Houston Oilers and San Diego Chargers The
Houston Oilers selected Jaquess in the 20th round of the
1964 AFL draft, 158th overall. In 1964, Jaquess started all 14 Oilers' games as a cornerback, playing under head coach
Sammy Baugh, who had been a Hall of Fame quarterback. Jacquess had five interceptions in his first four games, and led the Oilers with eight interceptions that season. In his second game as a rookie, he intercepted a pass against the
Oakland Raiders and returned it 98 yards for a touchdown. He was selected to play in the AFL All-Star Game that season, and was named second-team
All-AFL by the
Associated Press. He only started four games in 1965, under new head coach
Hugh Taylor, playing most games as a reserve behind left cornerback
Tony Banfield. He also returned four punts and 13 kickoffs. The Oilers, however, considered Jaquess expendable after the 1965 season. After the 1965 season, Jaquess's career became intertwined with a long running financial dispute involving the
San Diego Chargers' coach
Sid Gillman and the Chargers' All-AFL defensive linemen
Ernie Ladd and
Earl Faison. In mid-January 1966, during the second half of the AFL All-Star Game, Gillman traded Ladd and Faison to the
Houston Oilers, owned by
Bud Adams, for Jaquess,
Johnny Baker and
Gary Cutsinger. Gillman simultaneously said he had been forced to make the trade because Adams had tampered with Ladd and Faison by making them substantial financial offers if they joined the Oilers. AFL Commissioner Joe Foss soon voided the trade because of the alleged tampering. Ladd and Faison became free agents in May, and Ladd later signed with the Oilers in early June 1966. This required the Oilers to compensate the Chargers under the AFL's rules. Less than two weeks later, new AFL Commissioner
Al Davis awarded Jaquess and Oilers' tight end
Willie Frazier to the Chargers as compensation for losing Ladd.
Miami Dolphins and Denver Broncos In mid-August 1966, the Chargers released Jaquess. Jaquess then signed with the Miami Dolphins before the start of the 1966 season, and started 10 games that season at free safety. He came in as a reserve in the second game of the season against the New York Jets, and intercepted a pass thrown by future Hall of Fame quarterback
Joe Namath. He returned the interception 27 yards for a touchdown. He became a starter in the season's fourth game, against the Chargers. In that game, Jacquess intercepted a pass thrown by four-time
AFL All-Star and two-time
Pro Bowl quarterback
John Hadl. Overall that season he had three interceptions, and returned five kickoffs. The Dolphins waived him in early November, and within two days Jaquess signed with the
Denver Broncos. He was with the Broncos for three games as a reserve defensive back that season. In 1968, Jaquess started 11 games at strong safety for the Broncos. He had a team-leading five interceptions. Among these were interceptions against Namath and Hadl again; as well as future Hall of Fame Dolphins' quarterback
Bob Griese. He had interceptions against Hadl in both games against the Chargers that season. In 1969, he played seven games for the Broncos as a reserve defensive back, with one fumble recovery that season. In his final professional season, and first in the NFL after the
AFL–NFL merger (1970), Jaquess started two of the 13 games in which he appeared, as a defensive back. The Broncos released Jacquess on September 7, 1971. Over his seven year career, Jaquess appeared in 85 games, started 46 and had 16 interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns. == Honors ==