Ron Jessie

Ron Ray Jessie (February 4, 1948 – January 13, 2006) was an American football wide receiver who played in the NFL for the Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Rams, and Buffalo Bills. He attended Yuma High School, excelling in basketball, football, and track & field, before playing at Arizona Western College and Imperial Valley College. Jessie received a scholarship to the University of Kansas, where he won an NCAA indoor long jump championship in 1969 with a leap of 25’2.5”, earning All-American honors. In football, he played running back alongside John Riggins, finishing with 33 receptions for 644 yards and over 1,500 total offensive yards. The Dallas Cowboys drafted Jessie in the eighth round (206th overall) in 1971 but traded him to the Detroit Lions. As a rookie, he focused on kickoff returns, becoming a starter and deep threat in his second season, including an 82-yard touchdown reception. In 1974, he ranked sixth in NFL receiving yards (761) and fourth in receptions (54). After playing out his contract, Jessie joined the Los Angeles Rams but faced complications due to free agency rules, leading to compensation from the Rams to the Lions. Jessie's best season was in 1976 with the Rams, earning a Pro Bowl selection with 34 receptions for 779 yards and six touchdowns. Injuries limited his subsequent seasons, including a knee injury in 1977 and a broken leg in 1979 that kept him out of Super Bowl XIV. He was traded to the Buffalo Bills in 1980, where he played ...