Just because you don't hear your named called at the NFL draft doesn't mean you can't make an impact in an organization. Some of the greatest players in NFL history went undrafted and had wonderful careers, like Joe Jacoby, who had one of the most incredible runs a player could have in his 13 years with the Washington Redskins.
NFL Media senior analyst Gil Brandt compiled a list of the "Top 30 undrafted players in NFL history," and Jacoby came in at No. 15. In fact, Jacoby - who attended the University of Louisville - was the second-highest rated offensive lineman on Brandt's list behind Hall of Famer Lou "The Toe" Groza, who played for 21 years with the Cleveland Browns.
In Brandt's notes on Jacoby, he mentioned that Jacoby was the founding member of the "Hogs," which is, to this very day, the greatest offensive line in NFL history. The group originally consisted of Jacoby, who played left tackle, Hall of Fame left guard Russ Grimm, center Jeff Bostic, right guard Mark May, right tackle George Starke, guard Fred Dean and tight ends Don Warren and Rick "Doc" Walker.
Of course, how could Brandt conclude his notes on Jacoby without mentioning the fact that he and the "Hogs" won three world championships, and that he's a part of the NFL's 1980s All-Decade Team?
Jacoby was also a four-time Pro Bowler (1983-86), a two-time AP first-team All-Pro (1983, 1984) and voted as one of the 80 Greatest Redskins.
Jacoby was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010. Although he's not yet in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Jacoby was a finalist for the first time this past February.
"I think it is all about ability and what you accomplished on the field as a team," Jacoby said on ESPN 980 on Monday. "My gosh we made it to four Super Bowls, won three and I have to remind people of that. I think the thing that hurts us older guys, guys who played in the 80's, is that there are some new selectors and they don't remember past 2000. It's what's on there now, and all the social media is from the players who played in the last 15 years."
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