Roy Jefferson

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Roy Lee Jefferson (born November 9, 1943 in Texarkana, Arkansas) is a former American football wide receiver who played twelve seasons in the National Football League. During 162 regular season games he had 451 receptions for 7,539 yards and 52 touchdowns. Jefferson spent his first five NFL seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers (1965-1969). In 1968, Jefferson led the NFL in receiving yards with 1,074. His 58 receptions and 11 touchdowns were both 2nd highest in the NFL that season. He was named 1st Team All-Pro by Associated Press (AP), the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA), New York Daily News and UPI in 1969. Jefferson finished that season with 67 receptions for 1,079 yards and 9 touchdowns and became the first Steelers receiver to post back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. Despite being the Steelers best offensive player, conflicts with head coach Chuck Noll would result in Jefferson being traded to the Baltimore Colts before the 1970 season.^[1]

Jefferson was with the Colts for only one season, but helped them reach and win Super Bowl V. He finished the 1970 regular season with 44 receptions for 749 yards and 7 touchdowns. He caught a 45-yard touchdown pass from Johnny Unitas in the Colts 17-0 Divisional playoff win over the Cincinnati Bengals and had 3 receptions for 52 yards in the Colts 16-13 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in the Super Bowl. Jefferson was traded to the Washington Redskins in 1971. He spent six seasons with the Redskins, helping them reach Super Bowl VII in 1972, before retiring after the 1976 season.

Jefferson was named to the Pittsburgh Steelers Legends team in 2007 as one of the best 24 Steelers players prior to 1970.

[edit] References

1. ^ steelers.com

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