Marty Lyons shares what he learned from Bear Bryant

Former Alabama All-American Marty Lyons will be part of Saturday’s induction ceremonies for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023 – not as an inductee for his 11 seasons as a starter on the New York Jets’ defensive line, but as the presenter for former teammate Joe Klecko, who is being enshrined.

Lyons already is a Hall of Fame inductee – the College Football Hall of Fame. He was enshrined in 2011 for his career with the Crimson Tide from 1975 through 1978.

MORE NFL:

· ALABAMA ROOTS: WHO’S NEXT FOR THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME?

· KENYAN DRAKE JOINING RUNNING BACK-NEEDY TEAM

· BROWNS SIGN 3 PLAYERS WITH ALABAMA FOOTBALL ROOTS

Lyons’ college and pro careers intertwined in a recent question-and-answer piece with Steve Serby of the New York Post. While discussing the nine seasons that he played with Klecko with the Jets, Lyons also was asked what he had learned playing for legendary coach Paul “Bear” Bryant at Alabama.

“I think the biggest lesson that I learned from him is that you need to keep your core values of life in place,” Lyons said, “and those core values will stay with you. They’re more important than the game of football. He always said be proud of your family, be proud of your religion, get an education, then if we have time, let’s try to win some football games. We only lost six games in four years.

“He prepared every one of his players to go on when the game ended to be successful in life, be a successful parent, be a successful father, a husband, out in the community. He was worried more about that than the game of football. He made sure that we understood that everybody out there on the football field, treat them like a member of your family. Treat them with respect.”

Lyons did the presentation video for Klecko’s Hall of Fame induction. The Pro Football Hall of Fame will induct nine members at 11 a.m. CDT Saturday. NFL Network and ESPN will televise the ceremony.

Klecko will be the fourth player enshrined on Saturday, following DeMarcus Ware from Auburn High School and Troy in the ceremony order.

HOW BO JACKSON STARTED DEMARCUS WARE ON THE WAY TO THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME

“It really makes you pretty humble,” Lyons told NFL Network about being chosen by Klecko to be his presenter. “It makes you realize Joe had a great deal of respect for me as a teammate, more respect for me as a friend. And now I have the obligation of representing his teammates, the organization and the fans, just to let the Hall of Fame people know how great he really was.”

Klecko got to the Jets as a sixth-round pick from Temple two years before Lyons arrived as a first-rounder from Alabama in 1979. They formed half of the New York Sack Exchange, a unit that produced 20.5 sacks by Klecko and 20 by defensive end Mark Gastineau in the 1981 season.

“When I came in in ‘79, the rookies always got there early,” Lyons told Serby. “You got in line to get taped. If a veteran cut you off, you can’t say anything. Practice is done, veterans go in, they get iced down first. I was coming out of the weight room, and he was coming out of the training room.

“And I started to walk by him, and he took that index finger of his and stuck it right in the middle of my chest, and he said, ‘Where are you going?’ And I said, ‘I’m going to get changed.’ He goes, ‘Not so quick. I got to play alongside of you for a long time. You need to get stronger, so from now on, you don’t leave this complex until I leave.’ I go, ‘OK.’ I started to walk off, he goes, ‘Where are you going?’ I said, ‘I’m done, Joe.’ He goes, ‘What did I just say? You don’t leave till I leave.’

“We became best friends ever since.”

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.