Former Raider Jack Tatum dies at 61
Jack Tatum, a ferocious defensive back for Ohio State University and the Oakland Raiders, died Tuesday of a heart attack at age 61, Tatum's former Ohio State teammate John Hicks told Ohio television station 10TV News.
Tatum was perhaps best known for the hit he made on New England Patriots wide receiver Darryl Stingley during an exhibition game in 1978 that left Stingley paralyzed.
Tatum played nine years in the NFL and was on the Raiders team that won the Super Bowl after the 1976 season.
Stingley, who later said he forgave Tatum, died in 2007.
A full obituary will follow at latimes.com/obits.
-- Claire Noland
Photo: Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Sammy White loses his helmet in Super Bowl XI at the Rose Bowl as Jack Tatum (32) and Skip Thomas of the Oakland Raiders hit him. Credit: Richard Drew / Associated Press
I'd say he was more famous for his role in the Immaculate Reception than the Stingleyy tragedy.
Posted by: Roger Krueger | 07/27/2010 at 01:46 PM
This guy was the epitomy of a great player although he obviously suffered from numerous concussions. He was also a college graduate but could hardly speak an audible sentence. NFL players usually live short, but significant, lives if one chooses quality over quantity. This season the teams are at least promoting recognizing and reporting concussions although it is up to the players to seek treatment. The players wanna play, the coaches & owners wanna win now so the status quo will probably prevail. Nearly every open field tackle is equivalent to a car crash and a lot of us know first hand what that is like. What can anyone do but PLAY ON.
Posted by: mansterEZ | 07/27/2010 at 01:55 PM
Possibly the best Raider defensive back ever. Tatum and Atkinson made me a Raider fan.
Posted by: Jay Dee | 07/27/2010 at 02:12 PM
Tatum and Atkinson were the two dirtiest players who ever played in the league. Both were seen many times throwing forearms and elbows directly at opponents heads. Tatum was the worst. He may have graduated from OSU, but he certainly didn't earn or obtain a college education -- as many OSU athletes. He was just taught to be a dirty football player.
Posted by: CaliHATER | 07/27/2010 at 03:56 PM
i knew darryl Stingley , and as far as i know, tatum never apologized to Stingley .... but these were the days of football when you could really hit a guy.... tatum was the guy you wanted on the field.........
Posted by: nerf | 07/27/2010 at 04:37 PM