Pappy Frog
New Member
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)—Jack Tatum seemed proud of his nickname: “Assassin.”
The moniker stuck with the former Oakland Raiders safety even after his playing days—and it’s one that strikes an odd chord considering how Tatum is tied to one of the more tragic moments in the game’s history.
Tatum was one of the hardest hitters in the NFL, a Pro Bowler who intimidated opposing players with bone-jarring tackles that helped make his Raiders one of the toughest teams of its era.
He’s also a player who will always be remembered for a hard hit in a preseason game that left New England Patriots receiver Darryl Stingley paralyzed from the neck down.
Tatum died Tuesday at age 61 in an Oakland hospital. The cause was a massive heart attack, according to friend and former Ohio State teammate John Hicks. Tatum had battled diabetes and other health problems for years, Hicks said.
The collision with Stingley happened Aug. 12, 1978, at Oakland Coliseum.
The moniker stuck with the former Oakland Raiders safety even after his playing days—and it’s one that strikes an odd chord considering how Tatum is tied to one of the more tragic moments in the game’s history.
Tatum was one of the hardest hitters in the NFL, a Pro Bowler who intimidated opposing players with bone-jarring tackles that helped make his Raiders one of the toughest teams of its era.
He’s also a player who will always be remembered for a hard hit in a preseason game that left New England Patriots receiver Darryl Stingley paralyzed from the neck down.
Tatum died Tuesday at age 61 in an Oakland hospital. The cause was a massive heart attack, according to friend and former Ohio State teammate John Hicks. Tatum had battled diabetes and other health problems for years, Hicks said.
The collision with Stingley happened Aug. 12, 1978, at Oakland Coliseum.
