Ron Jessie

Ron Ray Jessie (February 4, 1948 - January 13, 2006) was a professional American football wide receiver in the National Football League from 1971 through 1981. His best season came in 1976 with the Los Angeles Rams, when he was named to the Pro Bowl.

Early years

Jessie attended Yuma High School where he was a three-sport athlete: all-division in basketball, all-state in football and track & field.

After high school, he initially enrolled at Arizona Western College, before transferring to Imperial Valley College, where he played football and track & field.

Jessie received a scholarship to the University of Kansas where he also practiced both sports. He was a part of the national championship track team in 1969, winning the NCAA indoor long jump champion and receiving All-American honors.^[1]

In football, he played running back in the same backfield with John Riggins and was also used as a split end. He registered more than 1,500 total yards in offense and scored 5 touchdowns.

In 2010, he was inducted into the Imperial Valley College Hall of Fame.^[2]

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

Jessie was selected in the eighth round of the 1971 NFL Draft. On July 27, 1971, he was traded to the Detroit Lions in exchange for a fourth round draft choice (used to draft Chuck Zapiec).^[3]

Detroit Lions

He became a starter at wide receiver in 1972.

On April 8, 1974, he signed with the Birmingham Americans of the World Football League, but the team folded before he could report.^[4] He finished the season ranked as the sixth leading wide receiver in the NFL.^[5]

The courts ruled in favor of the National Football League Players Association and a new form of free agency was briefly instituted in 1975. After playing out his contract, he was signed by the Los Angeles Rams, but then commissioner Pete Rozelle mandated the team to send the Lions their number one draft choice along with Cullen Bryant as compensation.^[6] Bryant filed for a temporary restraining order from the courts and would never play for the Lions.^[7]

The Lions eventually traded the Rams first round draft choice to the Chicago Bears, in exchange for their first (James Hunter) and third round picks (Russ Bolinger).

Los Angeles Rams

His best season was in 1976, when he was voted to the Pro Bowl after registering 34 receptions for 779 yards and 6 touchdowns. The next year he was placed on the injured reserve list after suffering a knee injury against the San Francisco 49ers.^[8]

In 1979, he was placed on the injured reserve list after suffering a broken leg against the New Orleans Saints,^[9] that also prevented him from playing in the 31-19 Super Bowl loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

On July 31, 1980, he was traded to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a seventh round draft choice.^[10]

Buffalo Bills

Jesse was used in a reserve role during his 2 years with the Buffalo Bills.

Personal life

After retiring as a player, he became a scout for the Los Angeles Rams. He died in 2006, after suffering a heart attack in his Huntington Beach home. ^[11]

In 1997, after playing basketball for the University of Utah, his son Brandon Jessie was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Giants.^[12]

References

External links

• Ron Jessie at Find a Grave