Jerry DeLucca
{{Short description|American football player (born 1936)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Jerry DeLucca
| image =
| number = 74, 72, 70
| position = Offensive tackle
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1936|7|17|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Peabody, Massachusetts, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2017|1|8|1936|7|17|mf=y}}
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lbs = 247
| high_school = Peabody Veterans Memorial (MA)
| college = Middle Tennessee State
| draftyear = 1957
| draftround = 7
| draftpick = 84
| pastteams =
- Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|1959}})*
- Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|1959}})
- Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|1960}})*
- Boston Patriots (1960–1961)
- Buffalo Bills (1962–1963)
- Dallas Texans (1963)*
- Boston Patriots (1963–1964)
| highlights =
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 59
| pfr = DeLuJe20
}}
Gerald Joseph DeLucca (July 17, 1936 – January 8, 2017){{Cite web |title=Remembering the life of Gerald J "Jerry" DeLucca |url=https://obituaries.salemnews.com/obituary/gerald-j-jerry-delucca-863806922/ |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=Salem News |language=en}} was an American football offensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles. He also played in the American Football League (AFL) for the Boston Patriots and the Buffalo Bills. He played college football at Middle Tennessee State University.
Early years
Delucca attended Peabody Veterans Memorial High School, before moving on to University of Tennessee, where he was named to the second-team sophomore All-SEC team.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1873&dat=19541124&id=m-geAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sswEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4394,1300427&hl=es | title=3 Gator Sophs On Star List | accessdate=January 29, 2016}} He later transferred to Middle Tennessee State University.
Professional career
=Chicago Bears=
DeLucca was selected by the Chicago Bears in the seventh round (84th overall) of the 1957 NFL draft. He spent from 1957 to 1958 serving his military service. On September 23, 1959, he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles.
=Philadelphia Eagles=
=Dallas Cowboys=
DeLucca was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1960 NFL Expansion Draft and was released before the start of the season.{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19600317&id=k_4jAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ihAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3545,3403569&hl=es | title=3 Eagles, Lions Drafted By Dallas | accessdate=January 29, 2016 | archive-date=March 11, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311233026/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19600317&id=k_4jAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ihAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3545,3403569&hl=es | url-status=dead }}
=Boston Patriots (first stint)=
On September 23, 1960, he was signed as a free agent by the Boston Patriots of the American Football League and became a part of their inaugural season.{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19600924&id=078VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2Q8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=4427,1982232&hl=es | title=Sign DeLucca | accessdate=January 29, 2016 | archive-date=March 11, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311232609/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19600924&id=078VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2Q8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=4427,1982232&hl=es | url-status=dead }} He was a two-year starter at right tackle, before being traded to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a draft choice on September 4, 1962.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=19620905&id=xRArAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-psFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3234,2200202&hl=es | title=Veteran Gridders Feel Axe As Pro Teams Reach Limit | accessdate=January 29, 2016}}
=Buffalo Bills=
DeLucca played for Buffalo Bills in all 14 games of the 1962 season. On April 11, 1963, he was traded to the Dallas Texans in exchange for a draft choice.
=Boston Patriots (second stint)=
On April 23, 1963, he was re-acquired by the Boston Patriots in exchange for a draft choice, to provide depth after tackle Milt Graham was lost to injury. He was released on November 7, to make room for a healthy Graham.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2209&dat=19631108&id=x7krAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LP8FAAAAIBAJ&pg=5819,730191&hl=es | title=Pats Battle | accessdate=January 29, 2016}} DeLucca was cut early on the 1964 season, but was re-signed on November 27, to provide depth because of injuries.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2209&dat=19641128&id=nYljAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CnoNAAAAIBAJ&pg=2437,2492127&hl=es | title=Two Reactivated | accessdate=January 29, 2016}}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Bears1957DraftPicks}}
{{1960 Boston Patriots}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Delucca, Jerry}}
Category:Tennessee Volunteers football players
Category:Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football players
Category:American football offensive tackles
Category:Philadelphia Eagles players
Category:Boston Patriots players
Category:Buffalo Bills players
Category:Sportspeople from Peabody, Massachusetts
Category:Players of American football from Essex County, Massachusetts