Hard-hitting former Raider Jack Tatum dies at 61

Jack Tatum, the storied Oakland Raiders basic safety very best acknowledged for landing the arrive at that paralyzed New England receiver Darryl Stingley, has died. He was 61.

Tatum, between probably the most feared and respected NFL players of his era, died of the heart attack Tuesday morning within an Oakland hospital. He had been waiting for any kidney transplant.

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

¡°As many major plays as Jack manufactured, it let you know this guy knew in which being when the chips had been down,¡± Atkinson explained. ¡°Guys didn¡¯t desire to arrive across the center simply because receiving attack by him was like obtaining hit by a truck. He was devastating with his timing and his angles of contact.¡±

Under no circumstances was that additional accurate than on Aug. 12, 1978, within an exhibition game against the Patriots, when Tatum attack Stingley on the pass more than the center. The collision severed Stingley¡¯s fourth and fifth vertebrae, leaving the receiver virtually entirely paralyzed through the neck down.

Outside of his close circle of pals, who swear he had an simple smile and infectious laugh, Tatum largely kept to himself in public settings, which only seemed to create him much more intimidating. John Madden, Tatum¡¯s past coach, said the Stingley strike impacted the Raiders star.