‘Spike’ originator dies at 82
Fred Jeter | 6/22/2023, 6 p.m.
Homer Jones, famous for his long receptions and spiking the ball after a touchdown, died Wednesday, June 14, 2023, in his hometown of Pittsburg, Texas. Mr. Jones was 82 and had been suffering from lung cancer.
Out of HBCU Texas Southern University in Houston, he was big (6-foot-2, 215 pounds) and fast (doubled as college sprinter) and was a defensive back’s nightmare.
Playing mostly with the New York Giants in the 1960s, Mr. Jones caught 224 passes for 38 touchdowns and 4,936 yards.
That’s an average of 22.3 yards per reception and ranks first all time in the NFL. By comparison, Jerry Rice ( all time leader in receptions) averaged 14.8 per catch.
A two-time All-Pro, Mr. Jones’ best season was 1967 with New York when he hauled in 49 passes for 1,209 yards, averaging 24.7 a snag, and scored 13 TDs.
Following TDs, he drew much attention for throwing the ball down — spiking it — with a determined motion.
There was a reason for it. Then-NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle had been fining players for throwing balls into the stands to celebrate TDs.
His Giants quarterbacks included Earl Morrall and Fran Tarkenton.
Tarkenton insisted that, in full pads and wearing cleats, Jones was faster than the Cowboys’ Bob Hayes, who was the 1964 Olympic 100-meter champ.
