The Spectacle Blog
R.I.P., Jack Tatum
He passed away today at age 61.
He passed away today at age 61. NFL.com got it wrong when they rated him only the 6th-most feared tackler of all time.
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http://spectator.org/blog/2010/07/27/rip-jack-tatum
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Mel| 7.27.10 @ 9:21PM
Tatum was one of those Oakland players who better belonged in jail. Should have been booted out of the league.
J| 7.27.10 @ 10:14PM
No one ever said you had to apologize for the hit on Stingley but at least show the man you felt bad for paralyzing him. Then to top it off you try to make money off of Stingley for your book? Piece of garbage.
pug| 10.25.10 @ 8:21PM
he did feel bad
tonypal| 7.28.10 @ 8:36AM
I'll never forget reading about how John Madden, the Raider's coach at the time of the Darryl Stingley incident, became deeply involved in Stingley's life. Madden and his wife were regular visitors in the hospital and they remained close with Stingley until his death a few years back.
Tatum, on the other hand, never visited Stingley and as previously noted only seemed interested in Stingley when Tatum released his autobiography. Tatum may have been a great football player, but he was a rotten human being. I have sympathy for his family, but this guy will not be missed.
unknown| 10.25.10 @ 8:16PM
He didn't visit him because he was ashamed of what he did to him. if you hurt a person this serious would you visit them and soak in the thing you have done i know i wouldn't want to. I m reading his book. he never did anything wrong while playing the game he loved to play so very much. He never cheap shotted while playing and he shouldn't be blamed for being a dirty player. hes my idol for football and i know ill miss him
Derek Leaberry| 7.28.10 @ 9:33AM
Jack Tatum was the first modern football player in atttiude- thuggish, violent and ungentlemanly. What the NFL is today is what Tatum pointed towards forty years ago.
Brian B| 7.28.10 @ 12:06PM
First, Tatum claimed he had attempted to visit Stingley in the hospital but Stingley's famly turned him away. Friends of Tatum say he was never the same after the incident, so he was evidently not some heartless thug.
Second, the hit on Stingley was not a cheapshot nor a late hit; it was a very unfortunate accident.
Third, Tatum did not specialize in late or improper hits. He almost never used his hands or arms to commit penalties like his actual cheap shot teammate George Atkinson frequently did.
He seldom taunted his opponents after a hit; I can't remember him ever doing it though it would hardly be unusual if he did.
He hit very hard which is what he was paid to do.
tonypal| 7.28.10 @ 1:34PM
I have to disagree with your first statement. The story about Madden and his relationship to Stingley was in Sports Illustrated back in the 80's. I do not recall reading anything about Tatum being turned away. However, I do recall Madden being unable to explain why Tatum never visited Stingley.
Even if he was turned away, time should have allowed the Stingley family's anger at Tatum to subside, especially since it wasn't a cheap shot. You may have an initial emotional response, as may have been the case with the Stingleys. However, once you realize there was no ill intent, you let the anger and emotion go. Sadly, it doesn't seem that Tatum ever made much of an effort at all to visit Stingley.
WJ| 7.28.10 @ 1:08PM
Sorry about Stingley. That does not change the fact that Tatum was a heckuva football player, and hit players legally for his era.
He hit people hard. It's professional football, for goodness sakes.
Agree with Brian B.
BJ| 7.28.10 @ 1:18PM
This thug permanently disabled Stingley in a preseason game, hitting Stingley when he wasn't looking on a play in which Stingley wasn't the primary receiver. He deserves absolutely NO pity whatsoever.
walk the plank| 7.28.10 @ 3:50PM
jack tatum was piece of shit ! His hit on Stingley was unnecessary on a meaningless game ... He was just another turd and thug - like most of raider players. like jamarcuss russell/. tatum ! rot in hell !!!!!!!!
Walk the plank is dumb!!!!| 10.25.10 @ 8:20PM
your gay it was a clean hit. do you think he went out there thinking im gonna paralyze Darryl stingley. hes not a thug he is playing the game maybe if it was a cheap shot but it wasn't. and he felt very bad for what he did. Walk The Plank should get to know football. I know i will miss Jack Tatum