John Matuszak on Letterman, October 12, 1982

[@theresenydahl9531]

Gigantic. To believe he was only 32 years old here and that he died only 6 years later😢

[@matthewestrada5217]

Straight up

[@MrBastilleDay]

Depressing af.

[@PoppysGuitar]

Cocaine is a hell of a drug.

[@shrapnel77]

He does not look 32. More like 45, although beards make you look older.

[@lukaszsikora849]

Owergroved from hgh head hands feet you can see this

[@MNDHFilms]

He played Sloth in the Goonies and I can here the Sloth chuckle when he laughs. Such a giant of a man who played a memorable character

[@spike16965]

Same

[@DoJ79]

Had character as well. 1984, Raiders in LA (awesome!). I worked @ big Kaiser hospital in LA. He was visiting patients. Watching him, how gentle he was, making them smile, some even laughing. Deep respect🥹🏈.

[@stephengiese7549]

Never heard him like this before. Big, muscular, funny and soft spoken. He barely fits the chair. Was great in north Dallas forty.

[@ThunderPants13]

He's very soft spoken. A gentle giant.

[@mikewallace8087]

Ha ha , Football the most violent team sport on Earth . Sometimes their propensity for violence spills into civilian life.

[@PoppysGuitar]

Not really gentle.

[@al6347]

Except on the football field. RN4L

[@JayDogTitan-he6wo]

One of the strongest men to ever step on a football field, A great Raider, The Tooz was awesome.

[@ryn1986]

Don't forget his significant role in The Goonies. The man was a legend!

[@jimmysapien9961]

And was great in the Goonies

[@MegaSammy70]

Not bad considering Kenny Stabler said in his book that the Tooz hardly ever worked out with weights.

[@matthewestrada5217]

@@MegaSammy70 the tooz just didn't give a fuck Oaktown baby.

[@pulsarlights2825]

Source? How do you know how strong he was?

[@Bertiesghost]

Shame he died young he seemed like a sharp guy he would of had a long career in movies maybe even doing serious roles. He passed on my 7th birthday. Thanks for uploading Don.

[@RomanBarba-v8v]

John Matuszak one of the greatest Raiders ever. The Raiders had so many greatest players ever in the N.F.L.

[@josefcosta8267]

DL looked like a dwarf sitting next to the TOOZ...loved that guy...perfect Raider!!

[@kevinkhoy7171]

🏴‍☠️💪🏻🏈👍🏻

[@j.scottevans3280]

He knocked me out playing FB my freshman year at Northern Iowa. He played for Fort Dodge Community College.

[@shessoheavy6130]

Right on right on.

[@toastedgoast508]

I would only tell this story to everyone I meet lol

[@brucephoenix3989]

J. Scott Evans Badge of honor! Used to play some pickup football with Chuck Connor’s son(s). They were as big as him! ⚔️🏈

[@pontiacGXPfan]

You knew Matuszak before the NFL?

[@billbergendahl2629]

I saw Northern Iowa in person when they played Marshall in a Division 1-AA playoff game in 1996. Randy Moss was playing for Marshall then. The game was played in Huntington, West Virginia.

[@rhythmsaint73]

Such a nice guy . So sad he died so young

[@roberttrevino2861]

My man, Tooz. My favorite Raider ever. Growing up, I named my dog Tooz. A wild and crazy man both on and off the field. But on the occasions I had a chance to meet him, he was also one of the nicest guys. I have met a lot of world-class athletes throughout my life, and Tooz was one of the best. One time at the team hotel before a game in San Diego, I asked if I could take a picture with him. When we were done, I thanked him. He smiled, looked at me, and said, "Thank YOU." Over the years I lost that pic, but you could see that he had his hand high on his hip - comparing the size of his hand and my face...he could have smothered my entire head with his hand! Awesome dude.

[@pulsarlights2825]

What about Sistrunk, University of Mars?

[@davanmani556]

Christine McVie said about Dennis Wilson of having a split personality of man and boy. I think this was the case.

[@richardfeltssr649]

Cruise with the Tooz! Badass!

[@garyroberts3020]

Love the Tooz.. first saw him in North Dallas forty.. Damn looks huge.. Rest in peace big boy..

[@pammelabishop939]

My family had season tickets to the Raiders all through the 70s, so we got to watch some hard core down and dirty football! We really loved our Oakland Raiders and were so proud of them, diehard fans through and through. Then they moved. End of an era. Broke my heart

[@deputay]

Man, the Tooz was a big dude! But in all his interviews I've seen, seemed like a good guy

[@mikeplaskon3679]

Tooz was Big Big dude, sad to have lost a True genuine American

[@adamant3844]

Can't believe it's been almost 30 years since he passed. Where does the time go?

[@yourroyalhighness7662]

Super Bowl XI Raiders defense featured 6’8” Matuszak, 6’7” Dave Rowe and 6’7” Ted Hendricks. Coming off the bench was the brobdingnagian rookie, 6’9” Charles Philyaw. What a towering group!

[@pulsarlights2825]

Philyaw was an NFL bust

[@gdr205]

@@pulsarlights2825 Was he the dumb black guy...

[@pulsarlights2825]

@@gdr205 Well, idk but I wouldn't bet his IQ was 150

[@gdr205]

@@pulsarlights2825 I ask that because when I read...They call me assassin..Jack tatumn book..He was told to see the Dr..But instead of going to see the Dr he went to Dr death Skip Thomas which used to piss off Skip... I always remember thinking this guy ain't too Bright.

[@pulsarlights2825]

@@gdr205 I heard the one where Philyaw thought Mark Van Eegan's first name was Van, and he wanted his first name on his jersey too....

[@ditzygypsy]

I stood next to him in the elevator in our hotel in Mexico City when I was 14 in the spring of 1980. They were filming Cave Man, and we were on one of our many family travelling adventures. My shoulder came up to his waist. With heels on. I managed to get brave enough to look up and he looked down and smiled. My uncle, who was 6’3”, was on the other side of me and suddenly he looked small 😂. I was a teenage Canadian girl, so I didn’t know who he was until my uncle and I walked out of the elevator and he told me. And then, the next day…….we bumped into Ringo!

[@markboyd1696]

Tooz...what a great, honest, intelligent interview.

[@Ghost2thapost]

Raider legend Rest In Peace tooz

[@barbaraadams8347]

I never realized that John was so handsome. I just admired his as one tough football player.

[@laurieg.3016]

I was thinking the same thing! I was really young then, but "hello"! I didn't realize he was so young when he died. Only 38. 🙁

[@riched283]

It's guys like Tooz that made the Raiders what they were in those days. They were tough, crazy, did things their own way but above all, they won & they won a lot!

[@pulsarlights2825]

Tooz "caused" the Raiders the 1977 AFC Championship. He was hung over in Denver and the Broncos ran over him in the 4th quarter. Hung over at 5000 feet is not the best way to win the AFC....lol

[@JesseBookout]

So soft spoken to be big and mean as he was on the field

[@ericwyatt3646]

He was a very nice man. Met him at a Christmas tree lighting at Jack London Square in Oakland, he was cool.

[@paullentz8337]

While attending college in Tampa, I dated John Matuszak (casually, we were more friends than lovers). We were an odd couple (me at 5'1" and John at 6'8") and he certainly had taller (and more attractive) girlfriends than I. With me, he was always very gentle and sweet, although there were always incidents when we went out that some fellow(s) would act in challenging ways toward him. Let's just say he shut them down, and I always felt more than safe with him. He was a good young man, and I believe he became a good adult, albeit seduced by drugs and alcohol to his detriment. He could certainly be fierce, in person as well as (obviously) on the football field. His death hit me hard (we had stayed in touch over the years). I still grieve for him after more than 30 years...for the sweet young man, for the continual and faithful friend, for his unfulfilled potential, for his weaknesses that killed him. Bottom line is that John Matuszak was a flawed man, but a solid and good person who had so much more to give to the world.

[@tomogorman4125]

Thank you for your comment. Very kind and honest assessment. If Tooz read it, I think would feel the same. As a kid I remember hearing "You cruz with the Tooz you never lose"....

[@counterpuncher01]

We miss him. What a character...the world was better place with such an entertainer. He could conquered Hollywood for decades. Sorry for your loss.

[@gdr205]

Cool story loved the Tooz on the field and in movies...My stepdad is from Tampa and his younger brother used to hang w him. His younger brother died Young too.

[@michaeltimothy70]

As a kid I met him at a football camp. He was awesome. My Dad was only 5’8 and he stood behind big John with his arms spread wide. You could only see my dads hands. What a great guy

[@greasyflight6609]

I remember watching him...he was a force

[@rockyrocamontes8972]

John Matuszak was always one of my favorite celebrities.

[@TheTooz72]

This was so great. I never knew The Tooz was ever on Letterman ... thanks for posting.

[@14DaveHunter]

Wish someone would post a video of he and Lyle Alzedo together.

[@michaelpalmisano2091]

Him and lyle alzado would be a nightmare.

[@thecarguy7238]

He played a great character role on Hunter as a killer in episode, Death Machine. Loved John.

[@raiderrodavis6357]

This was good, I wish that interview of him before Super Bowl XV was available

[@johnnybravo1196]

RIP Sloth

[@elibutton]

what a beast! loved him in North Dallas 40

[@TexasWildheartsFan]

'should have won an Oscar for his "Every time I call it a game, you call it a business, and every time I call it business, you call it a game!" scene in NORTH DALLAS FORTY

[@mickkimmings6186]

A hansom well spoken gentleman...... and a beast

[@gordonhall9871]

41 years ago -- i remember North Dallas Forty

[@omni-man4624]

Imo the best football Movie ever!

[@yourroyalhighness7662]

When John was young (I think in High School) he played on a team with a young man named Dick Slater. Years later, as “Dirty” Dick Slater, the teammate would become a famous professional wrestler. He was very prominent throughout Florida and had bouts against fellows like Dusty Rhodes, Jack Briscoe, Wahoo McDaniel (who also was a pro football player) and others. Somewhere along the way, Matuszak and the 6’2”, approximately 215 lb Slater got into a scrap and Slater got the best of the 6’8” giant. I don’t mention this to be critical of John. I loved the Tooz and loved him even more as a Raider. He helped them win their first two Super Bowls, XI and XV.

[@decadantdog4444]

Wahoo played for the Jets. He was there when Namath joined the team.

[@22Bodhi]

Damn ,Tamp U fed out some serious bad ass talent back in the 70’s. Bunch of true tough guy wrestlers + The Tooz!

[@Danimal77]

Big dude all the way (6'7"-6'8" and 282 pounds). He didn't live much longer after this. He died in June of 1989.

[@lemmythebulldog8812]

Even sadder he just started going sober

[@grantclark1806]

Qqq2

[@spike16965]

Wow

[@sam4soph1]

Wow, what a great interview.

[@bahgawd8158]

His voice is soothing lol

[@EarlSkakel]

I was a private trainer at a gym in West LA around the time he passed and his girlfriend at the time worked out there and she knew I was a fan of his and would always tell me how nice he was but just had so many demons. There is a pharmacy in Sherman Oaks that has his picture up(I think he used to go there)and I’ve tried forever to buy it from them but so far no go! RIP #72

[@putinscat1208]

I love him in Caveman and The Goonies.

[@hugostiglitz8465]

" Lana, Zug, zug" ...lol

[@AK-xg2yf]

Luv him!

[@brucephoenix3989]

A K Yup! They should show this to the current Raiders, as in grow a pair! ⚔️☠️

[@MichaelJohn-dw6dl]

His voice

[@williamsmith8790]

The Tooz! He was a force of nature! Loved him in Ice Pirates.

[@larry6795]

Matuszak was always a joy to watch play football, he also did a great job in “Caveman”

[@charleswinokoor6023]

Comes across as a thoughtful guy with a dry sense of humor. “She actually tried to run you down with her car?” “Yes, once or twice.” Letterman does a great job here getting him to loosen up having a good time. “Two or three young ladies.” “Over the course of a year, year and a half?” “A hero sandwich.”

[@dennissaunders5247]

R.I.P THE TOOZ #72. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. RAIDER NATION BABY.

[@Winnie122459]

Great player and nice guy!

[@yankee2666]

Tooz was a terrific guy. We belonged to the same health club. ...Played him one-on-one in basketball once. I'm a hair over 5'6". ...Enough said.

[@dallasbrubaker6054]

and you dribbled past him a lot?

[@rickyhilder1514]

My dad was a ball boy for the Raiders and was good friends with the Tooz they even have the same birthday October 25

[@murdermuseum8280]

Legend has it he loved Baby Ruth candy bars.

[@jimmysapien9961]

Haaaaaaaaaa

[@erikj.2066]

And rocky road ice cream.

[@callumjames84]

HEY YOU GUYS!

[@JeffGR4]

John Matuszak = Super-coolest toughest man around!

[@daudder]

a very chsrming man. And a truly great Raider.

[@nymike06]

Tooz was oen big guy! What a wonderful player and personality!

[@rockinredneck57]

I wish pro athletes looked and sounded this good today. Very well put together, made Dave look like a 2nd rate funeral director. Soft spoken but well spoken. Just too many damn demons to get rid of. Definitely a gentle giant off the field.

[@metalinl-a1128]

This guy was 100% human with human problems like everyone. He was always "on" they said.

[@yankee2666]

No, not 'like everyone. His problems were massive and self imposed.

[@quiahjohnson5871]

I just realized how huge he was when he sat on that chair.

[@yourroyalhighness7662]

Letterman is 6’2” and yet he looks tiny next to the bearded, brobdingnagian behemoth. Yes, that is redundant but I thought it sounded cool.

[@laurieg.3016]

The chairs come up to his knees!

[@rshelley7496]

The Tooz was The Raiders personified..as were alot of their players from that era

[@NJGuy1973]

Lyle Alzado, Ted Hendricks, Otis Sistrunk, George Atkinson, Jack Tatum, they were badasses.

[@jeremiahrose4681]

Loved the movie Caveman as a kid, haven't seen it in years.

[@rampageclover9788]

A gentle giant

[@operasinger2126]

Perhaps if John were still alive today, he might have gone into politics. He seemed passionate about his convictions.

[@michaeledwards2253]

Mountain of a man. His hands are enormous.

[@CarlitosBoss1]

RIP brother

[@leroystover1062]

Big JOHN BIG BAD JOHN MATUSZAK RIP😊

[@FDL-ly6jn]

A very nice and kind guy. Handsome and reference in bear world 🐻❤ #johnmatuszack #sloth #thegoonies #forever

[@rebellady04]

Gosh DAM what a man what a man 😍😍😍😍

[@jackjax532]

Once a Raider always.

[@brucephoenix3989]

Remember that SB-think it was him and Ted Hendricks tearing up Bourbon St. Can you imagine?! ☠️⚔️☠️

[@pulsarlights2825]

Number 1 Draft pick 1973 by the Houston Oilers....

[@NJGuy1973]

That draft was one of the deepest ever. I think about 20 Pro Bowlers were picked.

[@tomloft2000]

To you it's just a business, to us it's a game.

[@tedkier3264]

What a huge man Tooz was.

[@Wildkat-1]

6' 8" ..280 lbs ...his playing size...!

[@BreannaMae]

Amazing to think that he played Sloth in The Goonies!

[@SERECOURSE]

Unfortunately he killed himself with the addiction to prescription drugs. He was a talented and natural athlete. I had the pleasure to know his college quarterback teammate, Freddie Solomon, who was also an outstanding athlete for the 49ers. A lot of these famous people have underlying problems which eventually catch up to them in the end. The Raiders have always been my favorite team since I was a kid growing up in California. They have had some great players, and John was one of them.

[@susanp7251]

He did not kill himself. It was an accidental overdose from Darvocet which they took of the market because it was causing heart attacks.

[@NocturnaPhelps]

This is two months before he was featured in December's issue of PlayGirl. Pretty damn impressive if I do say so myself! Lol.

[@gwmgbwi]

“Good heavens!” What else could you say? That man’s a mountain.

[@jeffeverett274]

The tooz is missed. 🙏

[@lemmythebulldog8812]

Hey You Guuuuyyyyyyyysssss!!!!

[@twomindz79]

Hey you guys!

[@racehines1438]

John was a true Wildman. It's funny to see him so soft spoken in this interview. I wish he let loose with Dave.

[@pontiacGXPfan]

He looks like Ted DiBiase doing a Million Dollar Man promo

[@thomasblackwell462]

Million Dollar Man vs Big Boss Man summer of 1990 at the Rosemont Horizon. I asked Virgil where he got his head. He stared at me and shook his finger. Ultimate Warrior wrestled that night too.

[@Lt_Col.Henry_Blake]

Now, Letterman is NOT a small man. I think he stands 6'3" or so, but he literally looks like a pre-teen sitting next to his dad during this interview

[@putinscat1208]

He could play Chewbacca's beefy brother.

[@yourroyalhighness7662]

Richard Garriga: Matuszak and Dick Slater played on the same football team (if memory serves) and one time they did get into a skirmish and from what I heard Slater did indeed get the better of it. “Dirty” Dick Slater went on to have a fine pro wrestling career. He was big at the same time as other young talent such as Jack Briscoe, Dory Funk, Jr. and Dusty Rhodes. He excelled at playing the bad guy and also had excellent mic skills.

[@AdamSmith-km1fn]

Read the book "The Snake" by Kenny Stabler. He said the Tooz lived on Dr. Pepper and pork rindes.

[@scottrackley4457]

"against my nature" love you Tooz

[@leroystover1062]

Tooz forever Raidaz RIP

[@patrickstogsdill74]

He wa son same time with Lyle Alzado? Looks kind of like him

[@DKoolbj7dl]

Intelligent man, great speaker. Very 😎

[@liberalmadness7248]

Reminds me of dr. D david Schultz the wrestler!

[@jeremiahrose4681]

The tooz!

[@bcherbs]

Hey YOU GUYS !!!!!!!!!

[@joshuafresch2387]

What would he would think about the move to LV?

[@pshawhudson]

He was the monster in the movie goonies

[@KingsFanForever]

Everyday was Toozday! :)

[@gordondurr1226]

I always liked John

[@jasonjohnson8886]

He's a f'n giant