JoJo Townsell
| No. 26, 83 | |||||||||||
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| Position | Wide receiver | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born | November 4, 1960 Reno, Nevada, U.S. | ||||||||||
| Listed height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||||||||||
| Listed weight | 180 lb (82 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school | Hug (Reno, Nevada) | ||||||||||
| College | UCLA (1979–1982) | ||||||||||
| NFL draft | 1983: 3rd round, 78th overall pick | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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Joseph Ray Townsell (born November 4, 1960) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL) and United States Football League (USFL).[1]
Early life
Townsell attended Hug High School in Reno, Nevada, where he earned all-Zone and all-State honors; in 2004, he was inducted into the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association Hall of Fame.[2]
College career
Townsell attended University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he was a sociology major.[3] He played college football for the UCLA Bruins as a four-year starter from 1979 to 1982.[4]
On October 25, 1980, he had a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown in a 32–9 UCLA win against California.[5]
On September 11, 1982, he set a UCLA record with four receiving touchdowns in one game, a 41–10 UCLA win against Long Beach State.[6] For the 1982 season, he was named second-team All-Pac-10.[7]
Professional career
In April 1983, Townsell was selected by the New York Jets in the third round of the 1983 NFL draft, and participated in Jets mini-camps.[8][9] However, in June 1983, he signed a four-year, $110,000 per year, contract with the Los Angeles Express of the USFL.[10][11] Two days after signing, in his first USFL game, Townsell had the game-winning receiving touchdown in a 17–13 Express win against the Arizona Wranglers.[12][3]
On April 14, 1984, he had a USFL-record 249 receiving yards in a game against the Memphis Showboats.[13][14]
In August 1985, he bought out his USFL contract and signed a three-year contract with the Jets.[11][15]
On December 13, 1986, Townsell recorded a 93-yard kickoff return touchdown, in a 24–45 Jets loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.[16]
In 1989, Townsell led the Jets with 787 receiving yards, and 5 receiving touchdowns.[17] He was named the Jets MVP for the 1989 season.[18]
In week 5 of the 1990 season, Townsell suffered a turf toe injury; in June 1991, he had surgery to remove a bone in his big toe.[19]
Townsell retired from professional football on October 25, 1991.[19]
Personal life
He is married to his wife, Suzi; they have two daughters.[20]
In 1997, Townsell and Suzi founded the Me-For-Incredible-Youth (MeFiYi) Foundation, a non-profit organization that aims to help Nevada youth.[20][2]
References
- ↑ "Jo-Jo Townsell, WR". NFL.com. NFL Enterprises LLC. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
- 1 2 "NIAA Hall of Fame inductees named". nevadaappeal.com. January 19, 2004.
- 1 2 Rogers, Thomas (June 11, 1983). "SCOUTING; Passing a Test In the U.S.F.L." The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
- ↑ "2016 UCLA Football Information Guide" (PDF).
- ↑ "100-Yard Kickoff Return Sparks UCLA 32–9 Victory". The Press-Courier. October 26, 1980.
- ↑ "UCLA, 41–10". The Day. September 12, 1982.
- ↑ "Pac-10 names all-league team". Ellensburg Daily Record. November 30, 1982. p. 10.
- ↑ "1983 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
- ↑ "Where Are They Now: JoJo Townsell". newyorkjets.com. March 7, 2019.
- ↑ "Express Sign Townsell". The Tuscaloosa News. June 3, 1983.
- 1 2 "Wide receiver Jojo Townsell and defensive end Ben Rudolph". UPI. August 5, 1985.
- ↑ "L.A. Express Nips Arizona Wranglers". June 6, 1983.
- ↑ Eskenazi, Gerald (August 6, 1985). "RUDOLPH, TOWNSELL ARE BACK WITH JETS". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
- ↑ "USFL Game: April 14, 1984 Memphis at Los Angeles – USFL (United States Football League)". usflsite.com.
- ↑ "There May Be No Room for Walker on Jets' Talented Receiving Corps". Los Angeles Times. August 25, 1985.
- ↑ "STEELERS ADD TO JETS` WOES". Chicago Tribune. December 14, 1986.
- ↑ "Jetting Through History: JoJo Townsell". newyorkjets.com. September 25, 2006.
- ↑ "Martin Award". newyorkjets.com.
- 1 2 Harvin, Al (October 25, 1991). "PRO FOOTBALL; Facing Reality, Townsell Retires". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
- 1 2 "Townsell named 2010 Elks Citizen of the Year". recordcourier.com. February 17, 2010.