Jack Tatum
 Jack Tatum

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 alway ssneak 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 - thus earning him the monicker "The Assassin". “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.

The Oakland Raiders selected Jack with the 19th 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.

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.

Legendary Oakland Raiders safety, Jack Tatum, is currently recovering from a surgical procedure in which all five toes on his left foot were amputated due to his ongoing battle with diabetes.

Interview with Jack Tatum

Q: Who were some of your favorite teammates?

Jack Tatum: I think it's pretty hard to say because most of the guys, actually, all of the guys on that team were pretty close. That's one of the things that I really liked about that team. And, still today a lot of those guys on that team are my best friends. So, it's kind of hard to pick out the best teammates because I just thought all the guys on that team were pretty close.

Q: Do you still keep in touch with any of your teammates?

Jack Tatum: Yes, I still keep in touch with most of the guys, especially the guys that live around the Bay Area.

Q: Are there any former teammates of yours, including yourself that you feel should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Jack Tatum: There are quite a few of those guys as well. Kenny Stabler, Cliff Branch, Dave Casper, Ray Chester. I could go down the line and name quite a few guys that I feel should have been but if they did that there would be so many Raiders in there there would be no room for anyone else.

Q: What were your thoughts after being drafted?

Jack Tatum: When I got drafted by the Raiders I wasn’t to sure where Oakland was, I wasn’t a big Oakland fan right at the time. I was from the east coast and was born an east coast football fan, but once I got out here and figured out what was happening and what the town was about I loved this city.

Q: What was the most memorable game for you when you played for the Raiders?

Jack Tatum: The most memorable game was the ‘77 Super Bowl. That has got to be it for anybody because that is what everybody is trying to play for, a chance win a Super Bowl.

Q: Is there one play that you can remember from your career?

Jack Tatum: Not really we had so many great plays and so many big games that it’s just all put together and thought of as great plays. You don’t really put a season to them.

Q: Which team did you like playing against the most?

Jack Tatum: The team was the Steelers, one of those teams that you love to hate. I could have played them 16 times a year.

Q: Can you describe what it was like to play in and win the Super Bowl?

Jack Tatum: Well, that is a great feeling because everybody plays the game just for the opportunity to get to the Super Bowl. To play and win probably puts you on top of the world because you can finally say that you are officially the best in the world.

Q: What was your favorite stadium or city to play in, other than home?

Jack Tatum: First of all I think we had the best fans in the league, Raiders always had great fans and they are the most knowledgeable fans in the league. But if I had to pick somewhere else besides Oakland it would be tough at other stadiums. People love to hate the Raiders but Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Denver, any of those stadiums were great to play in because the people hated you so much.

Q: Can you describe what it was like to play for Al Davis?

Jack Tatum: I liked playing for Al Davis because Al is a football man. He is one of the few owners that actually knows football. I think Al and I were pretty much on the same page…we were out there to win! Like I said Al is a football man and on a personal level Al is a good friend. I really like Al.

Q: Can you compare today’s game to your playing experience?

Jack Tatum: I think the main difference right now is the salary cap because I played with most of my teammates on the Raiders for seven to eight years. Now-a-days, if you get to play two years with a guy it's a big deal. I think the salary cap has taken away a lot of the closeness…and I think its hurt the game and I think the fans really don't get a chance to know guys.

Q: What are your impressions of Raider fans both past and present?

Jack Tatum: I think the Raiders have the best fans in the league. It’s funny because everyime you hear people talking about Raiders fans on TV they show the fans with their faces painted and people think that every Raider fan is like that. But they don’t show the 98 percent of the fans that are just like fans everywhere else and are just die hard Raider fans.

Q: Can you describe what is was like to play for Coach Madden?

Jack Tatum: Well playing for John Madden was great. He was a great Coach and a great people person. I think that his biggest asset was that he had all those different personalities but somehow he could get them all working together and it was just a lot of fun because we did have so many great characters on the team.

Q: What do you currently do?

Jack Tatum: Right now I'm in a recuperation process. I had a serious bout with diabetes, so right now I'm in a recuperation process.