Hubbry Logo
Roy JeffersonRoy JeffersonMain
Open search
Roy Jefferson
Community hub
Roy Jefferson
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Roy Jefferson
Roy Jefferson
Roy Jefferson
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Roy Lee Jefferson (born November 9, 1943) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Colts, and Washington Redskins. He played college football for the Utah Utes. During 162 regular season games in the NFL, he had 451 receptions for 7,539 yards and 52 touchdowns.[1] He played in Super Bowls V and VII.

Key Information

Early life

[edit]
Roy Jefferson in 1964.

Jefferson was born on November 9, 1943, in Texarkana, Arkansas.[1] He grew up in Southern California and graduated from Compton High School in 1961.[2] 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.[3]

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.[4]

College football

[edit]

He played college football at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City,[5] where he was on the varsity from 1962-64, leading the team in scoring each one of those years.[6][7] He was also named to the All- Western Athletic Conference (WAC) team on offense in those three years.[8]

In 1963, he led the WAC in pass receptions (29), receiving yards (435), and receiving touchdowns (4), and was third in average yards per reception.[9] He was the only unanimous first-team selection to the All-WAC team.[10]

In 1964 as a senior, Jefferson received All-WAC honors again,[11][10] and was named the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year[citation needed] under head coach Ray Nagel, the 1964 WAC Coach of the Year.[12][13] He was second in voting for United Press International's (UPI) WAC Player of the Year (behind Stan Quintana).[14] He was also an Associated Press (AP) All-America honorable mention.[15]

Jefferson played on both sides of the ball, as both receiver and running back on offense, as well playing defensive back. He was also the team's placekicker. In his senior season (1964), Jefferson had 21 pass receptions, three interceptions, and kicked 17 extra points and two field goals.[11][7] Making key pass receptions, he led the Utes to a 32–6 victory in the Liberty Bowl over favored West Virginia, to finish with an overall 9–2 record that year.[16][11][12] The game was played indoors on natural grass at the convention center in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and featured shortened end zones.[17][18][19]

Jefferson received the Amizich Award for outstanding lineman (as an end) at Utah in his senior season.[20] He was to play in the 1964 East-West Shrine game, but an injury in the Liberty Bowl kept him out of the game.[21]

Professional career

[edit]

Jefferson was a 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m), 195 lb (88 kg) receiver, who was nicknamed "Sweet Pea".[1][22]

Pittsburgh Steelers

[edit]

Selected in the second round of the 1965 NFL draft, 18th overall,[23] Jefferson spent his first five NFL seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers (1965–1969).[1] 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.[24] 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.[1][25] 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.[26]

He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1968 and 1969.[1] In 1968, he was named second-team All Pro by the Associated Press, Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA), and United Press International, and first-team All-Conference by The Sporting News.[27] He was named first-team All-Pro by the AP, NEA, UPI, Pro Football Weekly, and the New York Daily News in 1969.[28]

Jefferson was named to the Pittsburgh Steelers Legends team in 2007, as one of the best 24 Steelers players from 1933 to 1970.[29]

Baltimore Colts

[edit]

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.[30][31][32] With the Colts for only one season, Jefferson helped them reach and win Super Bowl V.[33] He finished the 1970 regular season with 44 receptions for 749 yards and seven touchdowns.[1] He caught a 45-yard touchdown pass from Johnny Unitas in the Colts 17–0 divisional playoff win over the Cincinnati Bengals,[34] and caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Unitas while dragging a defender into the endzone.[35] Jefferson had three receptions for 52 yards in the Colts 16–13 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in the Super Bowl.[36]

After coming from the 1–13 Steelers in 1969,[37] and winning the Super Bowl with the Colts in 1970, his one year with the Colts was his favorite season in the NFL.[35] His Colts teammate and roommate John Mackey was his hero.[35] 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.[38][39]

Washington Redskins

[edit]

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.[40][41][42] 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.[43]

In his first Washington season, he caught 47 passes (his high with the team), and was selected to play in the 1971 Pro Bowl.[1][44] The AP and Pro Football Weekly named Jefferson first-team All-Conference.[1] Over the next three years, he caught 119 passes for nearly 1,800 yards.[1] The team reached the playoffs in five of his six years in Washington.[45]

In 2012, he was selected as one of the 80 greatest Washington players.[22]

After football

[edit]

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.[35] He had a leading role in the 1976 blaxploitation feature film Brotherhood of Death.[46] 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.[47] It is one of Quentin Tarantino's favorite films.[25]

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.[48] As of 2006, he was working in the real estate business. He reported that he and his wife had three children and four grandchildren.[49]

NFL career statistics

[edit]
Legend
Super Bowl champion
Led the league
Bold Career high

Regular season

[edit]
Year Team Games Receiving
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD
1965 PIT 10 4 13 287 22.1 50 1
1966 PIT 14 14 32 772 24.1 84 4
1967 PIT 13 11 29 459 15.8 58 4
1968 PIT 14 13 58 1,074 18.5 62 11
1969 PIT 14 14 67 1,079 16.1 63 9
1970 BAL 14 14 44 749 17.0 55 7
1971 WAS 14 14 47 701 14.9 70 4
1972 WAS 14 14 35 550 15.7 45 3
1973 WAS 14 14 41 595 14.5 36 1
1974 WAS 14 13 43 654 15.2 43 4
1975 WAS 13 5 15 255 17.0 36 2
1976 WAS 14 14 27 364 13.5 27 2
Career 162 144 451 7,539 16.7 84 52

Personal life

[edit]

In early 1965, Jefferson led a march protesting racial bias in Salt Lake City, in front of the headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[50] 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.[2] 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.[51]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Roy Jefferson

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Roy Lee Jefferson (born November 9, 1943) is an American former professional football who played twelve seasons in the (NFL) from 1965 to 1976. After a standout college career at the , where he contributed on both offense and defense, Jefferson was selected in the second round of the by the . He spent his first five seasons with the , recording career highs of 67 receptions for 1,079 yards and nine touchdowns in 1969, before being traded to the in 1970, with whom he won . Jefferson concluded his career with five seasons for the Washington Redskins, earning additional accolades including a selection in 1971. Over his NFL tenure, he amassed 451 receptions for 7,539 yards and 52 touchdowns, led the league in receiving yards in 1968 with 1,074, and was named to three (1968, 1969, 1971) along with honors in 1968 and 1969. In recognition of his collegiate achievements, Jefferson was inducted into the in 2025. Post-retirement, he pursued acting, leading in the 1976 film Brotherhood of Death, and has engaged in motivational speaking.

Early Life

Birth and Family Background

Roy Jefferson was born on November 9, 1943, in Texarkana, Texas. Texarkana lies on the border between Texas and Arkansas, and while some records list the Arkansas side, primary athletic biographies confirm the Texas location as his birthplace. Public records provide scant details on Jefferson's immediate family structure or parental occupations, with no documented accounts of siblings or direct familial influences on his early interest in athletics. His family relocated from Texas to Southern California during his childhood, where he was raised in the Compton area, establishing the regional context for his formative years.

High School Athletics

Jefferson attended in , graduating in 1961. There, he competed in football and , showcasing early athletic versatility that included roles on both sides of the ball in football. His performance as a receiver and drew attention from college programs, culminating in a scholarship offer from the based on demonstrated speed, hands, and field awareness during high school play. Jefferson's high school exploits, including starring alongside future NFL tight end Marv Fleming, highlighted metrics like consistent yardage production and return ability that signaled pro potential, though specific game logs remain sparsely documented. In recognition of these foundational achievements, Compton High retired his jersey number 80 in 2018 during a Hall of Fame ceremony honoring alumni contributions to the sport. This merit-driven acclaim underscored his raw talent, independent of later professional accolades, as evidenced by scouting interest from multiple universities prioritizing on-field merit over other factors.

College Career

University of Utah

Roy Jefferson joined the on a football , participating in the Utes program from 1962 to 1964 as a three-year varsity letterman. The team competed in the (WAC), which formed in 1962 with founding members including Utah, , and the , replacing the defunct and introducing heightened regional rivalries. Under head coach Ray Nagel, who held the position from 1958 to 1965 and compiled a 42-39-1 record at , the program emphasized player versatility and fundamental execution amid modest facilities and recruiting constraints typical of mid-tier conferences in the era. Jefferson adapted to this environment by starting on both offense and defense, refining his route-running and coverage skills through Nagel's balanced offensive schemes and defensive preparations that prioritized speed and alertness. The 1964 season marked a program high point with Utah co-winning the WAC title and securing a berth, reflecting improved cohesion despite earlier inconsistencies like a 4-6 record in 1963.

On-Field Performance and Versatility

Roy Jefferson demonstrated exceptional versatility as a for the Utes from 1962 to 1964, contributing significantly on offense, defense, and special teams. As a , he recorded 70 receptions for 1,166 yards and 9 touchdowns over his career, averaging 16.7 yards per catch—a mark that underscored his efficiency in stretching the field and converting opportunities into big plays. In 1963, Jefferson led the (WAC) with 29 receptions and 435 receiving yards, highlighting his role as a primary target in Utah's passing attack despite the era's run-heavy tendencies. Defensively, Jefferson played as a , intercepting three passes for 61 yards in 1964 alone, which earned him All-American recognition at the position by . This dual-threat capability evidenced his durability and athleticism, as he logged snaps on both sides of the ball without apparent diminishment in performance, a rarity that allowed Utah to maximize personnel in an era before specialized substitutions. His defensive contributions complemented his offensive output, providing causal stability to the secondary while forcing turnovers that directly supported team field position and scoring chances. Jefferson further extended his impact through kicking duties, converting 9 field goals and 38 extra points for 65 points across his tenure, adding a layer of reliability to 's special teams. A pinnacle performance came in the 1964 , where defeated 32–6; Jefferson's multifaceted play, including receiving and kicking, helped secure the victory against a favored opponent, marking one of the program's early bowl successes. Overall, his empirical metrics—high yards-per-catch efficiency, league-leading receiving stats, and multi-phase production—illustrated a robust profile that enhanced 's competitive outcomes, with his 1963 and 1964 seasons particularly driving offensive and defensive efficiencies amid modest team records.

Professional Career

Pittsburgh Steelers Tenure


Roy Jefferson joined the as a second-round selection (18th overall) in the , opting for the team over offers from the AFL's . In his rookie season, Jefferson adapted to the professional level amid a Steelers squad that struggled with a record, recording modest production while supplementing his income through offseason work covering sports for a local radio station. His role expanded in subsequent years, with receiving yards showing steady progression as he developed into the team's primary deep threat. Jefferson's breakout came in 1966, when he paced the with a 24.1 yards-per-reception average, signaling his emergence as an elite downfield receiver. This form peaked in 1968, as he led the league with 1,074 receiving yards on 58 catches and 11 touchdowns—figures that ranked second in scoring receptions league-wide—despite the Steelers' 5-8-1 finish. The following year, 1969, saw him set franchise marks with 67 receptions for 1,079 yards and nine touchdowns, marking the first back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons by a Steelers receiver and totaling 3,671 yards and 29 scores over his five-year stint. Friction with new head coach Chuck Noll, hired in 1969, intensified amid reports of Jefferson's bold, improvisational route-running and perceived disgruntlement, clashing with Noll's emphasis on discipline. These tensions boiled over during 1970 training camp, prompting the Steelers to trade Jefferson to the Baltimore Colts on August 21, 1970, for veteran wide receiver Willie Richardson and a fourth-round pick in the 1971 NFL Draft. The move reflected a prioritization of team culture over individual talent, as Jefferson's attitude was cited as a catalyst for the deal.

Baltimore Colts and Super Bowl V

On August 21, 1970, the traded Jefferson to the in exchange for wide receiver Willie Richardson and the Colts' fourth-round pick in the . This acquisition addressed Baltimore's need for a dynamic pass-catcher following injuries and departures, pairing Jefferson with quarterbacks and . Unitas suffered a season-ending injury in the opening game against the on September 20, 1970, prompting Morrall to assume starting duties and lead the Colts to an 11-2-1 regular-season record. Jefferson quickly integrated into the offense, serving as a primary target in Don McCafferty's system. During the 1970 regular season, Jefferson recorded 44 receptions for 749 yards and seven touchdowns, leading the Colts in receiving yards and scores while averaging 17.0 yards per catch. His production proved vital in the postseason, where advanced through divisional and conference playoff victories to reach against the on January 17, 1971, at the in . In the championship game, which the Colts won 16-13 on a last-second by Jim O'Brien, Jefferson hauled in three passes for 52 yards, including a 21-yard reception that helped position for a key score. This victory marked the empirical peak of Jefferson's career, securing his sole amid a gritty, turnover-plagued affair characterized by 11 combined turnovers. Jefferson's tenure in Baltimore lasted only one season, ending amid a contract dispute with Colts management. On July 31, 1971, the team traded him to the , concluding his brief but championship-contributing stint with the franchise.

Washington Redskins Years

Jefferson joined the via trade prior to the 1971 season, where he immediately established himself as a key component of George Allen's veteran-laden offense, known as the "Over-the-Hill Gang." In his debut year, he recorded career-high marks with the franchise of 47 receptions for 701 yards and 4 touchdowns, earning a selection as one of the league's top receivers. These figures contributed to the Redskins' turnaround from a 6-8 record in 1970 to a 9-4-1 mark and an NFC Championship appearance, with Jefferson catching passes primarily from while sharing duties amid a quarterback rotation that included . From 1972 to 1974, Jefferson maintained consistent production despite fluctuating roles alongside and Jerry Smith, amassing between 35 and 43 receptions annually for 550 to 654 yards and 1 to 4 each season. advanced to the playoffs in each of these years, including a berth in 1972 following an NFC Championship win, where Jefferson posted 12 postseason receptions for 153 yards and a . His output peaked again in 1974 with 43 catches for 654 yards and 4 scores, supporting another divisional playoff run under Jurgensen and increasingly Kilmer, even as the team's aging roster faced mounting injuries and depth issues. Jefferson's performance declined in 1975, limited to 15 receptions for 255 yards and 2 touchdowns amid reduced and team adjustments following Allen's emphasis on defensive reinforcements. He rebounded modestly in 1976 with 27 catches for 364 yards and 2 scores, helping secure a wild-card playoff spot in a 10-4 campaign, though fell in the divisional round. Over six seasons, he totaled 208 receptions for 3,119 yards and 16 touchdowns, providing reliable downfield production amid quarterback transitions from Jurgensen to Kilmer and emerging . At age 32, Jefferson retired following the 1976 season, concluding his tenure with the franchise that had revitalized his career trajectory.

Statistical Record and Achievements

Receiving and Scoring Stats

Roy Jefferson amassed 451 receptions for 7,539 yards and 52 receiving touchdowns across 162 regular-season games in his 12-year career, averaging 16.7 yards per catch. His scoring output was concentrated in receiving touchdowns, with minimal contributions from rushing (no rushing touchdowns) and one punt return touchdown in 1968. The following table summarizes Jefferson's regular-season receiving statistics by year:
YearTeamGRecYdsAvgTD
1965PIT101328722.11
1966PIT143277224.14
1967PIT132945915.84
1968PIT1458107418.511
1969PIT1467107916.19
1970BAL144474917.07
1971WAS144770114.94
1972WAS143555015.73
1973WAS144159514.51
1974WAS144365415.24
1975WAS131525517.02
1976WAS142736413.52
Jefferson exhibited peak efficiency from 1968 to 1971, recording four consecutive seasons with at least 700 receiving yards and 25 total touchdowns, including league-leading 1,074 yards in 1968. Production declined thereafter, with annual yardage falling below 700 starting in 1972 amid increasing age (nearing 30 by 1973) and shifting team dynamics, culminating in sub-400-yard seasons in 1975 and 1976.

Pro Bowl Selections and League Leads

Jefferson earned three selections during his career, appearing in the all-star game following the 1968, 1969, and 1971 seasons. These honors reflected his standout performances as a , particularly during his tenure with the and later with the . In 1968, he was named to the after leading the NFL in receiving yards with 1,074 on 58 receptions, averaging 18.5 yards per catch. The following year, 1969, he returned to the with 67 receptions for 1,079 yards and nine touchdowns, marking back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons—a franchise first for the at the time. His 1971 nod came after a 701-yard season with the Redskins, where he also earned second-team recognition in some selections, though consensus listings vary. Jefferson received All-Pro acclaim twice: second-team honors in 1968 by the and first-team distinction in 1969. These awards underscored his peak efficiency and productivity amid a competitive era of wide receivers, including Hall of Famers and . While Jefferson's 1968 yardage lead edged Warfield's 997 yards that year, his career totals—451 receptions for 7,539 yards and 52 touchdowns over 162 games—lagged behind Warfield's 8,565 yards and 62 scores, as well as Alworth's 10,266 yards and 85 touchdowns. Alworth benefited from the AFL's pass-friendly rules pre-merger, but Jefferson's NFL-leading output in 1968 highlighted his ability to excel in a run-heavy league where defenses emphasized physical coverage and fewer passing attempts overall. In evaluating Jefferson's achievements against inducted peers, data reveals a solid but not elite profile. His Hall of Fame Monitor score of 49.77 ranks 76th among wide receivers, below the typical threshold for enshrinement, reflecting shorter peaks and less sustained dominance compared to Warfield (who averaged 20.0 yards per catch career-long) or Alworth (consistent 1,000-yard threats in a high-scoring environment). Proponents of a stronger Hall case point to his versatility—including occasional defensive snaps early in college—and league-leading metrics in an era with fewer games (14 per season) and tighter secondaries, yet objective comparisons favor contemporaries with superior longevity and playoff impact. No evidence supports systemic underrepresentation; rather, his statistical footprint aligns with non-inductees like Harold Jackson, who posted similar peaks without broader acclaim.

Comparative Analysis with Contemporaries

Jefferson's career receiving yards per game averaged 46.5, trailing Hall of Fame contemporaries like Paul Warfield's 54.6 and Charley Taylor's 55.2 over similar eras, reflecting Warfield's superior efficiency in fewer opportunities and Taylor's volume from consistent starts. His touchdown rate of 0.32 per game also lagged behind Warfield's 0.54 and Taylor's 0.48, metrics underscoring peers' greater red-zone reliability despite comparable physical demands. These per-game figures adjust for Jefferson's 162 appearances, a tally comparable to Warfield's 157 but shorter than Taylor's 165, highlighting Warfield's edge in sustained peak production without the benefit of modern passing volume. Era-specific factors amplify these disparities: NFL teams averaged roughly 25-30 pass attempts per game in the and , versus over 35 today, constraining receiver opportunities amid bump-and-run coverage and limited protective rules. Jefferson's versatility—spanning , split end, occasional rushes, duties, and placekicking—added multifaceted value absent in specialized peers like Warfield, who focused primarily on receiving. Yet this breadth diluted his concentrated receiving stats, as evidenced by his multi-position snaps versus Taylor's dedicated wideout role yielding higher per-game norms. In team impact, Jefferson correlated with modest win uplifts but not transformative shifts: Pittsburgh's records hovered at 2-12 to 4-9-1 during his 1965-1969 tenure, with his league-leading 1,074 yards failing to elevate beyond mediocrity. His 1970 arrival boosted to an 11-2-1 mark and victory, contributing 749 yards amid a defense-driven resurgence, though subsequent trades limited sustained influence. Comparatively, Warfield anchored and Miami contenders, including two wins, while Taylor's longevity fueled Washington's 1972 Super Bowl run—patterns suggesting Jefferson's contributions, while elite in isolation, yielded less causal leverage on franchise trajectories than peers' integrated dominance.

Conflicts and Rebellious Reputation

Union Activism and Strikes

Roy Jefferson served as the player representative for the Pittsburgh Steelers during the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) strike in July 1970, which followed a brief owners' lockout and lasted two days amid threats to cancel the season. The action pressured owners for concrete gains, including enhanced pension contributions, higher minimum salaries, and a standardized $15,000 signing bonus for college draft picks, resulting in a four-year collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that provided modest but tangible improvements in player financial security and bargaining leverage. Jefferson participated in extended negotiations focused on securing better benefits to address the precarious economics of players' short careers against owners' monopsonistic control. In 1974, as the Washington Redskins' player representative, Jefferson actively supported the NFLPA strike that began on July 1, disrupting training camps and preseason games, including the Hall of Fame Game. The 63 demands encompassed elimination of the Rozelle Rule curtailing free agency, no-cut contracts after four years, increased minimum salaries from $13,000 to $16,000, and doubled pension vesting from four to eight years of service, reflecting players' strategic bid for greater share of league revenues amid rising television deals. Though the strike ended without a new CBA—leading to a return under the expired 1970 terms and no immediate concessions—it eroded owner unity and set precedents for the 1977 agreement, which introduced free agency mechanisms and benefit hikes that elevated average player earnings from around $30,000 in 1974 to over $50,000 by the early 1980s. Jefferson, who picketed publicly, later credited the effort with laying essential groundwork for these long-term economic advancements, underscoring a realist approach prioritizing verifiable contract protections over short-term harmony with management.

Clashes with Coaches and Trades

Jefferson's tenure with the under head coach deteriorated due to repeated challenges to authority, culminating in his trade to the on August 20, 1970, for wide receiver Willie Richardson and a fourth-round draft pick in the 1971 NFL Draft. Despite earning first-team honors in 1968 and leading the in yards per reception multiple times, Jefferson's refusal to defer during 1970 —questioning plays and resisting intimidation—prompted Noll to prioritize team discipline over individual talent. Jefferson later attributed the friction to his self-assurance in the offense, stating Noll sought players who "would be afraid of him," a stance he rejected as a "high-strung, young guy" unwilling to be subdued. The pattern persisted in Baltimore, where Jefferson recorded 530 receiving yards and four touchdowns en route to a Super Bowl V appearance after the 1970 season, yet clashed with ownership over contract terms and voiced disdain for Colts owner Carroll Rosenbloom. This led to his trade to the Washington Redskins on July 31, 1971, in exchange for veteran receiver Charley Taylor. Jefferson had explicitly requested relocation from Baltimore, naming preferred destinations including Washington, underscoring agency-driven dissatisfaction rather than mere team-wide discord. In Washington, Jefferson avoided comparable expulsions, sustaining elite output with three consecutive nods from 1971 to 1973 and 2,285 receiving yards over four seasons, suggesting his productivity—evidenced by consistent 50-plus receptions and totals—outweighed attitudinal concerns under coach George Allen. These episodes reflect personal assertiveness as the primary causal factor in trades, distinct from performance lapses, as Jefferson's on-field value prompted retention and contention only where authority clashed with his independence.

Post-Football Pursuits

Acting and Media Ventures

Following his NFL retirement after the 1976 season, Jefferson pursued , starring in the lead role of Victor in the film Brotherhood of Death, released in 1976. The low-budget action movie depicted three African-American veterans forming a vigilante group to combat the in rural Georgia, with Jefferson's casting alongside Washington teammates Mike Bass and Mike Thomas reflecting the era's trend of recruiting active or recent athletes for athletic roles. Jefferson later acknowledged lacking formal , noting in a that his line delivery reflected his inexperience. Jefferson also ventured into film production as an executive producer for What About Roy, a documentary advocating his induction into the , featuring endorsements from Hall of Famers like and . The project highlights his career statistics—451 receptions, 7,539 yards, and 52 touchdowns over 12 seasons—and includes testimonials from contemporaries emphasizing his impact as a . No release date for the film has been publicly confirmed as of 2025. Earlier media exposure included appearances on NFL Monday Night Football during his playing career in 1970, though these predated his post-football pursuits. Jefferson's acting and production efforts represent limited but notable extensions of his public profile beyond athletics, without evidence of sustained involvement in broadcasting or additional screen credits.

Later Honors and Recognitions

In 2025, Jefferson was inducted into the Football alongside former coach , an accolade recognizing his collegiate versatility as a and from 1962 to 1964, during which he earned first-team All-American honors as a senior after recording 24 receptions for 609 yards and five touchdowns. The induction ceremony occurred on September 6, 2025, at halftime of Utah's home opener against Cal Poly, highlighting his role in the 1964 team, which had been enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 2014. Jefferson's prior enshrinement in the Utah Athletics Hall of Fame came in 1986, affirming his contributions to football as a three-year letterwinner who also intercepted 10 passes on defense. These honors underscore empirical achievements in college, including his selection as the 18th overall pick in the by the , rather than later professional metrics alone. Despite accumulating 7,539 receiving yards and 52 touchdowns over 12 seasons, including three appearances and a league-leading 1,005 yards in 1968, Jefferson remains absent from the . His Monitor score of 49.77 ranks below the approximate 80-100 threshold typical for inducted wide receivers from his era, reflecting a career strong in consistency and peak performance—such as first-team honors in 1969—but lacking the sustained dominance or championships of contemporaries like or . No team-specific halls, such as for the Steelers or , have enshrined him, though his participation with Washington endures in alumni recognitions like Compton High School's 2016 "Golden Five" ceremony for Super Bowl-era participants.

Personal Life

Family and Relationships

Roy Jefferson met his wife, Candie, while attending the in the early 1960s. The couple married shortly thereafter and, as of 2025, had maintained a stable union for 62 years, residing together in . Jefferson and Candie have two identified children: son Marshall, born around 1963, and daughter Mikki, born around 1967. No public details exist on additional children, divorces, or other significant relationships, reflecting Jefferson's preference for in personal matters as noted in interviews.

Health and Current Status

As of October 2025, Roy Jefferson, aged 82, maintains robust health with no major ailments or chronic conditions publicly documented in recent reports. His continued engagement in public events underscores this vitality, including active participation in signings through the , where fans have successfully obtained signed items from him as recently as 2025. Jefferson's physical resilience is often linked to the rigorous conditioning from his career, spanning over a decade of high-level play as a , which emphasized speed, endurance, and injury recovery protocols typical of the era. In September 2025, Jefferson attended and was honored at his induction into the University of Utah's Football during a home game against Cal Poly, an event that highlighted his legacy as a two-way star from –1964. This appearance, covered in contemporary interviews, showed him actively reflecting on his career without indications of diminished capacity. Such ongoing involvement in commemorative activities, absent reports of health setbacks from sports media outlets tracking alumni, aligns with patterns observed among former professional athletes who sustained peak fitness into later decades.

References

  1. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JeffRo00.htm
  2. https://www.dkpittsburghsports.com/2020/12/10/nfl-pittsburgh-steelers-roy-jefferson-chuck-noll-tr
  3. https://nflpastplayers.com/roy-jefferson/
  4. https://chesapeakesportsclub.com/august-2017-roy-lee-jefferson/
  5. https://www.footballperspective.com/how-the-steelers-traded-roy-jefferson-and-won-four-super-bowls/
  6. https://www.deseret.com/sports/2025/09/04/roy-jefferson-utah-utes-football-ring-of-honor/
  7. https://steelerstakeaways.com/roy-jefferson-steelers-wide-receiver-1965-1969/
  8. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1067128/
  9. https://comptonhighalumni.org/hall-of-fame-2/
  10. https://utahutes.com/news/2025/6/30/mcbride-jefferson-named-2025-utah-football-ring-of-honor-inductees
  11. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/coaches/ray-nagel-1.html
  12. https://utahcommhistory.com/2019/12/11/ray-nagel-head-football-coach-for-the-university-of-utah-from-1958-1965/
  13. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/utah/1964.html
  14. https://utestats.com/players.php?id=11967
  15. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/roy-jefferson-1.html
  16. https://www.deseret.com/2016/8/27/20594971/college-football-countdown-no-5-utah-legend-roy-jefferson
  17. https://thegruelingtruth.com/football/roy-jefferson-hall-of-fame-wide-receiver/
  18. https://sports.yahoo.com/article/ring-honor-inductee-60s-star-181617110.html
  19. https://www.steelcityunderground.com/2022/06/23/steelers-throwback-thursdays-roy-jefferson-earns-first-team-mvp-award/
  20. https://www.nytimes.com/1970/08/21/archives/steelers-trade-jefferson-to-colts-for-richardson-and-a-high-draft.html
  21. https://www.steelers.com/news/asked-and-answered-aug-24-x0549
  22. https://www.steelers.com/news/asked-and-answered-oct-19
  23. https://www.jt-sw.com/football/pro/stats.nsf/Annual/1970-bal
  24. https://www.footballdb.com/games/boxscore/baltimore-colts-vs-dallas-cowboys-1971011701
  25. https://www.nytimes.com/1971/08/01/archives/colts-trade-jefferson-for-redskin-receiver.html
  26. https://www.commanders.com/team/history/80-greatest-redskins-old
  27. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1968/receiving.htm
  28. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/hof/hofm_WR.htm
  29. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WarfPa00.htm
  30. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TaylCh00.htm
  31. https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2010/6/4/1499021/passers-paradise-the-evolution-of
  32. https://nflpa.com/about/history/1970s-nflpa-becomes-real-union
  33. https://www.si.com/nfl/2014/07/31/1974-nfl-players-strike-hall-of-fame-game-canton
  34. https://www.si.com/nfl/2014/07/31/70s-strike
  35. https://steelersdepot.com/2025/05/pickens-is-the-latest-rebellious-steelers-wr-traded-the-first-happened-nearly-60-years-ago/
  36. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30487413/
  37. https://www.restorationsproductions.com/in-production
  38. https://kslsports.com/ncaa/utah/utah-football-ring-of-honor/551470
  39. https://www.si.com/college/utah/football/utah-football-adding-legendary-figures-to-ring-of-honor
  40. https://www.instagram.com/p/DOR-E3jEQRd/?hl=en
  41. https://americanfootball.fandom.com/wiki/Roy_Jefferson
  42. https://www.baltimoresun.com/2013/11/07/catching-up-with-former-colt-roy-jefferson/
  43. https://www.facebook.com/groups/211481425017074/posts/626649906833555/
  44. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vE_-yixZ9Ng
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.