Jack Tatum was an American football free safety who was born on November 18, 1948 in Cherryville, North Carolina. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in 1971. During his time with the Raiders, Tatum was a two-time Second-team All-Pro and a three-time Pro Bowl selection.
He also won Super Bowl XI with the Raiders and two college national championships while at Ohio State. His career in the NFL was cut short due to a knee injury in 1980, but he was still able to record 37 interceptions and 736 interception yards.
Tatum was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004. He died in 2010 at the age of 61 due to heart-related issues. He will always be remembered for his hard-hitting style of play.
Personal Information of Jack Tatum
| Real Name/Full Name | John David Tatum |
| Age | 61 years old |
| Birth Date | Nov 18, 1948 |
| Birth Place | Cherryville, North Carolina |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 5′ 10″ |
| Marital Status | Married to Denise Tatum |
| Wife/Spouse (Name) | Denise Tatum |
| Profession | American football player |
| Net Worth | $1.6 Million |
Stats
| season | Team |
|---|---|
| 2017-18 | BOS |
| 2018-19 | BOS |
| 2019-20 | BOS |
| 2020-21 | BOS |
| 2021-22 | BOS |
| 2022-23 | BOS |
| 2023-24 | BOS |
| Career |
| GP | GS | MIN | FG | FG% | 3PT | 3P% | FT | FT% | OR | DR | REB | AST | BLK | STL | PF | TO | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80 | 80 | 30.5 | 5.0-10.4 | 47.5 | 1.3-3.0 | 43.4 | 2.7-3.2 | 82.6 | 0.6 | 4.4 | 5.0 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 13.9 |
| 79 | 79 | 31.1 | 5.9-13.1 | 45.0 | 1.5-3.9 | 37.3 | 2.5-2.9 | 85.5 | 0.9 | 5.2 | 6.0 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 15.7 |
| 66 | 66 | 34.3 | 8.4-18.6 | 45.0 | 2.9-7.1 | 40.3 | 3.8-4.7 | 81.2 | 1.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 3.0 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 23.4 |
| 64 | 64 | 35.8 | 9.5-20.6 | 45.9 | 2.9-7.6 | 38.6 | 4.6-5.3 | 86.8 | 0.8 | 6.6 | 7.4 | 4.3 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 1.9 | 2.7 | 26.4 |
| 76 | 76 | 35.9 | 9.3-20.6 | 45.3 | 3.0-8.6 | 35.3 | 5.3-6.2 | 85.3 | 1.1 | 6.9 | 8.0 | 4.4 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 2.3 | 2.9 | 26.9 |
| 74 | 74 | 36.9 | 9.8-21.1 | 46.6 | 3.2-9.3 | 35.0 | 7.2-8.4 | 85.4 | 1.1 | 7.7 | 8.8 | 4.6 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 2.9 | 30.1 |
| 74 | 74 | 35.7 | 9.1-19.3 | 47.1 | 3.1-8.2 | 37.6 | 5.6-6.7 | 83.3 | 0.9 | 7.2 | 8.1 | 4.9 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 26.9 |
| 513 | 513 | 34.2 | 8.0-17.5 | 46.0 | 2.5-6.7 | 37.5 | 4.5-5.3 | 84.4 | 0.9 | 6.2 | 7.2 | 3.5 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 23.1 |
| season | Team |
|---|---|
| 2017-18 | BOS |
| 2018-19 | BOS |
| 2019-20 | BOS |
| 2020-21 | BOS |
| 2021-22 | BOS |
| 2022-23 | BOS |
| 2023-24 | BOS |
| Career |
| FG | FG% | 3PT | 3P% | FT | FT% | OR | DR | REB | AST | BLK | STL | PF | TO | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 397-835 | 47.5 | 105-242 | 43.4 | 213-258 | 82.6 | 50 | 352 | 402 | 128 | 58 | 83 | 170 | 114 | 1112 |
| 466-1036 | 45.0 | 116-311 | 37.3 | 195-228 | 85.5 | 70 | 407 | 477 | 168 | 57 | 84 | 168 | 122 | 1243 |
| 552-1226 | 45.0 | 189-469 | 40.3 | 254-313 | 81.2 | 64 | 396 | 460 | 200 | 57 | 93 | 136 | 155 | 1547 |
| 605-1318 | 45.9 | 187-485 | 38.6 | 295-340 | 86.8 | 50 | 422 | 472 | 276 | 31 | 75 | 122 | 171 | 1692 |
| 708-1564 | 45.3 | 230-651 | 35.3 | 400-469 | 85.3 | 85 | 524 | 609 | 334 | 49 | 75 | 174 | 217 | 2046 |
| 727-1559 | 46.6 | 240-686 | 35.0 | 531-622 | 85.4 | 78 | 571 | 649 | 342 | 51 | 78 | 160 | 213 | 2225 |
| 672-1426 | 47.1 | 229-609 | 37.6 | 414-497 | 83.3 | 67 | 534 | 601 | 364 | 43 | 75 | 145 | 188 | 1987 |
| 4127-8964 | 46.0 | 1296-3453 | 37.5 | 2302-2727 | 84.4 | 464 | 3206 | 3670 | 1812 | 346 | 563 | 1075 | 1180 | 11852 |
| season | Team |
|---|---|
| 2017-18 | BOS |
| 2018-19 | BOS |
| 2019-20 | BOS |
| 2020-21 | BOS |
| 2021-22 | BOS |
| 2022-23 | BOS |
| 2023-24 | BOS |
| Career |
| DD2 | TD3 | DQ | EJECT | TECH | FLAG | AST/TO | STL/TO | SC-EFF | SH-EFF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 1.332 | 0.54 |
| 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 1.200 | 0.51 |
| 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 1.262 | 0.53 |
| 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 1.284 | 0.53 |
| 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 1.308 | 0.53 |
| 31 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 1.427 | 0.54 |
| 25 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 1.393 | 0.55 |
| 115 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 52 | 4 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 1.322 | 0.53 |
Early life
Jack Tatum was born in Cherryville, North Carolina in the 1930s and moved to Passaic, New Jersey as a young child. Tatum had no interest in playing sports until he entered his sophomore year at Passaic High School.
After joining the team, he quickly proved himself to be a star athlete, playing as a running back, fullback, and defensive back. In his senior year, Tatum was selected as a high school All-American and was also named one of the top ten defensive players of the century by the Newark Star-Ledger.
Tatum’s prowess on the field in his early years was undeniable, which eventually earned him a spot on the Ohio State University football team.
As a Buckeye, he was an All-American safety in 1969 and 1970, and led the team to the Rose Bowl in 1969. He also received the Jim Thorpe award for the nation’s best defensive back in 1970. Jack Tatum’s successful college career set him up for a successful professional career.
After being drafted in the first round of the 1971 NFL draft, Tatum went on to play nine seasons with the Oakland Raiders, earning two Pro Bowl selections in his career.
During this time, he was nicknamed “the Assassin” by his teammates due to his fierce tackling and intimidating presence on the field. Tatum’s career ended in 1979, and in 1991 he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Throughout his life, Tatum was known for his hard-nosed attitude and passion for the game. He was an inspiration to many, and his legacy lives on to this day.
College career
Jack Tatum had an impressive college career that began when he was recruited by Ohio State University Buckeyes head coach Woody Hayes to play running back. But assistant coach Lou Holtz had a different idea and persuaded Hayes to switch Tatum to defensive back during his freshman season.
Tatum quickly proved himself as a valuable asset on the team, often being used to cover the opposing team’s best wide receiver. His seemingly innate ability to bring down even the biggest fullback or tight end also enabled him to be used as a linebacker as well.
Tatum’s impressive play was first noticed by college football spectators during his sophomore year when he helped limit All-American Leroy Keyes during a 13–0 upset against the Purdue Boilermakers.
He continued to shine during his college career, being named an All-American in 1969 and 1970 and receiving the Maxwell Award as the nation’s best college football player in 1970.
Tatum was also named an Academic All-American that same year. By the time he finished his college career, Tatum had left an indelible mark on Ohio State football. He was inducted into the Ohio State Football Hall of Fame in 1983, and his number 42 jersey was retired in 2001.
His name still lives on today in the form of the annual Jack Tatum Hit of the Year Award, which is given to the player who makes the most bone-jarring hit of the season.
NFL career
Jack Tatum, famously known as “The Assassin”, was a free safety in the NFL. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders as the 19th pick in the first round of the 1971 NFL Draft. Tatum signed a three-year, six-figure contract with a $50,000 signing bonus.
He immediately made an impact when he knocked out Colts tight ends John Mackey and Tom Mitchell in his first professional game. His hard-hitting skills made many compare him to Chicago Bears linebacker Dick Butkus.
He was the starting free safety in his rookie year. Throughout his nine seasons with the Oakland Raiders, Tatum was a part of a defense which allowed the fewest points in the NFL for three consecutive years, from 1973-1975.
He was selected for the Pro Bowl three times during this period, in 1974, 1975 and 1976. After the 1979 season, Tatum was traded to the Houston Oilers, where he played for one season before retiring. Tatum is considered one of the most feared defensive players in NFL history, due to his aggressive style of play.
He was the first player to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated and was also featured on the cover of Time Magazine. Throughout his career, Tatum intercepted 36 passes and recovered 15 fumbles.
He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004. Jack Tatum was an NFL great and he left an indelible mark on the game. His aggressive style of play, combined with his hard-hitting skills and defensive stability, made an impact that will never be forgotten.
Net Worth
Jack Tatum was a famous American football player who played as a safety for the Oakland Raiders and Houston Oilers in the National Football League (NFL) from 1971 to 1980. He was known for his hard-hitting style and earned the nickname “The Assassin”.
He was also a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and a three-time Pro Bowler. According to various sources, Jack Tatum had a net worth of around $1.6 million at the time of his death in 2010. He died of a heart attack at the age of 61 in Oakland, California.
Retirement
Jack Tatum retired from the NFL after the 1980 season with the Oilers. Though he was released by the team, Tatum had enjoyed a successful career as a defensive back and kick returner. Following retirement, Tatum stayed involved in the football world, working with the Raiders organization.
Leaving the NFL, Tatum made a career change and moved into the real-estate business. He became a land developer and part owner of a restaurant in Pittsburg, California.
Tatum also wrote three best-selling books during his retirement: They Call Me Assassin, They Still Call Me Assassin, and Final Confessions of NFL Assassin Jack Tatum.
Tatum also had a personal life outside of football. He married and had three children. His retirement was filled with success in business, writing and family. In short, Jack Tatum found success during his retirement from the NFL.
He worked with the Raiders organization, became a land developer, and part owner of a restaurant. Tatum also wrote three best-selling books and had a successful family life.
Health issues and death
Jack Tatum, a professional football player, was known for his successful career despite his diabetes and other medical issues. In 2003, all five toes on his left foot were amputated due to a staph infection caused by diabetes.
His diabetes eventually progressed to the point where he had to have his left leg below the knee amputated. He was also afflicted with an arterial blockage, resulting in the amputation of his right leg and the use of a prosthetic limb.
Tatum spent the latter part of his life raising awareness of diabetes, founding the Ohio-based Jack Tatum Fund for Youthful Diabetes to finance diabetes research.
His health, however, continued to decline even further in his later years. His kidneys began to fail and he was awaiting a kidney transplant at the time of his death.Jack Tatum’s health issues were severe and ultimately caused his death.
He had to have all five toes on his left foot, his left leg below the knee, and his right leg amputated due to diabetes, staph infection, and arterial blockage respectively. He created the Ohio-based Jack Tatum Fund for Youthful Diabetes, to finance diabetes research and raise awareness of the disease.
His kidneys eventually failed, and he was awaiting a kidney transplant at the time of his death. The football player’s health issues served as a reminder of the impact of diabetes, and the importance of raising awareness of the disease.
His legacy lives on through the work of the Ohio-based Jack Tatum Fund for Youthful Diabetes. Despite the severity of his health issues, Tatum continued to pursue his dreams and inspired others to do the same.
Did Tatum ever apologize to Stingley?
No, it appears that Jack Tatum never apologized to Darryl Stingley for the hit that paralyzed him in 1978. Tatum was known for being a hard-hitting safety in the NFL, but the hit on Stingley changed the course of both of their lives.
After the accident, Tatum never seemed to be the same player or person, according to comments from his former coach John Madden. Former teammates said he never played like “The Assassin” he became known as before the Stingley hit.
Tatum’s teammate, George Atkinson, said Tatum was “devastated” by the accident and had nightmares every night. Atkinson further said that Tatum felt guilty and blamed himself for the accident. He also said that Tatum was changed as a person, and was a much quieter and more introverted individual.
It is unknown why Tatum never apologized for the hit, however, it is possible that he felt too ashamed or guilty. Stingley himself said that he never expected an apology from Tatum and that he felt no anger towards him.
Tatum and Stingley were able to come to a place of understanding and forgiveness, however, it seems that Tatum was never able to apologize for the hit. While it is likely that Tatum wished he could take back the hit and change the course of history, it seems that he was never able to verbalize an apology to Stingley.
Why is Jack Tatum not in the Hall of Fame?
Jack Tatum is one of the greatest defensive players to ever play the game, but he is not in the Hall of Fame. Tatum was a three-time Pro Bowler, two-time All-Pro, and a Super Bowl champion. Despite his impressive accolades, Tatum’s enshrinement in the Hall of Fame has been kept at bay due to the nature of his hits.
The NFL has become increasingly stricter when it comes to player safety over the years, and the hits that once earned Tatum recognition are now deemed illegal and punishable. Tatum was known for his ferocious hits, and unfortunately, the NFL has decided that these types of hits have no place in their game.
Due to the physicality of his style of play, Tatum was oftentimes penalized for unnecessary roughness and fined for his hits. This has played a major role in his non-induction into the Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame has become more of a representation of sportsmanship, rather than aggressive play.
Tatum’s legacy is still recognized by those who witnessed him play, but he remains absent from the Hall of Fame. His impressive career, including his Super Bowl win, should have earned him a spot in the Hall of Fame, however his playing style has kept him out.
In conclusion, Jack Tatum is one of the greatest defensive players to ever play the game, however he is not in the Hall of Fame due to the nature of his hits. The NFL has become increasingly stricter when it comes to player safety, and the physicality of Tatum’s style of play is no longer allowed.
His impressive career should have earned him a spot in the Hall of Fame, but the rules of the game have kept him out.
Did Jack Tatum have diabetes?
Yes, Jack Tatum had diabetes. The former professional football player was diagnosed with the condition in recent years and as a result, he had to have his leg amputated.
Tatum had a long and successful career in the National Football League, playing 10 seasons and winning a Super Bowl ring with the Oakland Raiders in 1977.
His intense playing style was a large part of the Raiders’ ‘outlaw image’ and earned him the nickname ‘The Assassin’. Tatum was diagnosed with diabetes sometime prior to his retirement from the NFL and it took a toll on his health.
He was forced to have his leg amputated due to complications from the disease, which restricted his mobility and led to a decrease in his quality of life. Despite the difficult challenges he faced, Tatum remained determined to make the best of his situation.
He actively sought out ways to stay active and stay involved with the sport he loved. He even wrote a book about his experiences and insights on the game of football. Jack Tatum was a beloved figure among football fans and his legacy will live on long after his passing.
He was an inspiration to many and a reminder that even when faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles, it is possible to persevere. Despite his diabetes, he managed to lead a full and successful life, achieving great things in the NFL.
While his diabetes was a difficult burden to bear, it ultimately did not stop him from achieving his goals.
To Recap
Jack Tatum was a legendary free safety who played in the NFL from 1971-1980. He was born in Cherryville, North Carolina and attended Ohio State University, where he won two National Championships in 1968 and 1970.
In 1971, he was drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders. During his career with the Raiders, Tatum earned 3 Pro Bowl nods and was named a Second-Team All-Pro twice. He also won a Super Bowl with the Raiders in 1981.
In 1980, he joined the Houston Oilers before retiring. His career stats include 37 interceptions, 736 interception yards and one touchdown. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
Jack Tatum was a mainstay of the Raiders defense for nine years. He was a fierce competitor and one of the greatest free safeties of all time. He will always be remembered for his outstanding play on the field and his contribution to the Raiders’ success.
