Hard-hitting past Raider Jack Tatum dies at 61

Jack Tatum, the storied Oakland Raiders wellbeing ideal acknowledged for landing the come to that paralyzed New England receiver Darryl Stingley, has died. He was 61.

Tatum, amongst essentially the most feared and respected NFL players of his era, died of the heart attack Tuesday morning in an Oakland hospital. He had been waiting for a kidney transplant.

Tatum was a sledgehammer in Oakland¡¯s ¡°Soul Patrol¡± secondary on the 1970s that also incorporated safety George Atkinson, cornerback Skip Thomas and Hall of Fame cornerback Willie Brown.

¡°As a lot of major plays as Jack produced, it let you know this guy knew where by being when the chips had been down,¡± Atkinson claimed. ¡°Guys didn¡¯t would like to appear across the center since getting come to by him was like having hit by a truck. He was devastating with his timing and his angles of get in touch with.¡±

Under no circumstances was that much more true than on Aug. 12, 1978, within an exhibition game against the Patriots, when Tatum attack Stingley on the pass above the middle. The collision severed Stingley¡¯s fourth and fifth vertebrae, leaving the receiver nearly completely paralyzed through the neck down.

Outside of his close circle of close friends, who swear he had an uncomplicated smile and infectious laugh, Tatum largely kept to himself in public settings, which only seemed to generate him a lot more intimidating. John Madden, Tatum¡¯s previous coach, stated the Stingley attack impacted the Raiders star.