Professional Football Player
In high school, Ron Jaworski was one of the best athletes to ever play at Lackawanna.a star in both football and baseball. As a football player, he earned a well-deserved reputation as a hard-nosed, strong-armed quarterback who was never afraid to put his head down and take a lick.
His stellar play and gutsy leadership soon drew the attention of a number of big time scouts. By his senior year, Syracuse, George Tech, Boston College and some other well known collegiate powers were knocking on his door, trying to lure him to their programs. To the surprise of many people, “The Polish Rifle,” as he would later be known, decided on unheralded Youngstown State, a school not well known for playing players n the pros. But Jaworski’s laser-like passing ability and his outstanding play in college (32 touchdowns and 4,612 yards) so impressed the pro scouts that the Los Angeles Rams drafted him in the second round in 1973.
Jaworski’s early professional career offers some valuable lessons about virtues of patience, determination, and quiet persistence. With Los Angeles, Jaworski became a backup until 1977 when the Rams traded him to Philadelphia where he became the Eagles starting quarterback. Jaworski quickly demonstrated his great ability and the Eagles began to improve immediately. In 1978 they won nine games and appeared in one playoff game. The following season they won eleven games. In 1980, “Jaws” enjoyed a storybook season and established himself as a bonafide NFL star. With 27 TDs, 3,527 yards and only 16 interceptions, he became the NFC’s top-rated passer and led the Eagles to Super Bowl XV. When he retired after 14 seasons, he ranked among the top 20 all-time NFL quarterbacks.
Today, the “Polish Rifle” is still remembered as one of the game’s pure passers.