Former NFL star Jack Tatum dies at 61
July 28th, 2010 - 4:59 am ICT by BNO NewsCOLUMBUS, OHIO (BNO NEWS) — Former NFL All-Pro safety for the Oakland Raiders Jack Tatum, remembered for his hard-hitting playing style, died Tuesday, local media reported.
Tatum, 61, nicknamed the “Assassin,” passed away in a hospital in Oakland, California from a heart attack. One of his numerous hard-hitting plays paralyzed New England Patriot wide receiver Darryl Stingey during an NFL preseason game in 1978, after a head-on collision injured Sringey’s fourth and fifth vertebrae.
After that day, the two men never met, and it is argued whether Tatum ever felt remorse, but friend and teammate at Ohio State, John Hicks said, “It was tough on him too. He wasn’t the same person after that. For year, he was almost a recluse.”
Tatum played safety and linebacker at Ohio State from 1968 to 1970, receiving all-American honors twice, and winning a national championship.
“We have lost one of our greatest Buckeyes,” Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel said. “When you think of Ohio State defense, the first name that comes to mind is Jack Tatum. His loss touches every era of Ohio State players and fans.” The hard-hitting safety was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in 1971 as the 19th overall pick, and played nine seasons for Raiders until 1979, winning Super Bowl XI in 1977.
- Former Oakland Raiders Player Jack Tatum Dies Of Heart Attack - Jul 28, 2010
- Curtis Grant Chooses Ohio State Buckeyes Over Virginia Cavaliers - Feb 03, 2011
- Trey DePriest Chooses University Of Alabama - Jul 31, 2010
- Terrelle Pryor's Quarterback Advance - Aug 12, 2009
- Darryl Tapp Traded To Philadelphia Eagles - Mar 17, 2010
- Oregon Linebacker Casey Matthews Carries On Family Legacy - Jan 11, 2011
- Terrelle Pryor being investigated by NCAA - Jun 01, 2011
- "Tuck Rule" Continues To Haunt Charles Woodson - Dec 20, 2010
- Knowshon Moreno Missed Last Night Game Against Oakland Raiders Owing To His Side Injury - Dec 20, 2010
- Ohio State Quarterback Terrelle Pryor Suspended Along With Four Others - Dec 24, 2010
- Green Bay Packers give a 46-16 drubbing to the Raiders - Dec 12, 2011
- Pittsburgh Steelers Pick Thaddeus Gibson In The Fourth Round Of NFL Draft - Apr 25, 2010
- Luke Fickell is the interim coach of the Ohio State University - May 30, 2011
- Oakland Raiders Vs San Francisco 49ers: Injury Concerns For Jason Campbell - Aug 29, 2010
- Troy Polamalu Vs. Champ Bailey: A Tale Of Competence Galore - Aug 29, 2010
Tags: bno, coach jim, football coach, former nfl, head on collision, jim tressel, john hicks, linebacker, lost one, news former, nfl preseason game, nfl star, oakland california, oakland raiders, oakland raiders jack tatum, ohio state football, stingey, super bowl xi, vertebrae, wide receiver