1998 "Penguin of the Year"
Ron Jaworski
Youngstown State (1969-72)

    Honored as the 1998 "Penguin of the Year," Ron Jaworski returned to Youngstown State University, a place where the ground work was laid for what has turned out to be an outstanding professional career both on and off the field.
    The former Super Bowl quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, returned to Youngstown after to be honored in 1998.
    Following an outstanding career at Youngstown State University, which included impressive performances in the Senior Bowl and the Ohio Shrine Bowl games, Jaworski became a second round draft choice of the Los Angeles Rams in 1973.
    After spending four years with the Rams, the rights to Jaworski were traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in March 1977. Under Coach Dick Vermeil and behind Jaworski's very strong arm and enthusiastic field leadership, the Eagles advanced to the NFC playoffs in 1978 and 1979. In 1980, "Jaws" led the Eagles to a 12-4 record, the NFC Championship and their first-ever berth in a Super Bowl (Super Bowl XV vs. the Oakland Raiders).
    Jaworski finished the 1980 season as the No. 1 rated passer in the NFC. In recognition of his brilliant 1980 season, Jaworski was selected to the Pro Bowl & named UPI as the "NFL Player of the Year". Following the 1980 season he received the prestigious Bert Bell Trophy, was named The Maxwell Football Club’s Professional Player of the Year and was named by the Dunlop Tire and Rubber Company as the "Professional Athlete of the Year- 1980".
    Until the time Jaworski suffered a broken leg and torn ligaments in his left ankle at St. Louis during the 13th game of the 1984 season, Jaworski had led the Eagles to the NFC Playoffs four times and had started 116 straight NFL games, thereby setting a record for the most consecutive starts by an NFL Quarterback. That record stood until 1999.
    During his 10 years (1977-86) with the Philadelphia Eagles, Jaworski passed for nearly 27,000 yards, including 175 touchdowns. He is the Eagles' all-time leader in many passing categories, including career touchdown passes and career passing yardage.
    After becoming a free-agent in March 1987, Jaworski was signed by the Miami Dolphins. Jaworski played for the Dolphins in 1987 and 1988. In April of 1989, Jaworski signed as a free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs. Jaworski retired in 1990 after a season-ending knee injury sustained while playing with the Chiefs.
    Jaworski's final career statistics include 28,190 passing yards and 179 passing touchdowns. He spent 17 years in the NFL.
    Because of all his civic and charitable work Jaworski was the national runner-up for the prestigious Miller Beer "NFL Man of the Year Award," which is given annually to an NFL player for a combination of community and civic work and on-the-field performance in 1981.
Jaworski was the recipient of the 1979 "good Guy Award" which is given annually to the Philadelphia athlete who is the most cooperative to the Philadelphia press corps.
In 1991, Jaworski was inducted into The Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame.
    In 1992, Jaworski was given the honor of being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio as a first-ballot Hall of Famer. That same year he was inducted into the Eagles’ Honor Roll.
    In 1997, Jaworski received the Pinnacle Award from the South Jersey chamber of Commerce. This award was given for his outstanding volunteer and longtime service to the south Jersey chamber as well as the Business Community.
    Currently, Jaworski is excelling in the broadcasting field working full time for ESPN. Jaworski worked as a sidelines reporter for ESPN’s Sunday Night NFL games and contributed to the Sunday NFL countdown show.
    Jaworski is still involved with ESPN on the following shows: NFL Monday Night Countdown - Jaworski is a Pro Football analyst on this Live ESPN show every Monday preceding Monday Night Football, Edge NFL Match-up - This show, also on ESPN, is for the die-hard football fan who wants the X's and O's of football explained to them from a pros point of view.
    Jaworski was nominated for an Emmy in 1996 for Outstanding Achievement for a Host for his work as Host of the TV show…Eagles Game Live.
    Jaworski also has a website on the internet for the avid football fan. His website is www.ronjaworski.com
    He is the CEO of RJ Management, the umbrella company for many of his business ventures. Despite a very demanding broadcasting schedule, Jaworski also owns and manages six country clubs, two hotels, a telecommunication company, a Gold's Gym and two Showcase Sports Stores.
    The group has also purchased an Arena Football team that is scheduled to begin play in 2003 in Philadelphia.
    Jaworski presently serves as the Chairman of the Board of the Gloucester County United Way. In 1991, Jaworski served as the 1991 Campaign Chairman of this United Way chapter and raised over $2.25 million, a record level for that chapter. Also to benefit The United Way "Kids Venture Grant" Jaworski runs an annual Celebrity Golf Tournament which has raised over $400,000 for the kids. In 1998, the United Way honored him with their Volunteer Leadership Award, which is the highest award presented by the United Way.
    He does more than 50 motivational speeches each year for various organizations.
The South Jersey Chamber of Commerce is another organization Jaworski is very involved with serving as Vice Chairman of the Membership Board.
    In 1992, Jaworski received the honor of being elected the Sixth President of the Maxwell Football Club.
    Jaworski serves on the Board for the following organizations: Gloucester County College, Eagles' Fly for Leukemia, South Jersey Development Council, Community National Bank Advisory Board.
    Over the years, Jaworski has served as a TV spokesman for Goodwill Industries, the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Saving Bond Program, United Way and Hardees, to name a few.
    At Youngstown State he had an excellent career from 1969 through 1972. He had 658 career passing attempts, 325 completions, 4,612 yards passing, a school-record 12 200-yard passing games and 32 touchdown passes. In 1972, he set school records for passing yards per game (235.8) and 200-yard passing games (six).
    Ron resides in Voorhees, N.J. with his wife Liz and his three children, Joleen), Jessica and BJ.