Roy Jefferson

File:Roy Jefferson 1964.jpeg

Jefferson was born on November 9, 1943, in Texarkana, Arkansas.{{Cite web |title=Roy Jefferson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JeffRo00.htm |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He grew up in southern California and graduated from Compton High School in 1961.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jcYlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JfMFAAAAIBAJ&pg=872%2C3624158 |newspaper=Miami News |agency=Associated Press |title=Jefferson wants to whip cousin Marv |date=January 10, 1973 |page=3C |access-date=May 19, 2015 |archive-date=March 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328092624/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jcYlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JfMFAAAAIBAJ&pg=872%2C3624158 |url-status=dead }} He played basketball and football at Compton. His Compton High football team jersey number 80 was retired in 2018, in the school's hall of fame jersey retirement celebration.{{Cite web |title=2018 Hall Of Fame Jersey Retirement Celebration Compton High School |url=https://comptonhighalumni.org/hall-of-fame-jersey-retirement-celebration-2018/ |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=comptonhighalumni.org |language=en-US}}

In 2016, Jefferson was one of five Compton alumni honored in a "Golden Five" ceremony, celebrating those Compton alumni who played in the Super Bowl.{{Cite web |date=2016-02-12 |title=Compton celebrates alumni Super Bowl participants with Golden Five ceremony |url=https://www.presstelegram.com/2016/02/12/compton-celebrates-alumni-super-bowl-participants-with-golden-five-ceremony/ |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=Press Telegram |language=en-US}}

He played college football at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PzlWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=regDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3698%2C475903 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |title=Idaho must hold Utah's star flank |date=October 2, 1964 |page=18 }} where he played on the varsity from 1962-64.{{Cite web |title=Roy Jefferson College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/roy-jefferson-1.html |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}} In 1963, he led the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in pass receptions (29), receiving yards (435), and receiving touchdowns (4), and was third in average yards per reception.{{Cite web |title=1963 Western Athletic Conference Year Summary |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/conferences/wac/1963.html |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}

Jefferson received All-Western Athletic Conference honors, and was named the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year in his senior season in 1964 {{citation needed|date=February 2025}}under head coach Ray Nagel, the 1964 WAC coach of the year.{{Cite web |title=1964 Utah Utes Stats |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/utah/1964.html |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=1964 Western Athletic Conference Year Summary |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/conferences/wac/1964.html |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}

Jefferson played on both sides of the ball, playing receiver and running back, as well playing defense,{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Kenny |date=2024-08-31 |title=Utah Utes all-time greatest football players: No. 15 Roy Jefferson |url=https://www.si.com/college/utah/football/utah-utes-all-time-greatest-football-players-no-15-roy-jefferson |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=Utah Utes On SI |language=en-US}} and also was the placekicker. He led the Utes to 32–6 victory in the Liberty Bowl over favored West Virginia, with key receptions, to finish with a 9–2 record.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UstaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5X8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=3108%2C5051660 |newspaper=Deseret News |location=Salt Lake City |last=Miller |first=Hack |title=Utes scalp W.Va., 32-6 in Liberty Bowl |date=December 19, 1964 |page=1A }} The game was played indoors on natural grass at the convention center in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and featured shortened end zones.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UstaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5X8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5065%2C5070027 |newspaper=Deseret News |location=Salt Lake City |last=Miller |first=Hack |title=Indoor bowl game: novel |date=December 19, 1964 |page=A5 }}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tnVPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8QQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2636%2C4685955 |newspaper=Ocala Star-Banner |location=Florida |title=Utah rolls, 32-6 |agency=Associated Press |last=Nissenson |first=Herschel |date=December 20, 1964 |page=26 }}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VYgtAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dpwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4100%2C3150807 |newspaper=Reading Eagle |location=Pennsylvania |agency=UPI |last=Green |first=Russ |title=Utah bombs West Virginia in Liberty Bowl |date=December 20, 1964 |page=61 }}

Jefferson was a 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m), 195 lb (88 kg) receiver, who was nicknamed "Sweet Pea".{{Cite web |title=’10 for 80’ Redskins Legacy: Roy Jefferson |url=https://www.commanders.com/news/10-for-80-redskins-legacy-roy-jefferson-8255189 |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=www.commanders.com |language=en-US}}

Selected in the second round of the 1965 NFL draft, 18th overall,{{Cite web |title=1965 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1965/draft.htm |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} 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, and tied for the league lead in punt returns (28). His 58 receptions and 11 touchdowns were both 2nd highest in the NFL that season. He was third in punt return average (9.8 yards/return) and scored one touchdown on a punt return.{{Cite web |title=1968 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1968/leaders.htm |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} Jefferson finished the 1969 season with a career-high 67 receptions for 1,079 yards and nine touchdowns, and became the first Steelers receiver to post back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.{{Cite web |last=Reed |first=Tom |date=2020-12-11 |title=Rebellious Roy Jefferson reveled in his time with the Steelers |url=https://www.dkpittsburghsports.com/2020/12/10/nfl-pittsburgh-steelers-roy-jefferson-chuck-noll-tr |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=DK Pittsburgh Sports |language=en}} In his five Steelers' seasons, Jefferson started 56 of the 65 regular season games in which he played, with 199 receptions for 3,671 yards (18.4 average) and 29 touchdowns.{{Cite web |title=Asked and Answered: Oct. 19 |url=https://www.steelers.com/news/asked-and-answered-oct-19 |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=www.steelers.com |language=en-US}}

He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1968 and 1969. In 1968, he was named second-team All Pro by the Associated Press (AP), Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA), and United Press International (UPI), and first-team All Conference by The Sporting News.{{Cite web |title=1968 NFL All-Pros |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1968/allpro.htm |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He was named 1st Team All-Pro by the AP, NEA, UPI, Pro Football Weekly, and the New York Daily News in 1969.{{Cite web |title=1969 NFL All-Pros |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1969/allpro.htm |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}

Jefferson was named to the Pittsburgh Steelers Legends team in 2007, as one of the best 24 Steelers players prior to 1970.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

Despite being the Steelers' best offensive player, conflicts with head coach Chuck Noll as the team's player representative resulted in a trade to the Baltimore Colts for Willie Richardson and a 1971 fourth-round selection (104th overall–Dwight White) in an exchange of receivers who had fallen out of favor with their old teams on August 20, 1970.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ckQsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=28wEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3311%2C3133421 |newspaper=Spartanburg Herald |location=South Carolina |title=Colts acquire Roy Jefferson |agency=Associated Press |date=August 21, 1970 |page=14}}[https://www.prosportstransactions.com/football/DraftTrades/Years/1971.htm 1971 NFL Draft Pick Transactions, January 28 (Rounds 1–7) & 29 (Rounds 8–17) – Pro Sports Transactions.] Retrieved October 31, 2020[http://news.steelers.com/article/81289/ steelers.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090605004004/http://news.steelers.com/article/81289/ |date=June 5, 2009 }} With the Colts for only one season, Jefferson helped them reach and win Super Bowl V.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GOpWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jO0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6034%2C813569 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |agency=(Los Angeles Times)|last=Murray |first=Jim |author-link=Jim Murray (sportswriter) |title=Colts stole Roy Jefferson |date=January 17, 1971 |page=5 }} He finished the 1970 regular season with 44 receptions for 749 yards and seven touchdowns. He caught a 45-yard touchdown pass from Johnny Unitas in the Colts 17–0 divisional playoff win over the Cincinnati Bengals,{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Colts - December 26th, 1970 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197012260clt.htm |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} and caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Unitas while dragging a defender into the endzone.{{Cite web |last=Klingaman |first=Mike |date=2013-11-07 |title=Catching Up With . . . Former Colt Roy Jefferson |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2013/11/07/catching-up-with-former-colt-roy-jefferson/ |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=Baltimore Sun |language=en-US}} Jefferson had three receptions for 52 yards in the Colts 16–13 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in the Super Bowl.{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl V - Dallas Cowboys vs. Baltimore Colts - January 17th, 1971 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197101170clt.htm |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}

After coming from the 1–13 Steelers in 1969,{{Cite web |title=1969 Pittsburgh Steelers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/pit/1969.htm |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} and winning the Super Bowl with the Colts in 1970, his one year with the Colts was his favorite season in the NFL. His Colts teammate and roommate John Mackey was his hero. Mackey was the first president of the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA), and Jefferson was one of the NFL players most prominently involved with the NFLPA as a player representative, and in the 1974 players' strike.{{Cite news |last=Zirin |first=Dave |date=2011-07-07 |title=John Mackey: The Death of a Football and Union Legend |url=https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/john-mackey-death-football-and-union-legend/ |access-date=2025-02-14 |language=en-US |issn=0027-8378}}{{Cite web |last=Kaplan |first=Emily |date=2014-07-31 |title=That ’70s Strike |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/2014/07/31/1974-nfl-players-strike-hall-of-fame-game-canton |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=SI |language=en-US}}

A contract dispute with the Colts ended with Jefferson being dealt along with ninth-round draft picks in 1973 (218th overall–Rick Galbos) and 1974 (213th overall–traded to Los Angeles Rams for Joe Sweet) to the Washington Redskins for Cotton Speyrer and a 1973 first-rounder (25th overall–traded to San Diego Chargers for Marty Domres) on July 31, 1971.[https://www.nytimes.com/1971/08/01/archives/colts-trade-jefferson-for-redskin-receiver.html "Colts Trade Jefferson For Redskin Receiver," The Associated Press (AP), Saturday, July 31, 1971.] Retrieved December 2, 2021[https://www.prosportstransactions.com/football/DraftTrades/Years/1973.htm 1973 NFL Draft Pick Transactions, January 30 (Rounds 1–7) & 31 (Rounds 8–17) – Pro Sports Transactions.] Retrieved December 2, 2021[https://www.prosportstransactions.com/football/DraftTrades/Years/1974.htm 1974 NFL Draft Pick Transactions, January 29 (Rounds 1–5) & 30 (Rounds 6–17) – Pro Sports Transactions.] Retrieved December 2, 2021 He spent six seasons with the Redskins under head coach George Allen, helping them reach Super Bowl VII in 1972, and retired after the 1976 season.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QXMjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RWcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4685%2C1463681 |newspaper=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |location=Florida |title=Redskins release Roy Jefferson |agency=UPI |date=March 18, 1977 |page=3F }}

In his first Washington season, he caught 47 passes (his high with the team), and was selected to play in the 1971 Pro Bowl.{{Cite web |title=1971 NFL Pro Bowlers |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1971/probowl.htm |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} The AP and Pro Football Weekly named Jefferson first team All-Conference. Over the next three years, he caught 119 passes for nearly 1,800 yards. The team reached the playoffs in five of his six years in Washington.{{Cite web |title=Washington Commanders Team Records, Leaders, and League Ranks |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/was/index.htm |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}

In 2012, he was selected as one of the 80 greatest Washington players.

After his retirement from football, Jefferson has remained in the Washington, D.C. area, in Annandale, Virginia, with Candie, his wife of over 50 years. He had a leading role in the 1976 blaxploitation feature film Brotherhood of Death.{{Cite web|url=https://redskins.com/news/roy-jefferson-reflects-on-brotherhood-of-death-16182607|title=Roy Jefferson Reflects On 'Brotherhood of Death'|website=Washington Redskins|access-date=December 13, 2019}} The film, shot in Montgomery County, Maryland, was about three small-town African-American men who go to fight in the Vietnam War, then return to the U.S. to battle racial injustice in their hometown.{{Cite web |title=August 2017 Roy Lee Jefferson Wide Receiver |url=https://chesapeakesportsclub.com/august-2017-roy-lee-jefferson/ |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=chesapeakesportsclub.com |language=en-US}} It is one of Quentin Tarantino's favorite films.

In the ensuing years, his endeavors have included owning a chain of barbecue restaurants with the last closing in 1992 and owning a catering business.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pittsburghsportsreport.com/1999-Issues/psr9907/99070111.html|title=Where Are They Now? Jefferson Catering To A New Kind of Crowd|website=Pittsburgh Sports Report|access-date=December 13, 2019}} As of 2006, he was working in the real estate business. He reported that he and his wife had three children and four grandchildren.Wexell, Jim. Pittsburgh Steelers: Men of Steel (Champaign, Illinois: Sports Publishing L.L.C., 2006) {{ISBN|978-1-58261-996-5}}, pp. 69-73

Jefferson is the cousin of tight end Marv Fleming; they were teammates in high school and college, but were on opposing sides during Super Bowl VII. Jefferson left Utah for the NFL in 1965, but returned to school in the off-seasons and completed his bachelor's degree in June 1970.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KqVRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0BAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1380%2C4476440 |newspaper=Milwaukee Sentinel |title=Roy Jefferson shows the way |date=June 24, 1970 |page=1, part 2 }}

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Category:1943 births

Category:Living people

Category:Sportspeople from Texarkana, Arkansas

Category:American football wide receivers

Category:Compton High School alumni

Category:Utah Utes football players

Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players

Category:Baltimore Colts players

Category:Washington Redskins players

Category:Eastern Conference Pro Bowl players

Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players

Category:NFL announcers