Jethro Pugh facts for kids

Jethro Pugh Jr. (born July 3, 1944 – died January 7, 2015) was an American football player. He was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). Jethro played for the Dallas Cowboys for 14 seasons. Before joining the pros, he played college football at Elizabeth City State College.

Early Life and College Football

Jethro Pugh was born in Windsor, North Carolina. He went to W. S. Etheridge High School. At just 16 years old, he started college at Elizabeth City State College.

While in college, he played football for the Vikings team. He played both offense and defense. Jethro was so good that he was named an All-CIAA defensive end twice. This happened in 1963 and 1964. His jersey number was even retired by the school, which is a huge honor!

Jethro Pugh was recognized for his amazing career many times:

• In 1979, he joined the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Hall of Fame.
• In 1980, he was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.
• In 1981, he entered the ECSU Sports Hall of Fame.
• In 2010, he was inducted into the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame.
• In 2016, he became part of the Black College Football Hall of Fame.

Playing in the NFL

Joining the Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys picked Jethro Pugh in the 1965 NFL draft. He was the 145th player chosen overall. He was also offered a contract by the Oakland Raiders in the AFL. Jethro was only 20 years old when he started his professional career. He began as a backup defensive end for the Cowboys. By the end of the 1966 season, he became the starting left defensive tackle.

A Long Career with One Team

Jethro Pugh played his entire NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys. He was with them from 1965 to 1978. His 14 seasons make his career one of the longest in Cowboys history. Only three other players have played more years for the team.

The Famous "Ice Bowl" Game

One of Jethro's most famous games was the 1967 NFL Championship Game. This game is known as the "Ice Bowl." It was played in freezing cold weather at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. In the final seconds of the game, a player from the Green Bay Packers, Jerry Kramer, blocked Jethro. This block helped Packers quarterback Bart Starr score the winning touchdown. The Packers won 21-17. This was the second year in a row the Cowboys lost to the Packers in the championship game. Jethro was a true team player. He even played through the 1971 season with appendicitis. He waited until the offseason for surgery, taking medicine to help him play.

An Unsung Hero on Defense

Even though Jethro was a great player, he was never chosen for the Pro Bowl. This is because he played alongside other very famous defensive linemen. When he started, he was with future Hall of Famer Bob Lilly and George Andrie. Later, he played with stars like Randy White, Harvey Martin, and Ed "Too Tall" Jones. These players often got more attention.

Jethro was known for being strong against running plays. But he was also very athletic. This made him excellent at rushing the quarterback, which is unusual for a defensive tackle.

Unofficial Sack Leader

Back then, quarterback sacks were not officially counted by the NFL. But Jethro Pugh is unofficially credited with 95.5 sacks in his career! He led the Cowboys in sacks every year from 1968 to 1972. In 1968, he had an amazing 15.5 sacks. This was a team record for many years. He averaged 12.5 sacks per season during his best years (1968–1972). He is still ranked sixth on the Cowboys' all-time sacks list.

Retirement and Achievements

Jethro Pugh retired on January 29, 1979, after the 1978 season. He helped the Cowboys win two Super Bowls (Super Bowl VI and Super Bowl XII). His team also won five NFC Championships. The Cowboys made it to the playoffs in 12 of his 14 seasons. He played in a record 23 playoff games during his career.

Life After Football

After retiring from football, Jethro Pugh owned several gift shops. These shops were at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in Texas. He also hosted a yearly golf tournament in Dallas. This event raised money for the United Negro College Fund. Jethro Pugh passed away on January 7, 2015, in Dallas, Texas. He was 70 years old.