Jeff Delaney
{{Short description|American football player (born 1956)}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
|name=Jeff Delaney
|number=41, 45, 24, 34
|position=Safety
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1956|12|28}}
|birth_place=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
|height_ft=6
|height_in=0
|weight_lb=195
|high_school=Upper St. Clair
(Upper St. Clair Township, Pennsylvania)
|college=Pittsburgh
|draftyear=1979
|draftround=7
|draftpick=190
|pastteams=
- Los Angeles Rams (1979–1980)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1981)
- Detroit Lions (1981)
- Baltimore Colts (1982–1983)
- Pittsburgh Maulers (1984)
- Denver Gold (1985)
|highlights=
- National champion (1976)
- Second-team All-American (1978)
- First-team All-East (1978)
|statlabel1=Interceptions
|statvalue1=4
|statlabel2=Fumble recoveries
|statvalue2=3
|statlabel3=Sacks
|statvalue3=1.0
|pfr=D/DelaJe20
}}
Jeff Delaney (born December 28, 1956) is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Pittsburgh Panthers.
Early life
Delaney was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and grew up in the suburb of Upper St. Clair where he attended Upper St. Clair High School. As a senior he helped lead the team to a share of the WPIAL championship after going undefeated in the regular season.{{cite web|url=https://archive.triblive.com/news/western-conference-showcased-regions-talents/|title=Western Conference showcased region's talents|first=George|last=Guido|work=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review|date=November 8, 2007|access-date=May 12, 2020}}
College career
Delaney was a four-year starter for the Pittsburgh Panthers, including Pitt's National Championship team in 1976. Delaney led the Panthers in interceptions as a freshman and as a senior, when he was also named All-Eastern by the Associated Press.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/12/24/archives/alleast-football-offensive-team-defensive-team.html|title=All‐East Football|work=The New York Times|date=December 24, 1978|access-date=May 11, 2020}} He finished his collegiate career with 16 interceptions. Off the field, Delaney was a two time Academic All-America selection and was named a National Scholar Athlete by the National Football Foundation.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/12/05/archives/football-foundation-honors-scholarathletes-draddy-receives-medal.html|title=Football Foundation Honors Scholar‐Athletes|work=The New York Times|date=December 5, 1978|access-date=May 11, 2020}}
Professional career
Delaney was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the seventh round of the 1979 NFL draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/05/06/archives/national-football-league-1979-draft-atlanta-falcons-baltimore-colts.html|title=National Football League 1979 Draft|work=The New York Times|date=May 6, 1979|access-date=May 11, 2020}} Delaney spent the 1979 season on injured reserve and he played in all 16 of the Rams games in 1980.{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DelaJe20.htm|title=Jeff Delaney Stats|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=May 11, 2020}} Delaney was cut by the Rams the next season and was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was released during the season and then signed by the Detroit Lions.{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/10/21/Linebacker-Charlie-Weaver-an-11-year-veteran-and-a-longtime/3505372484800/|title=Linebacker Charlie Weaver, an 11-year veteran and a longtime...|work=United Press International|date=October 21, 1981|access-date=May 11, 2020}} Delaney spent the next two seasons with the Baltimore Colts until he was released after the 1983 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/bal-coltslist-story.html|title=Colts: Where are they now?|work=Baltimore Sun|access-date=May 11, 2020|archive-date=June 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624052915/https://www.baltimoresun.com/bal-coltslist-story.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/02/18/sports/transactions-256663.html|title=Transactions|work=The New York Times|date=February 18, 1984|access-date=May 11, 2020}} He signed with the Pittsburgh Maulers of the United States Football League in 1984.{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/03/07/The-Pittsburgh-Maulers-of-the-US-Football-League-have/7261447483600/|title=The Pittsburgh Maulers of the U.S. Football League have...|work=United Press International|date=March 7, 1984|access-date=May 11, 2020}} Delaney played for the Denver Gold in 1985.{{cite web|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/colorado-springs-gazette-telegraph-may-20-1985-p-40/|title=Defender Blankets Walker|work=Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph|publisher=NewspaperArchive|date=May 20, 1985|access-date=May 11, 2020}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://footballfoundation.org/hof_scholars.aspx?hof=830 National Football Foundation Hall of Fame bio]
{{1976 Pittsburgh Panthers football navbox}}
{{Los Angeles Rams 1979 draft navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Delaney, Jeff}}
Category:Los Angeles Rams players
Category:Detroit Lions players
Category:Tampa Bay Buccaneers players
Category:Baltimore Colts players
Category:Pittsburgh Maulers players
Category:American football safeties