Jumpy Geathers—Human Machinery

By John Turney 

Offensive linemen know they get beaten once in a while. It comes with the job. What they hate is getting embarrassed. But embarrassing offensive linemen is what "Jumpy" Geathers would do ... and he did it with a move of his own creation. 

He called it a "forklift." What was it?

"Lift up a guard and throw him at the quarterback", explained Geathers. "Instead of bull-rushing, you just pick the guy up ... I use it on guys who get too high."

Maybe that sounds unimaginable, but it happened. And it worked.

"When he executed it properly," said former 49ers' offensive lineman Randy Cross, "you were going backwards, and there wasn’t much you could do about it."

Now, understand that Geathers will never be a candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame or even the Hall of Very Good. His only postseason recognition was in 1995 when Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News picked him as an interior nickel rusher, and John Madden chose him for his All-Madden team.

But if offensive linemen had a vote, his signature "forklift" would be in Canton.

"He had long arms, a solid base and combined quickness and leverage to overwhelm his opponent", said Cross.

Nothing odd about that. What is, however, is that the 6-7¾, 300-pound defensive tackle didn't come to the NFL as the NFL's best power rusher -- mostly because when he arrived he was only 260 pounds. But he was blessed with incredible strength and had good speed for his size - running a sub-4.8 40 and the fastest 20-yard split of any prospect the New Orleans Saints timed in their scouting process.

That was in 1984 when he emerged from Wichita State where he had 34 sacks in his two years. Prior to that, he played at Paducah Junior College (Ky.) and was a basketball and a weight-room legend. 

In fact, when the Saints took him in the second round of the 1984 NFL draft, he looked more like an NBA power forward than a defensive lineman. For his first two years with the Saints, he was a defensive end in passing situations, using his size and quickness on the edge to produce 13.5 sacks and 13 passes defensed.

But his career -- and legend -- began the following year when he moved inside as a nickel.

That was 1986 when he was heavier -- closer to 270 -- and playing defensive tackle. He began to use his natural strength and leverage to push pockets and counter with an excellent swim move, and the results speak for themselves: He racked up nine sacks, batted down six passes and forced three fumbles.

But a knee injury ruined his 1987 season, forcing Geathers to change his game to compensate for the loss loss in quickness and agility.

"I had to survive," he said. "I had to come up with something."

That something was the fabled "forklift."

John Madden, on a FOX telecast, described it this way: "He gets his right hand in behind you and grabs your back, and he pulls towards you and that will lift you up. And then he starts walking you back and collapsing you."

In 1988, the now-290-pound Geathers perfected the move, with the Dallas Cowboys' 318-pound guard, Nate Newton, the first to get a ride. There would be others, but first Geathers had to undergo a second major reconstructive knee surgery at the end of 1989.

That left the 30-year-old unprotected and available for teams to sign under the Plan B free-agency system, and Washington responded. It gambled that his knees were worth the $1.5- million, three-year deal they gave him, and it was right.

Geathers missed the first half of the 1990 season on the physically unable to perform list, but when he returned the 'forklift" victims mounted. One year later, he was a major contributor to a Super Bowl champion -- leading the team in hurries over edge rushers Charles Mann and Fred Stokes, no small feat.

"He just pushed piles out of place," said his defensive line coach, Tory Torgeson. "It's amazing what he does with his strength." 

Torgeson was no newbie. He'd played on or coached teams with powerful guys like Les Bingaman, "Big Daddy" Lipscomb, John Baker, Larry Brooks, Dave Butz and others. So he had a basis from which to compare.

After three years in Washington, Geathers signed a big-money contract (three years, $2.9 million) with the Atlanta Falcons, prompting then-coach Jerry Glanville to celebrate.

"Without a doubt," he said, "he's the best power rusher (in the NFL). He can fork-lift a lineman right back into the quarterback."

He did that with Buffalo guard Jim Ritcher in Super Bowl XXVI and followed with the Rams' 330-pound Keith Loneker in 1994 -- a move that didn't go unnoticed by Loneker's teammate, Tom Newberry.

"Every year," Newberry told Sports Illustrated, "I try to convince my teammates to vote for Geathers for the Pro Bowl. After seeing him lift and carry Keith, it won't be hard to convince them again."

One guard who was convinced was Adam Timmerman, then a rookie with the Green Bay Packers. In a 1996 AP story, Packers' quarterback Brett Favre recalled when Geathers was "(J)umping on Adam. Adam held him or something. I can't tell you what he was saying, but Adam was like (saying)'Yes sir, yes sir.'"

When Geathers retired after finishing his career with Denver in 1997, he'd compiled an impressive resume. From 1990-95, he twice led his teams in hurries, twice was second and once was third. What makes that so impressive is that in all those seasons, he started just four games and did it by playing almost exclusively on passing downs.

That he didn't do it on the edge ... but inside ... is more than outstanding. It's a remarkable accomplishment that didn't escape the attention of former Chicago Tribune columnist Don Pierson..

"A 36-year old Wonder," he called Geathers in 1996. "He was good in New Orleans, good in Washington, good in Atlanta and is now good in Denver. Offensive linemen say he cannot be blocked. But no one has ever heard of him."

Jumpy Geathers will never be recognized for stopping the run, but he has plenty of company. There are a lot of edge rushers in that category. But if you want someone to make a quarterback double pump by seeing hands in his face ... or put a guard on skates ... Jumpy is your man.

"God blessed me with a talent," he once said. "Half the time I don't know what I am doing."

NFL offensive guards did ... and they didn't like it.

"Anyone that ever blocks in this league," John Madden said, "any guard or center, you always talk about who's the toughest guy to block ... who's the best tackle. They always tell you: Jumpy Geathers."

That makes Jumpy Geathers worth remembering ... even if you never heard of him.

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