Ron Jaworski

Ron Jaworski – Life, Career, and Memorable Quotes

Learn about Ron Jaworski (born March 23, 1951) — NFL quarterback turned broadcaster and sports executive. Explore his life story, achievements, philosophy, and top quotes on leadership, football, and success.

Introduction

Ron Jaworski—nicknamed “Jaws”—is an American former professional football quarterback who played in theNFL for 17 seasons, later becoming a prominent broadcaster and sports executive. He is known not only for his on-field grit and leadership, but also for his sharp insights on the game and his post-playing ventures in sports media, golf, and arena football.

In this article, we look at his early life, his playing career, his transition to media and business, his style and values, and a collection of his well-remembered quotes.

Early Life & College

Ronald Vincent Jaworski was born on March 23, 1951, in Lackawanna, New York.

In high school, he was a multi-sport athlete. He was a three-sport star and was even offered a contract by the St. Louis Cardinals (baseball) but declined to attend college and pursue football.

He attended Youngstown State University (1969–1972) and excelled as a quarterback. He set multiple school passing records (completions, yardage, touchdowns) during his college career.

At Youngstown State, he earned the nicknames “Rifle Ron” and the “Polish Rifle,” referencing both his strong arm and his Polish heritage.

NFL Playing Career & Achievements

Entry & Early Years

Jaworski was drafted in the second round (37th overall) of the 1973 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams.

He had moments of opportunity, one of which included stepping in when starter injuries occurred, showing poise and competence under pressure.

Philadelphia Eagles Era & Peak

In 1977, Jaworski was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles, a move that defined much of his career. 1980 season.

The 1980 season was a breakout year: he threw for 3,529 yards and 27 touchdowns, earning accolades including the Bert Bell Award and a Pro Bowl selection. Super Bowl XV, though they were defeated by the Oakland Raiders.

Later, he sustained injuries (notably a broken leg in 1984) which interrupted his consistency and playing time. His streak of 116 consecutive starts was ended by injury.

Jaworski also played briefly with the Miami Dolphins (1987–1988) and Kansas City Chiefs (1989) toward the end of his playing days.

By the end of his NFL playing career, his stats included 28,190 passing yards, 179 touchdowns, 164 interceptions, and a passer rating of 72.8.

Post-Playing Career: Media, Business & Football Leadership

Broadcasting and Media

After retiring from playing, Jaworski became a notable NFL analyst. He joined ESPN in 1990, appearing on shows like NFL Matchup and Sunday NFL Countdown. Monday Night Football.

Over time, he also became a key voice in Philadelphia sports media, contributing to analysis programs, local radio, and television shows covering the Eagles.

Business Ventures & Sports Leadership

Jaworski founded Ron Jaworski Golf, a company that owns and manages a number of golf courses in the Delaware Valley region (Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware).

He also entered the Arena Football League’s business side. In 2003, he co-founded the Philadelphia Soul, serving as president and later majority owner. Under his leadership, the Soul won three ArenaBowl championships (XXII, XXIX, XXX).

He even held a position as Chairman of the AFL Executive Committee from 2018 to 2019.

His charitable efforts include founding the Jaws Youth PlayBook, which supports at-risk youth in the Delaware Valley.

He also authored a book: The Games That Changed the Game: The Evolution of the NFL in Seven Sundays (2010), analyzing pivotal football games that shaped strategic elements of the sport.

Personality, Style & Values

Ron Jaworski’s public image blends competitiveness, analytical insight, leadership, and resilience. Some key traits:

• Competitiveness and confidence: Throughout his career, he showed willingness to take risks, lead under pressure, and bounce back from setbacks.

• Intellectual approach to sport: In his broadcasting and writing, he applies deep strategic insight, often breaking down plays, tendencies, and patterns in the game.

• Leadership & mentorship: He frequently emphasizes character, team cohesion, and the importance of consistency (especially at the quarterback position).

• Integrity & accountability: He has spoken frankly about ethics, mistakes, and decision-making, acknowledging errors and learning from them.

• Entrepreneurial vision: His move into business (golf, arena football) reflects ambition beyond the playing field, leveraging his credibility into lasting ventures.

Famous Quotes of Ron Jaworski

Here are some notable quotations attributed to Ron Jaworski:
(Quotes from public sources)

• “Positive thinking is the key to success in business, education, pro football, anything that you can mention. I go out there thinking that I’m going to complete every pass.”

• “No one’s ever gotten better by practicing less.”

• “The heartbeat of a football team is the quarterback position and I think everyone who has any intelligence about the game understands you must have consistency at that position to be a championship team.”

• “You learn by mistakes. When you make those mistakes, you try not to make them the third time or the second time. You learn from them. Sometimes you learn the hard way. … You better make that decision quicker.”

• “But when you get into a situation where you can acquire a proven leader, a proven quality player, an unselfish player, a guy who has taken a team to the Super Bowl, I think you do it.”

• “We have a lot of rule changes. I am part of the competition committee. We spent a lot time evaluating the game, how do we make the game better for our fans.”

• “The simplest way to win in the National Football League is to knock out the starting quarterback. … history has proven if your number one quarterback goes down, your chances for success become very limited.”

These quotes reflect his focus on mindset, leadership, preparation, and the critical nature of the quarterback role.

Lessons from Ron Jaworski’s Life

1. Perseverance matters
   Jaworski didn’t become a star overnight—he steadily built a long career, adapting through roles, injuries, and transitions.

2. Mindset and confidence
   His emphasis on positive thinking and decision-making under pressure is applicable beyond sports—to business, leadership, and everyday challenges.

3. Adaptability beyond a primary role
   His post-playing career demonstrates how an athlete can reinvent themselves: as a broadcaster, entrepreneur, and team executive.

4. Integrity, accountability, and growth
   Through his quotes and public persona, Jaworski shows that admitting mistakes and learning from them is part of sustained success.

5. Leadership as both talent and character
   He often speaks about placing value on character (off-field traits) as much as on-field performance when building a team or organization.

Conclusion

Ron Jaworski’s journey from a small city in upstate New York, through college, to a long NFL career, and then into media and business, is a story of ambition, resilience, and reinvention. As “Jaws” he earned respect for his arm, leadership, and competitive fire. After football, he translated that credibility into new domains—broadcasting analysis, sports entrepreneurship, and philanthropy.

If you'd like, I can also build a timeline of his major games, seasons, and milestones, or compare Jaworski’s quarterback style to other great QBs of his era. Would you like me to do that?