Thaindian News

By Madhuri Dey
Columbus, July 28, (THAINDIAN NEWS) John David Tatum (Jack Tatum), a former all-star safety who played with the Oakland Raiders for around ten seasons died on Tuesday of a heart attack. The 61-year-old former NFL player who is infamously known as “The Assassin” for his bone-crunching hit on Darryl Stingley had been suffering from diabetes and other health related ailments for years. The news of the death of John David Tatum was confirmed by the family and also by his former team Oakland Raiders.

On Tuesday, the Oakland Raiders team declared the news of the death of John David Tatum in their official website. The management wrote that the team is “deeply saddened” by the untimely demise of Jack Tatum. The team remembered Jack Tadum as a “true Raider champion” and a true Oakland Raider warrior. It also wrote that Jack Tatum was not only a great player but also a great human being who had played a crucial part in the lives of Oakland Raiders members since his association with the team back in 1971. The Ohio State Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel said in a statement on Tuesday that the team has lost one of its greatest Ohio State Buckeyes players. Jim Tressel added, “When you think of Ohio State Defense, the first name that comes to mind is Jack Tatum”.

In his nine season play with Oakland Raiders, Jack Tatum had started 106 of 120 games and had to his credit 30 interceptions. He played a crucial role in helping the Oakland Raiders team to win the 1976 National Football League championship. After his tenure with the Oakland Raiders, Jack Tatum played his final seasons with the Houston Oilers.