Steve Jastrzembski
{{Short description|American football player (1939–2009)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Steve Jastrzembski
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| number = 87
| position = End
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1939|8|27}}
| birth_place = Vandergrift, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2009|1|14|1939|8|27}}
| death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 3
| weight_lbs = 203
| high_school = Vandergrift (PA)
| college = Pittsburgh
| draftyear = 1961
| draftround = 17
| draftpick = 231
(by Baltimore Colts)
| afldraftyear = 1962
| afldraftround = 33
| afldraftpick = 262
(by Boston Patriots)
| pastteams =
- Toronto Argonauts ({{CFL Year|1962}})*
| highlights =
}}
Steve Vincent Jastrzembski (August 27, 1939 – January 14, 2009) was an American football end who played college football for the Pittsburgh Panthers. He was selected in both the 1961 NFL draft and 1962 AFL Draft, but did not play professionally.
Early life and education
Jastrzembski was born on August 27, 1939, in Vandergrift, Pennsylvania. He attended Vandergrift High School, graduating in 1957, before joining the University of Pittsburgh. During his first two years with the team, he did not see much action and was a backup end.{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/playerj/jast00200.html|website=Pro Football Archives|title=Steve Jastrzembski Stats}}
He developed into one of the favorite targets of quarterback Ivan Toncic in 1959, along with future Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Ditka, who also played the end position. In a week-three 25–21 comeback win over UCLA, Jastrzembski caught the game-winning touchdown from Toncic with seconds left, and was carried off the field by teammates.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90512807/pittsburgh-sun-telegraph/|newspaper=Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 4, 1959|title=Pitt's Fantastic Finish Overhauls UCLA 25–21|author=Kiseda, George}} {{Open Access}} He totaled 105 receiving yards on five receptions against UCLA, earning him "sophomore of the week" honors from his conference.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90512172/the-daily-republican/|newspaper=The Daily Republican|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 6, 1959|title=Ivan, 'Jazz' Mentioned}} {{Open Access}}
Early in his career with Pittsburgh, Jastrzembski had "butter fingers now and then", but became better at catching the ball after taping his hands prior to each game, something he read Raymond Berry had done.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90512152/the-pittsburgh-press/|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 6, 1959|title=Pitt Attack Jazzed Up With Jastrzembski In|author=McHugh, Roy}} {{Open Access}}
At the school, he was nicknamed "Jazz", as many of his teammates and teachers could not correctly pronounce his surname.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90512125/the-charlotte-news/|newspaper=The Charlotte News|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 9, 1959|title=Like Jazz? You'll Love This New Kick|author=Green, Ronald}} {{Open Access}} "For one professor, I had to pronounce my name every day," Jastrzembski said. "He'd say, 'Oh, I've got it now,' and then mispronounce it again. I felt like telling him, 'Just call me Jazz.'"
As a junior in 1960, he finished the season with second-team all-state honors, only behind teammate Mike Ditka.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90512309/the-daily-american/|newspaper=The Daily American|via=Newspapers.com|date=December 31, 1960|title=All-State Team Boasts Three Pitt Panthers}} {{Open Access}} He earned a starting role in 1961, after Ditka graduated.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90512350/pittston-gazette/|newspaper=Pittston Gazette|via=Newspapers.com|date=November 2, 1961|title=An All-American's Replacement Tells His Side Of Story}} {{Open Access}}
Professional career
Jastrzembski was drafted in both the 1961 NFL draft (by the Baltimore Colts) and the 1962 AFL Draft (by the Boston Patriots), but declined both teams' offers. He instead signed a contract in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with the Toronto Argonauts.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90512462/the-gazette/|newspaper=The Gazette|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 4, 1962|title=Alouettes Sign Two New Tackles}} {{Open Access}}
Later life and death
After being released by the Argonauts, he returned to the University of Pittsburgh in 1963, studying at their dental school. After his graduating in 1965, he served 25 years in the United States Army, retiring at the rank of colonel. For the last eight years of his life, he was a pediatric dentist in the army, stationed in Wiesbaden, Germany. He died on January 14, 2009, at the age of 69.{{Cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/triblive-valley-news-dispatch/name/steve-jastrzembski-obituary?pid=177497307|website=Legacy.com|title=Steve Jastrzembski Obituary}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Baltimore Colts 1961 draft navbox}}
{{Patriots1962DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jastrzembski, Steve}}
Category:People from Vandergrift, Pennsylvania
Category:Players of American football from Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
Category:Military personnel from Pennsylvania
Category:20th-century American dentists
Category:American football ends
Category:Pittsburgh Panthers football players
Category:Toronto Argonauts players
Category:University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine alumni