1. Jerry Martin Sherk was born on July 7,1948 and is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League for 12 seasons between 1970 until 1981.
21 Facts About Jerry Sherk
1. 2.
Jerry Sherk made the Pro Bowl lineup for four straight years from 1973 through 1976, and is widely considered to be among the best defensive players in Cleveland Browns history.
3.
Jerry Sherk attended Grants Pass High, where he joined the school's wrestling and football teams.
4.
Jerry Sherk was an All-Big Eight selection on the gridiron in 1969 and an All-American as a Cowboy grappler in 1969.
5.
Jerry Sherk was inducted to the Oklahoma State Hall of Honor in 2000.
6.
Jerry Sherk was the key to the Grays Harbor wrestling team winning state two consecutive seasons.
7.
Jerry Sherk was selected in the second round of the 1970 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns.
8.
Jerry Sherk became a starting player immediately, and soon became noted as having a knack for getting to the quarterback.
9.
Jerry Sherk was part of an AFC Central Division in which each team boasted All-Pro quality defensive tackles: the Pittsburgh Steelers' Joe Greene, the Cincinnati Bengals' Mike Reid, and the Houston Oilers' Curley Culp, with Greene and Culp earning enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
10.
In 1974 Jerry Sherk made his second Pro Bowl and led the Browns with 10 sacks to go with his 94 tackles.
11.
In 1975 Jerry Sherk made his third consecutive Pro Bowl and was named All-AFC.
12.
Jerry Sherk is known for punching St Louis Cardinals QB, Jim Hart, in they eye during the Pro Bowl game causing him to leave the game with six stitches above his eye.
13.
Jerry Sherk matched his own career-high of 100 tackles and recorded six sacks.
14.
In 1976 Jerry Sherk recorded 12 sacks and 92 tackles and was voted the NFL Defensive Player of the Year by the Newspaper Enterprise Association.
15.
Jerry Sherk was a consensus All-Pro, making the AP, PFWA, NEA teams as well as being consensus All-AFC for the second consecutive year.
16.
Jerry Sherk capped the season off by playing in his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl.
17.
At a September 1977 preseason match against the Green Bay Packers, Jerry Sherk seriously injured his knee.
18.
Jerry Sherk came back in 1978 recording a new career-high in tackles with 105 but only dropped opposing quarterbacks 3 times.
19.
Jerry Sherk missed the last six games of the 1979 season.
20.
In 1991 Jerry Sherk returned to college, earning a master's degree in counseling psychology.
21.
Jerry Sherk began counseling various vulnerable populations, becoming especially interested in working with at-risk children.