Jack Tatum #32

 The man, the legend, the "Assassin"

By David Carrillo
Raiderdrive.com-BASD

Legendary Oakland Raiders safety, Jack Tatum, had surgical procedure in which all five toes on his left foot were amputated followed by his leg due to his ongoing battle with diabetes.

Raiderdrive.com would like to extend our warmest regards and prayers   to Jack and his family during his time of need.  We also would like to pay tribute to the man better known as “The Assassin.”

Jack has been a willing and gracious contributor to Raiderdrive.com over the last couple of years.  He has provided us with exclusive interviews, pre-game and post-game analyses, and much more.  We are forever indebted to Jack, and look forward to his speedy recovery and future contributions.

LOOKING BACK:

Growing up in New Jersey, Jack had little interest in playing organized sports until he entered high school.  But even then, football wasn’t his sport of choice.  “Football wasn’t the big game back then, it was basketball,” recalled Jack.  “We all wanted to be basketball players.”

While Jack and his friends loved playing basketball, he soon realized that he was born to be a football player.  Jack played three positions in high school: RB, FB and LB. “I was told I was pretty good, but I didn’t think too much about it,” he said.  “I was just having too much fun at the time.” 

It wasn’t until his junior season that he would realize just how talented he was.  “I didn’t really take (football) seriously until I started getting a lot of letters from colleges,” he said.  “That’s when I thought maybe I would have a chance.” 

Jack visited numerous universities before finally deciding to accept a scholarship to Ohio State University in 1968.  At the start of his collegiate career, Jack played primarily on the offensive side of the ball as a RB.

It didn’t take long, however, for his coaches to realize that Jack was meant to play on defense.  “I would always

 sneak to the defensive side and play LB in practices,” Jack recalled.  “The coaches noticed that I was always sneaking over there, so they finally asked me if I would like to play back there.”  Jack was moved to the safety position and soon flourished in his new role.

It took even less time for Jack to establish himself as the hard-hitting force that he is legendary for.  “Well, that pretty much started in my first game playing as sophomore,” he said.  “I knocked out a running back and a tight end on the same day… that pretty much established the reputation as being a hitter.”

Jack would go on to become a two-time All America honoree and was named the National Defensive Player of the Year his senior season.  During Jack’s three seasons at Ohio State (1968-70), the team compiled a 27-2 record and won the 1968 National Championship. 

LIFE IN THE NFL:

The Oakland Raiders selected Jack with the 19^th overall pick in the first round of the 1971 NFL draft.  The

 Raiders were looking to replace safety Dave Grayson, who had retired after the 1970 season.  “I figured I had a good chance to make the team,” Jack recalled.  Jack was told that the safety position was his as long as nobody beat him out.  Jack not only made the team, but was named the starting free safety his rookie season.  Jack roamed the Raiders’ secondary from 1971 through 1979.

With Jack in the lineup, the Raiders finally had what they had been looking for prior to drafting him, a solid hitter and an intimidating force.  “I always wanted to hit someone hard,” Jack said.  “And if they got hurt, that was just part of the game.  But you always wanted them to be ok.”

Jack always played the game in a relentless fashion, and was willing to sacrifice his body for the betterment of his team.  The tougher the opponent, the more Jack and his Raider teammates excelled.  “We were tough; when we came out, we were confident every time we hit the field for battle,” he said.  “If they got into a slugging match with us, we knew we were probably going to win 90 percent of the time.”  

Jack will always be linked to some of the more remarkable games in Raiders' history.  Perhaps the one that stands out the most is the 1972 playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, a confrontation better known as “The Immaculate Reception” game.

With 22 seconds left in the game, and with the Raiders holding onto a 7-6 lead, the play that will forever be remembered as an incomplete pass in the minds of the Raider faithful began to unfold. 

It all started with a desperation pass launched in the direction of Steelers RB John “Frenchy” Fuqua from QB Terry Bradshaw.  Jack, as he had done throughout his illustrious career, put a bone-jarring hit on Fuqua just as the ball reached his outstretched arms.  The ball jarred loose, supposedly bouncing off Fuqua’s foot, and into the awaiting arms of Steelers RB Franco Harris, who rumbled 42 yards downfield for the game winning touchdown.

“I remember after I made that hit, we all thought the game was over,” Jack said.  “I saw Franco Harris running and I thought, ‘Man, that guy’s in a hurry to get to the locker room.’  We had that game won; it was a mess.”

Jack was named to the Pro Bowl three times (1973,74,75) and was instrumental in the Raiders' winning their first world championship in 1977.  Jack is the all-time interception return yardage leader in team history with 636, a fact often overlooked because he is better known for his hitting prowess.

LIFE AFTER FOOTBALL:

During his playing days Jack never married.  “I wanted to make sure I met the right lady,” he said.  Once his career ended, he would meet the love of his life, Denise.  Jack and Denise have three children, two sons and one daughter.  The family makes its home in Oakland.

While Jack’s own business keeps him busy these days, he remains connected to the NFL.  He is part of the Uniform Code Enforcement Team--or “fashion police”--as it is commonly known, ensuring players adhere to the dress code standard of the NFL.

Without a doubt, “The Assassin” will forever be a part of Raider lore and a fan favorite.  The younger generations of Raider fans all know of Jack Tatum, even though some say they never saw him play… he had that kind of impact.

In 2001, Jim Tressel, head coach of Jack’s Alma Matter, Ohio State University, instituted the “Jack Tatum hit of the week award,” given to the player who had the most impressive collision in a game on a weekly basis.  A fine tribute to a man who hit harder than a sledgehammer. 

Raiderdrive.com wishes Jack Tatum a get-well and a quick recovery. Ex-Raider loses left toes in surgery.