Joe Owens

Joseph T. Owens (November 8, 1946 – June 9, 2013) was an American professional football defensive end in the National Football League from 1970 to 1976, with 49 quarterback sacks in 87 games. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the 9th round of the 1969 NFL/AFL draft. He played college football at Alcorn State University. He was first-team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference and an NAIA All-American selection as a senior.

Early life Owens was born on November 8, 1946, in Columbia, Missouri, to Cleveland and Pearlie (Young) Owens. Owens was all-conference in football. He played from 1965 to 1968 on the school's football team (the Alcorn A&M Braves) in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), mostly as a linebacker. He weighed 205 lb (92.9 kg) entering Alcorn and 225 lb (102.1 kg) when he graduated. As a sophomore, in a late-October 1966 game, Owens blocked a punt against Southern University that was recovered and returned for a touchdown, in a 14–14 tie.

As a senior in 1968, Owens played linebacker on an Alcorn A&M Braves team that had a 9–1 record, and was the SWAC co-champion. That team's defense gave up only 85 total points in ten games, and had three shutouts.

Owens was named second-team All-SWAC as a junior in 1967. As a senior, he was named first-team All-SWAC at defensive end, and a District 27 NAIA All-American. He was an honorable mention NAIA All-American, named by the NAIA Football Coaches Association. In 2014, he was named the 36th greatest football player in Alcorn State University's history. Professional career The New Orleans Saints selected Owens in the ninth round of the 1969 NFL/AFL draft, 215th overall. Saints' future Hall of Fame defensive end Doug Atkins worked with Owens on pash rushing technique in the Saints' 1969 training camp.

Rather than keeping Owens on their roster or seven-man taxi squad in 1969, the Saints decided to send Owens to the minor league Richmond Roadrunners of the Atlantic Coast Football League to develop him as a player. Richmond's head coach was J. D. Roberts. Owens played defensive end with Richmond.

The Saints signed Owens in January 1970. The Saints traded Owens to the San Diego Chargers before the 1970 season, for a draft pick.

Within a few days of being released by the Chargers, the Saints signed Owens. The Saints were now coached by J. D. Roberts, who also had been Owens' coach in Richmond. His first start came on October 17 at right defensive end against the Dallas Cowboys, with coach Roberts calling Owens' performance in the game "outstanding". Owens started the next nine games for the Saints at right defensive end, finishing the season with 7.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries.

Owens began the 1972 season as the Saints starting right defensive end in the team's first two games. His pass rush in the season's second game against the Kansas City Chiefs caused future Hall of Fame quarterback Len Dawson to throw an interception. He also sacked Dawson for a 10-yard loss in that game. In the season's third game, Roberts replaced Owens at starting right end with Dave Long. Owens returned as a starter in the season's eighth game, against the Minnesota Vikings, and sacked future Hall of Fame quarterback Fran Tarkenton, who was known for his scrambling ability. A week earlier Owens had a nine-yard sack, playing as a reserve tackle against the Philadelphia Eagles. Overall, he started seven games at right end that season, with eight sacks and one safety. Although only starting one-half of the Saints' games, he led the team in sacks.

In 1973, Owens was recovering from a knee injury before he could start training camp that year. He started all 14 regular season games for the second time in his career that season. He also had the only interception of his career, on a bobbled John Hadl pass while playing against the Los Angeles Rams.

Owens started only four games in 1974, but was brought into games as a pass rushing specialist on third down plays where opposing teams were in passing situations; in effect giving the Saints five first string defensive linemen. Owens reportedly had eight, 10 or 10.5 sacks that season and one fumble recovery. He was reportedly either first on the team in sacks, or second on the team in sacks to Bob Pollard (nine) who started 13 games. He started two of the 14 games in which he appeared in 1975. Owens remained an important part of the Saints' pass rush that season, and had 6.5 sacks and one fumble recovery in 1975. After the 1975 season, the Saints left Owens exposed in the 1976 expansion draft, and he was selected by the Seattle Seahawks.

The Seahawks released Owens in early September 1976, before the season started. These were the final NFL games of Owens' career. The Oilers released Owens after the 1976 season, and he was signed by the New England Patriots in July 1977; but he left training camp soon after and the Patriots released him before the 1977 season started.

Over a seven year career, he had 49 sacks in 87 games.

Personal life and death Owens' wife Burtaniel was an evangelist, and the two had been married 43 years at the time of his death. They had two children, Joe Owens Jr. and Derrick Owens, who is a minister. He was a businessman in his hometown of Columbia, Mississippi after his retirement from football.

Owens died on June 9, 2013, in Columbia.