Joe Klecko  enjoying the next phase of his Hall of Fame ascent

On Thursday morning, Joe Klecko strutted to the podium with enthusiasm.

A day had passed since Klecko received word that he had been chosen as a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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If he receives 80% of the vote in the January election, which is considered a formality for senior candidates, Klecko will join Chuck Howley and Ken Riley in being inducted into the Canton Hall of Fame.

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Klecko, a legendary Jets player who rose to fame as a member of the "Sack Exchange" in the early 1980s, has been anticipating this for a while.

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Joseph Edward Klecko is a former Polish-born American football player.

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He is best known for his time playing defensive line and being a part of the renowned "New York Sack Exchange" for the New York Jets.

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Klecko concluded his career with 78 sacks, including a league-leading 20.5 in 1981.

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That season, he and Mark Gastineau each had more than 20 sacks, a feat not accomplished by two teammates since.

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Klecko has been nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame on multiple occasions.

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