers
in the divisional round, gaining only 80 rushing yards, as the Redskins had to pass to try to catch up to the 49ers' potent offense. In the 1991 regular season, with Bostic starting all 16 games, Washington finished with a record of 14-2, leading the NFL with 485 points (30.3 points/game). In the 1991-92 NFL playoffs, with the same offensive line as the previous year, Washington beat successively the Atlanta Falcons
, Detroit Lions
, and Buffalo Bills
with 162, 117, and 125 rushing yards, respectively, triumphant in Super Bowl XXVI
, Bostic's last playoff game. The following year, Bostic, due to an injury, played in only 4 of 16 regular season games and was replaced by Raleigh McKenzie
in the 1992-93 NFL playoffs, the Redskins beating the Minnesota Vikings
with 196 rushing yards, but losing, as they did in 1990, to the San Francisco 49ers
. In 1993, his last, Bostic played in only 10 games and the Redskins finished with an ugly 4-12 mark. He was replaced as the starting center in 1994 by John Gesek
.
guard Joe Bostic
. Graduated from Ben L. Smith High School in Greensboro.
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...
offensive lineman who played for the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
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...
.
College career
A 1980 graduate of Clemson UniversityClemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
, Bostic was named All-ACC in 1979 as an offensive lineman for the Tigers. He was also named to Clemson’s All-Centennial Team in 1996, and inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 1997. In 1999, he was placed in the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame.
Washington Redskins center
Bostic was a member of the Washington RedskinsWashington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
from 1980 to 1993, helping them win Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
s XVII
Super Bowl XVII
Super Bowl XVII was an American football game played on January 30, 1983 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the strike-shortened 1982 regular season...
, XXII
Super Bowl XXII
Super Bowl XXII was an American football game played on January 31, 1988 at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 1987 regular season...
and XXVI
Super Bowl XXVI
Super Bowl XXVI was an American football game played on January 26, 1992 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota to decide the National Football League champion following the 1991 regular season...
and becoming the only Clemson player to play for three Super Bowl Championship teams. He was also named one of the 70 greatest players in Redskins history. Bostic was one of "The Hogs
The Hogs (American football)
The Hogs was the nickname for the offensive line of the Washington Redskins of the National Football League during the 1980s and early 1990s. Renowned for their ability to control the line of scrimmage, the Hogs helped the Redskins win three Super Bowl championships under head coach Joe Gibbs...
," the Redskins' famed offensive line which also included guards Russ Grimm
Russ Grimm
Russell Scott Grimm is a former American football guard for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. As a collegian, he was an All-American center at the University of Pittsburgh. As a professional, Grimm had multi-selections to both the All-Pro and Pro Bowl teams, and was...
and Mark May
Mark May
Mark Eric May is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League. He is currently a football analyst for ESPN.-Football career:...
, tackles Joe Jacoby
Joe Jacoby
Joseph Erwin Jacoby is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins...
and George Starke
George Starke
George Lawrence Starke is a former American football offensive lineman who played for the Washington Redskins in the National Football League from 1972-84....
, and a few other new additions over the years.
In 1981, in his second year, he replaced Bob Kuziel
Bob Kuziel
Robert Charles Kuziel is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the New Orleans Saints and the Washington Redskins. He also played for the Charlotte Hornets of the World Football League...
as the starting center (American football)
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
for the Redskins in all 16 games. He continued in that position until his final year, 1993, though missing important amounts of games because of injuries in 1984, 1985, 1987, and 1992.
In 1982, the strike-shortened season at 9 regular season games, the offensive line was potent throughout their 8-1 won-lost regular season, with Bostic at center, guards Russ Grimm
Russ Grimm
Russell Scott Grimm is a former American football guard for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. As a collegian, he was an All-American center at the University of Pittsburgh. As a professional, Grimm had multi-selections to both the All-Pro and Pro Bowl teams, and was...
and Mark May
Mark May
Mark Eric May is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League. He is currently a football analyst for ESPN.-Football career:...
, and tackles Joe Jacoby
Joe Jacoby
Joseph Erwin Jacoby is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins...
and George Starke
George Starke
George Lawrence Starke is a former American football offensive lineman who played for the Washington Redskins in the National Football League from 1972-84....
starting all 9 games. The same line prevailed in the playoffs, except that Fred Dean (offensive lineman)
Fred Dean (offensive lineman)
Frederick Gregory Dean is a former American football guard from for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He later played with the Tampa Bay Bandits of the United States Football League...
replaced May at right guard because of an injury in games 1,2, and 4. The team defeated in succession in the 1982-83 NFL playoffs the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
, the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
, 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...
, and the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, rushing respectively for 175, 204, 137, and 276 yards, with mainly John Riggins
John Riggins
Robert John Riggins, nicknamed "The Diesel", is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the New York Jets and Washington Redskins. Riggins was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992....
as the running back. The Redskins won Super Bowl XVII
Super Bowl XVII
Super Bowl XVII was an American football game played on January 30, 1983 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the strike-shortened 1982 regular season...
with Bostic and the interior line bowling over nose tackle Bob Baumhower
Bob Baumhower
Robert Glenn Baumhower is a former American football player who played college football for the University of Alabama and professional football for the Miami Dolphins of the NFL.-Collegiate and NFL awards:...
and the two interior linebackers A.J. Duhe and Earnie Rhone
Earnie Rhone
Earnest "Earnie" Rhone is a former American football linebacker who played ten seasons in the National Football League for the Miami Dolphins.-External links:*...
.
In 1983, Washington won the eastern division of the NFC with a 14-2 won-lost record, thanks to the same offensive line, leading the NFL with 541 points scored (33.8 points/game). They beat the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round of the 1983-84 NFL playoffs and the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
in the NFC championship game, passing for more yards than the previous year, but also with some more hefty running: 130 and 172 rushing yards, respectively, but they could not push off so easily the defensive line of 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...
, losing Super Bowl XVIII
Super Bowl XVIII
Super Bowl XVIII was an American football game played on January 22, 1984, at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida, deciding the National Football League champion following the 1983 regular season. The American Football Conference champion Los Angeles Raiders defeated the National Football Conference...
. Although they won the eastern division of the NFC again in 1984, they lost the divisional round of the 1984-85 NFL playoffs to the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. The Redskins became a force again in 1986 with a 12-4 record, winning a wild card game against the Los Angeles Rams and the divisional round of the 1986-87 NFL playoffs against the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
with 138 and 134 rushing yards, respectively, but could neither pass (150 yards) nor run (40 yards) much against the New York Giants
New 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...
powerful defense, losing the NFC title game.
The 1987 NFL season was another strike year and another Super Bowl win for the Redskins, with 15 games played instead of 16 and owners sending in replacement players. Bostic started only 5 games during the regular season. However, with guards Raleigh McKenzie
Raleigh McKenzie
Raleigh McKenzie is a former American football player in the National Football League who played guard for the Washington Redskins from 1985 to 1994. McKenzie was the epitome of the "Hogs" depth amidst the Redskins famed 1980s and early 1990s offensive line...
(replacing the injured Russ Grimm
Russ Grimm
Russell Scott Grimm is a former American football guard for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. As a collegian, he was an All-American center at the University of Pittsburgh. As a professional, Grimm had multi-selections to both the All-Pro and Pro Bowl teams, and was...
) and R.C. Thielemann and with tackles Joe Jacoby
Joe Jacoby
Joseph Erwin Jacoby is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins...
and Mark May
Mark May
Mark Eric May is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League. He is currently a football analyst for ESPN.-Football career:...
, he started every game of the 1987-88 NFL playoffs, where the Redskins had a modest 72 yards on the ground against the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the divisional round, but demolished the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
in the NFC title game 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...
in Super Bowl XXI
Super Bowl XXI
Super Bowl XXI was an American football game played on January 25, 1987 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 1986 regular season. The National Football Conference champion New York Giants won their first Super Bowl by defeating...
with 161 and a 280 yards on the ground, respectively. In the Super Bowl, Greg Kragen
Greg Kragen
Gregory John Kragen is a former American football defensive lineman in the National Football League including three Super Bowls and five championship games. He was selected for the Pro Bowl in 1989 and made the All-Madden team twice...
at nose tackle with Karl Mecklenburg
Karl Mecklenburg
Karl Mecklenburg is a former American football player for the Denver Broncos in the National Football League.-National Football League:...
and Ricky Hunley
Ricky Hunley
Ricky Hunley is an American football coach and former linebacker. He is currently the assistant linebackers coach for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League.-College career:...
at interior linebackers could not match up, and especially could not handle the Redskins' counter trey
Counter trey
The counter trey is a misdirection running play used in American football. The counter trey is a type of counter run.This play is designed for the offensive team to feign rushing one way, then attack the defense in the opposite direction...
misdirection, where the left side of the line pulled on the opposite side.
Washington returned to the playoffs in the 1990 season (1990-91 NFL playoffs). With an offensive line composed of Bostic, Raleigh McKenzie
Raleigh McKenzie
Raleigh McKenzie is a former American football player in the National Football League who played guard for the Washington Redskins from 1985 to 1994. McKenzie was the epitome of the "Hogs" depth amidst the Redskins famed 1980s and early 1990s offensive line...
(replacing the injured Russ Grimm
Russ Grimm
Russell Scott Grimm is a former American football guard for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. As a collegian, he was an All-American center at the University of Pittsburgh. As a professional, Grimm had multi-selections to both the All-Pro and Pro Bowl teams, and was...
again) and Mark Schlereth
Mark Schlereth
Mark Frederick Schlereth is a former professional football player and current television sportscaster. Schlereth played guard in the NFL for 12 seasons with the Washington Redskins and Denver Broncos. He is currently a football analyst for ESPN on NFL Live, Sportscenter, and other programs...
at guards, Jim Lachey
Jim Lachey
James Michael Lachey is a former American football offensive tackle who played for ten seasons in the National Football League with the San Diego Chargers, the Los Angeles Raiders and the Washington Redskins from 1985 to 1995, missing the 1993 season with a knee injury.Lachey graduated from St...
and Joe Jacoby
Joe Jacoby
Joseph Erwin Jacoby is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins...
at tackles, the Redskins beat the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in a wild card game, with 93 rushing yards, but could not get by Joe Montana
Joe Montana
Joseph Clifford "Joe" Montana, Jr. , nicknamed Joe Cool, Golden Joe, The Golden Great and Comeback Joe, is a retired American football player. Montana started his NFL career in 1979 with the San Francisco 49ers, where he played quarterback for the next 14 seasons...
and the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
in the divisional round, gaining only 80 rushing yards, as the Redskins had to pass to try to catch up to the 49ers' potent offense. In the 1991 regular season, with Bostic starting all 16 games, Washington finished with a record of 14-2, leading the NFL with 485 points (30.3 points/game). In the 1991-92 NFL playoffs, with the same offensive line as the previous year, Washington beat successively the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
, and Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
with 162, 117, and 125 rushing yards, respectively, triumphant in Super Bowl XXVI
Super Bowl XXVI
Super Bowl XXVI was an American football game played on January 26, 1992 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota to decide the National Football League champion following the 1991 regular season...
, Bostic's last playoff game. The following year, Bostic, due to an injury, played in only 4 of 16 regular season games and was replaced by Raleigh McKenzie
Raleigh McKenzie
Raleigh McKenzie is a former American football player in the National Football League who played guard for the Washington Redskins from 1985 to 1994. McKenzie was the epitome of the "Hogs" depth amidst the Redskins famed 1980s and early 1990s offensive line...
in the 1992-93 NFL playoffs, the Redskins beating the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
with 196 rushing yards, but losing, as they did in 1990, to the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
. In 1993, his last, Bostic played in only 10 games and the Redskins finished with an ugly 4-12 mark. He was replaced as the starting center in 1994 by John Gesek
John Gesek
John Christian Gesek, Jr. is a former American football offensive lineman who played nine seasons in the National Football League for the Los Angeles Raiders, the Dallas Cowboys, and the Washington Redskins...
.
Personal
He is the younger brother of former St. Louis CardinalsArizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
guard Joe Bostic
Joe Bostic
Joe Earl Bostic, Jr. is a former American football offensive lineman, primarily guard, who played ten seasons in the National Football League for the St. Louis Cardinals...
. Graduated from Ben L. Smith High School in Greensboro.