Tatum Stingley

[@shihanUKS]

I remember going to school the next day after Darryl was hit. We had a sub teacher for gym that day and for the next few weeks. We knew why our teacher wasn't there. No one said a word and none of us cut class out of respect for Dwayne Stingley , who was Darryl's brother and our gym teacher. When he returned, he went about his job upbeat and cheerful . He got on the teacher talent show and sang, "Im easy...easy like sunday morning". We knew why he sang that. There wasn't a dry eye in the house. He never brought it up about his brother and we never asked out of respect for his space. That was 1978.

[@freddavis6772]

@M Detlef They say it's a Small World. You guys went to school when Honor and Dignity went Hand in Glove. Nowadays a lot of Whimpy Kids.

[@judahsoremy9857]

@@freddavis6772 Wimpy and confused kids...

[@jamesoconnor3562]

Today's students would have had it blasting on their phones, and probably would have pictures posted everywhere. They likely would have zero respect for the teacher or his family.

[@shihanUKS]

@@JD-zd8tm National Honor Society . You were not permitted the luxury of cutting, hurt feelings, or tears. Again 1978.

[@shihanUKS]

@@JD-zd8tm OH... It was both. More like Cause and Effect. But here is why. First, note how the word "Society" was used, which titled the top nationally rated 63 out of an eleven hundred graduating class. The "You" was used as a plural subject as in more than one person. Greatness is a loose term and not many teachers could " translate" that INTO their students. Stingley could... especially on the football field where he coached defense. We were a product of his coaching where virtue always comes before competition translated into lifestyle. We could hit hard...but hit honest... followed by helping the player to his feet which wasn't emphasized until after the accident. Every time we rung a player's bell, we helped him up...as we helped up Darryl... in quiet dignity...to go on. We liked to think we did. A quality acknowledged by a moment of silence before every game that year. A quality rejected by Tatum. A quality embraced by the remainder of Mr. Stingley's life. Coach often yanked face guards and told us a "good job" was only excellence in a wheelchair. Perhaps the rest only kept that in mind. The 63... kept it in heart.

[@williamj1813]

The majority of those hits in the NFL today would have been a penalty. The NFL in the 1970s was brutal.

[@davidnetterwald1846]

The NFL was brutal in the 70's it was brutal to the point of being barbaric and Jack Tatum had the nastiest hits in NFL history. In today's NFL a player like Tatum wouldn't even be allowed on the field and every single one of those hits would be followed with fines and suspensions. It's amazing that not one of those hits in the 70's were considered excessive that's how much the game has changed since that time. Because now with all the rule changes in the league a player like Tatum would probably be not only fined and suspended but probably thrown out of the league. Those kinds of hits would not fly in this day and age.

[@dp233332]

@@davidnetterwald1846 idk man nighttrain lane was also pretty vicious...dont know if he ever made a tackle with contact below anyones shoulders

[@daviddaniels6473]

Football was a different game back then. All us kids grew up trying to hit like Tatum, Jones, Lambert, et al. AND we expected to get hit by guys trying to be those guys. It was tough, maybe even brutal, but we epected that. There were no trophies for 2nd place.

[@tracyisbest]

@@davidnetterwald1846 Think Vontaze Burfict today.

[@terryhamilton1196]

@@tracyisbest he's not even that dirty. His suspension last season was bullshit. I understand the *head* trauma. But as long is it's clean let them play. NFL is getting ridiculous. People just point to burfict because he play defense how it's supposed to be played and he leaves no remorse on the field. Ever heard the phrase "wreckless abandon"? It's used all the time on practice Fields across the country.

[@tobyjaffe270]

came here for Tatum, stayed for Bill Belichick actually saying more than three words.

[@davidforge151]

Bill Belichick learned that the media is not to be trusted.

[@SKOJCV]

David Forge Exactly- he hates them - gives them as little information as he possibly can while trying not to be an ass hole. Probably would have made one hell of a lawyer if he never was a coach.

[@cdf360]

Belichick will talk all day about 70s and 80s football if you let him. He’s very passionate about the history of the game

[@itisaporsche]

@@davidforge151 Plus, they media shit on him when he was at Cleveland. Revenge is a dish best served cold.

[@metalEric69]

Bellecheat is as much of a scumbag as Tatum was.

[@patrickcolon8809]

I read Darryl Stingley's auto-biography (Happy to Be Alive.) He stated that John Madden was crying his eyes out when he first went to visit Stingley in the hospital, and that he felt that what happened to him (Stingley) played a part in Madden's decision to retire from coaching after that season (Madden also had bleeding ulcers at that time.) Stingley also stated that Madden was the only person from the Raiders' organization that visited him in the hospital. Finally, Stingley said that Madden very likely saved his life, as he (Madden) noticed that something was wrong with his breathing tubes that even the nurses at the hospital did not see........Madden frantically waving his arms and calling the nurses over to observe something that apppeared to be wrong with those breathing tubes allowed them to relieve phlegm that was building up in his throat that he very well may have otherwise choked to death on.

[@lwmson]

It was also what prompted star Pats' TE Russ Francis to retire. Francis, who was Darryl's roommate, became disillusioned with the NFL because of the wanton violence that led to Stingley's injury as well as what he perceived was a reluctance of Pats org. to provide Stingley with needed health insurance in the wake of the tragedy. However, Francis did eventually return to the NFL.

[@davidlafleche1142]

Tatum would be proud of Myles Garrett.

[@dallasbrubaker6054]

@@davidlafleche1142 yep one asshole to another

[@mrgallagher7072]

BOO-HOO

[@patrickcolon8809]

@@mrgallagher7072 Same to you, you miserable creep.

[@hwyfan]

Raiders coach John Madden stepped up to the plate to help Darryl Stingley, going to visit him repeatedly in the hospital, even accompanying him into the operating room for a procedure. He also put up a room in his house for Stingley's wife to stay while Darryl was in the Oakland hospital. The Patriots organization did very little for their player. Madden had to call the team plane at the airport just before departure and demand that they send someone to visit their gravely injured player.

[@anthonyluisi7096]

Damn … respect for John Madden … no respect for the patriots here … damn sad

[@babarazamsucks]

No way. He did all that? Damn. Another reason why he’s so beloved.

[@RaiderRSupastar]

Some one from Patriots camp should have been there for Mr. Stingley that night. Thank the Lord for Mr. John Madden a good guy .

[@Brett733]

they did a special about Madden/Stingley tonight (thanksgiving) during the Niners/Seahawks halftime. I had to work so I missed it, now I am here. Madden was a class act.

[@meminustherandomgooglenumbers]

I heard the Pats didn’t know how badly he was hurt. Not that that exonerates them, because they should have asked. But the owner of the patriots in that era was a real jackwagon who could also have cost them a Super Bowl a couple years later by firing the coach with one game left in the season and a playoff berth clinched.

[@who_myoung]

They played like this back then.. hard hitting bone crushing pain. My cousin L.C. Greenwood played for the Steelers and he believed in crushing you till the game was over..

[@mister_oj_zen7345]

Lowering the boom the whole game, it's how us defensive player's played.

[@michaelreaper3580]

@@mister_oj_zen7345 Seriously? Bro said he's related to LC Greenwood and you respond with "us defensive players"? Respectfully, unless you were a member of the Steel Curtain then like the comment and move on. Now go look up LC Greenwood.

[@mister_oj_zen7345]

@@michaelreaper3580 brother man, I'm not here for no problems. I was talking about football defense indubitably, keep it groovy.

[@shamehairmetal]

Yep different era.

[@DLICIOUS42]

Wow. Thats awesome! L.C. Greenwood was a household name with the Steelers back in the day

[@robertcurrie8510]

I remember hearing from a friend how Tatum never went visit him the hospital. One guy did. John Madden.

[@Furry67]

I heard that same thing.

[@mick40jb]

Tatum tried to visit__The family wouldn't allow it.

[@bubsmeister]

Madden was a Sportsman....Tatum was a thug

[@billiam8270]

@@mick40jb That is true, but I cannot blame the family. Terrible incident, but Tatum was over the top violent.

[@gpipeline]

Mickey B That's a lie. No he didn't.

[@curtis6554]

tatum was a player who played with the intention to hurt people . the man was a head hunter period

[@tommackay7433]

I hope he rots in hell

[@richardwhiting1480]

Every time I think of what Jack Tatum did to Darryl Stingley, I get angry. Tatum should have been banned for life from the NFL.

[@RoyRamone955]

Richard Whiting was a legal hit for that time. Don’t hate the player, hate the game . Tatum was within the rules. It was an unfortunate accident

[@patrickq7489]

@@RoyRamone955 was not legal. Hit with the crown of the helmet has always been illegal. Always. I don't think the punch/forearm shiver to the face was ever legal either; but I'm not 100% sure on that.

[@GBrimstone]

@@patrickq7489 wrong... literally a new rule in this last decade where they started focusing on those hits more. Before, it was just tackling.

[@Miracle122485]

John Madden was the only person to visit Stingley in the hospital! How sad is that!? 😭

[@Romedanger]

The only Raider… he wasn’t on the Raiders but it’s still messed up. Different time I guess

[@sec9788]

@@RomedangerOnly Raider that had class.

[@gianlucad8003]

@@sec9788 Compared to you they all had tons of class.

[@JackTheripper911]

​@@gianlucad8003 lol yes, a comment on youtube *definitely* shows how much "class" one has You absolute clown 🤡

[@ggurks]

@@Romedanger not the only Raider but the only person. There was no one from the Patriots too. His own team was already on the charter plane ready to fly back when Madden called them and made them eventually go back to the hospital

[@marcotan2572]

The guy is just cold. Not a bit of remorse. To think that he did this in a pre season game says a lot about this guy’s character

[@harleylawdude]

It was a routine hit with a bad outcome

[@Benjimac379]

Football was different back in those days a lot of those hits that happened back then would be illegal now with fines, suspensions, and probation up the ass

[@Rugerous]

THIS WAS A PRE SEASON GAME!!!!!!

[@6400az]

It was'nt. Tatum WAS trying to hurt Stingley,,,guaranteed !@@harleylawdude

[@SamuelQuintero-z9g]

@@6400azRaider mentality. Be with it or get on with it.

[@claytron3000]

There are different levels of apologies, as Tatum said. He could’ve apologized for the injury itself, without apologizing for the way he played football. It seems like Tatum was just too proud of a man at the time to show any type of remorse, which sucks. Apologizing doesn’t automatically make you guilty, and anyone would’ve forgiven him for that, especially as it was a legal hit. Stingley died a quadriplegic (a year after this feature aired) and the best thing Tatum could say (even 30 years later) was “sorry, nothing personal” in a cold tone.

[@danmason6116]

His grandson plays at lsu now

[@itisaporsche]

Yes. You nailed it. He ego was too big. Especially since Darryl made it public that for closure, all he wanted was "I'm sorry" (it happened). In short, Tatum was a dick. I'd like to see him be a WR and get a taste of his own medicine. A person like him (strong body but fragile/weak soul) would go into the fetal position and cry.

[@CertifiedLeeHawkins]

Actually if you watch the interview, he did say "I"m sorry that it happened to Darryl," or something to that effect. It seems like people wanted him to say that he did the hit with the intention of putting Darryl in a wheelchair, and that doesn't seem to be the case. If he's guilty of anything, it's just a lack of social skills/grace. We don't know what kind of trauma he went through before hitting Stingley like that. Maybe going to visit Stingley and seeing him in that situation may have touched Tatum in way too tender of a place. RIP to both of them.

[@Marcuswelby-nx2te]

@@danmason6116 so

[@Unknown-bq9id]

Lawrence Taylor would have freaked out if he'd injured Stingley, IMO--look at his reaction to Joe Theismann's career-ending injury...

[@DavidBrown-jx3mq]

I watched the pre season game when Daryl was injured. I sensed that his injury was extremely serious as soon as the hit occurred. I stayed up all night waiting to get an injury report. Finally my greatest fears were realized. I will never forget that fateful night.

[@pharez8557]

He hit my uncle (Sammie White) knocked his helmet off. Unk didn’t drop the ball though 💯

[@oldmansilas559]

Fred White what did your uncle think of Jack?

[@pharez8557]

He say he wasn’t afraid of him. He knew he had to take the lick for team

[@mattjean2652]

People always talk of that hit. I'm more amazed about the catch. I was 9yrs old. Couldn't believe he caught it...

[@joemarchand8313]

If only McClanahan hadn't fumbled on the 1, late in the first quarter , after blocking Guy's first ever punt. That play changed the game completely. (45-year Vikes fan)

[@jarreauforney8107]

@@pharez8557 your uncle took that shit like a G

[@oldmansilas559]

Jack would’ve been playing for free in this day of NFL football. Due to all of the fines he’d incur.

[@oldmansilas559]

Zenon Antruzinon you don’t think players tried to get back at him then?

[@robertwolfe2971]

He lived off his bonuses.

[@Quadzilla99]

Spearing defenseless people and paralyzing them from the neck down deserves punishment

[@oldmansilas559]

@@Quadzilla99 Jack hit hard, yes. The Darryl Stingley hit was a freak accident. The Sammy White hit, in Super Bowl 11, was more vicious.

[@virtualwhispers]

I think that was down right cold-blooded for him not to contact Stingley after he hurt him so bad. Nobody was asking him to apologize for the way he played football - Stingley just wanted to see some remorse and caring from Tatum of the awful outcome of the hit. I could not be that cold and unfeeling knowing that I hurt someone so badly and changed their life in a horrific way.

[@GeorgiaKev]

I totally agree. Tatum showed was an uncaring asshole he was by never reaching out to Stingley.

[@aodili1]

I know nothing about Tatum but that info alone tells me a lot about Tatum’s upbringing. Someone had a cold hard father figure if he had one at all. Thats no personality trait you gotta be shown at a young age how to not care about human life.

[@aodili1]

Did some research. He grew up in a hard part of town and had to learn how to fight back at a young age, he learned at age 10 to hit before you get hit and that being the aggressor worked in his favor and that definitely characterized him forever.

[@sec9788]

@@aodili1So he grew up being a thug. Makes sense when all the highlights of him are him punching, clotheslining , late hitting and slapping dudes on the football field.

[@Calvin1985]

He tried to go apologize to Stingley at the hospital but Stingley’s family wouldn’t let him in.

[@georgfriedrichhandel4390]

Many fans today complain that the NFL has "too many" rules and that too many unfair penalties are called which interrupt the ebb and flow of the game. Maybe many of these penalties are unnecessary but IMO it's better to err on the side of caution to prevent another player from getting paralyzed.

[@danieldawkins7960]

Its easy to destroy a player THAT DOES NOT SEE YOU COMING. He was the hardest BLIND SIDE HITTER the league produced.

[@ANTHONY0808able]

Thug Tatum but also a pussy. Wouldn't last 5 minutes in a real hood, wanna be tough guy.

[@MG-ol8hs]

@@ANTHONY0808able you know im glad someone said this...he gives off an "ira hadley" from shawshank redemption vibe...a sadistic thug but would cry like a wimp if it ever came back on him.

[@rintin_ten88]

@@ANTHONY0808able LOL. Tatum my favorite player of all time.

[@Quadzilla99]

Exactly, everyone here acting like that play on a defenseless receiver was macho and not bitchmade

[@ElSantoLuchador]

He's one of the hardest hitters the league has ever produced period. He did not shy away from going head to head with anyone. Straight on. He was a vicious tackler, not just a hit man. Although he was also a hitman. If you watch much of the footage you'd swear he was a linebacker, a position he often played at Ohio State. At safety he's Dick Butkus with momentum.

[@martinkurtz9269]

John Madden once said of Jack Tatum that the reason why the Raiders drafted him is because he HIT HARD. Al Davis himself loved players like him because he was feared!!

[@6400az]

Unfortunately he couldn't cover. Mind you, the Immaculate Reception is all on him BECAUSE of this inablity.

[@mr.brenman2132]

​@@6400az No it's not. It was an immaculate reception.

[@joncheskin]

Tatum's honesty is both disturbing and refreshing. The fact is that the big hit is a viable weapon in his position and it is done all the time in professional football. The problem is sometimes people get badly hurt.

[@robertjones1543]

That kind of hit is a penalty in football now

[@F40PH-2CAT]

I think the fact it was a preseason game made it all the more worse. Pete Rose never lived down hurting Ray Fosse in a meaningless All Star game, and that was no where near as serious.

[@p.j._staten]

That's football

[@andrewjc23]

playing a tough game you dont want to mame a fellow competitor . i played rugby league you run the ball as well as tackle . you dont want to end someones career there trying to make a living as well . A DOG COWARD ACT

[@sportsmediaamerica]

In which case, the problem is the game. Look at all the money-grubbers have done to protect the game. And even with the focus on minimizing injuries, it is still pretty brutal. If another Stingley happens, then what?

[@MichaelMosesHammer]

There have always been bullies, on and off of playing fields. This will never change. Play hard, and clean is one thing. Going for the cheap shot, trying to injure someone is another thing. It's wrong.

[@dp233332]

Michael Hammer i wont say you're wrong, but people who expect football to be a game of honor are being fools...its not like basketball where you try to cut off your man with your feet and block his path, steal the ball, or swat a shot cleanly but inadvertently/accidentally make contact with their hand arm or body and get called for fouls unintentionally...the overwhelming majority of penalties in football are deliberate attempts to cheat(off holding, def holding OPI, IC, some forms of def pass interference, and int grounding are all attempts to cheat) and the sport has consistently been a brutal and dirty 1 if you look at its history...From 1904-05 44 people died playing organized football...The games founding father, Walter Camp, was the primary force fighting rule changes outlawing the flying wedge(a play his team ran to perfection at the expense of countless spines and skulls), changes which were designed to make the game safer, and he was also secretly paying his athletes to play for him at Yale while sitting atop the NCAA rules committee and punishing other schools for doing the same thing. I dont think what Tatum did was a cheap shot...Its sort of the nature of the job...What I cant forgive was his refusal to apologize or show concern/sympathy for the victim when the worse case scenario tragically came to fruition. Rodney Harrison apologized repeatedly to Trent Green for injuring him during the preseason, and that was only a torn ACL.

[@dp233332]

it was clearly dirty whether it was legal or not, and it was a lil unnecessary on multiple levels, unlike a legit apology...his job was to put fear in wrs hearts across the middle, but he took things way too far...seems like every hit he made was to someones head...when it comes to player safety based rule changes organized american football has always been slow to act...they didnt attempt to outlaw the flying wedge until Teddy Roosevelt threatened to outlaw football once 44 players had died as a result of that play over a 2 year span...they didnt outlaw the clothesline tackle until well after night train lane was finished wreaking havoc on everyone's throats and skulls with it...seem to recall that they didnt outlaw the head slap until it deacon jones was finished...the raiders of that era were the dirtiest team in the nfl and Tatum was one of its ringleaders...

[@aspsfsm297]

part of the game ... it was a different time.. too tall jones was just as bad but he was on the brady bunch

[@staticklingon2182]

He intentionally tried to hurt people and say "hey it was legal." That's a horrible morale to have. That attitude is the same attitude thugs have who steal from someone and say "hey, if I was able to steal it, then it's your fault." They're POS humans.

[@epramos6800]

You must love the new NFL flag football rules now huh?

[@Handelson]

Any coach calling an inside slant against Tatum knew very well what the consequences could be. That coach had to feel guilty for the rest of his life. Run every route but the inside slant against Tatum.

[@carolharris7402]

I remember when Jack Tatum paralyzed Darryl Stingley. He was a brutal, relentless player. Perhaps he didn't mean to, but he caused Stingley's premature death.

[@paulfrombrooklyn5409]

@Hernandez10052 I think he was proud of paralyzing Stingley. Did you see that grin on his face? Tatum was a nasty thug with no feelings for the players he hurt.

[@patrickgray5633]

@@paulfrombrooklyn5409 I don't believe he intentionally ment to paralyze him. Now did Tatum go out there to hit people & push to the fine line you damn straight he did. However I don't believe for 1 second he tried to paralyze him.

[@paulfrombrooklyn5409]

@@patrickgray5633 Did I say he did? No!! I said he looked proud of what he did. After he paralyzed Stingley, he had no remorse and was proud of the hit. I never said he did it intentionally. Maybe you should try to brush up on your reading comprehension.

[@patrickgray5633]

@@paulfrombrooklyn5409 proud to paralyze him no way that just unfortunately happened.

[@patrickgray5633]

People need to understand Tatum couldn't change what happened I think if we could change something in our life we would but you can't.

[@PhilAndersonOutside]

As a Raider fan I loved watching him play, and understand him not apologizing for his style of play when the NFL was a lot more brutal. But he had many chances to apologize open or directly to Darryl, but instead kept quiet as much as anything to uphold his reputation, and that I can't accept. It's also one of the reasons why Tatum will never get into the HOF, and shouldn't.

[@1thepner]

Man....you have to read Tatum's book. He was barred from visiting Darryl. The family said NO.

[@lionelkennedy1394]

Stingley did not want to see Tatum. Tatum apologized to Stingley's son instead.

[@joemarchand8313]

@@lionelkennedy1394 Tatum never publicly apologized, which is despicable.

[@PhilAndersonOutside]

@@lionelkennedy1394 I later found this out, which is nice in light of my original thoughts.

[@PhilAndersonOutside]

@@joemarchand8313 That's part of what bothered me.

[@quavo.d1722]

Stingleys grandson is gonna be a top 5 pick in the 2022 draft

[@freddyt3830]

Yup play for the Texans now 1st team all pro nd pro bowler this year top 5 cb in the league

[@dannystranahan1004]

, as our old football coach used to always say if you're afraid to hurt or to be hurt you do not belong on the football field.

[@ontargetthomunclesam3926]

Danny Stranahan your coach was an idiot

[@ontargetthomunclesam3926]

@M Detlef certainly not me I played 11years in the NFL1968-1979 all with the New York Jets minor cuts and contusions banged up a little bit certainly didn't sustain any head injuries or concussions I run a sports marketing business to this day doing just fine

[@blazer7731]

@@ontargetthomunclesam3926name/proof?

[@packrcch]

it helps to hear tatum speak . his presence is both solid and intelligent . he appears to have survived “the war” in pretty good shape overall. regardless of whether he is inducted in the nfl hof or not, everyone knows that he was a great player and they respect him for that .

[@CYOnTheBeat]

It definitely was a different game back then

[@romeross1557]

Tatum was SCARY. If he was a serial killer, he would've even put fear into Charles Manson. Just the overall cold demeanor about him, with the slight smile is chilling. They don't make players like that anymore. And we all know why.

[@dp233332]

@Sir Charles the outcome there will depend upon the venue...if its on the field I give Tatum the edge...if its on the side of somebodys front porch or yard after 9pm at night my moneys definitely on OJ.

[@_dave4460]

dp233332 with gloves on...

[@_dave4460]

Sir Charles you’re to young to understand, i have to guess. too young to have seen jack play otherwise. alzado, matuzak, lamonica, biletnikoff, casper, tatum, all great players; not to mention john madden as head coach

[@Biggdoom344]

This is kind of what the book said”.....there were characters and everybody messed with everybody except Tate. You could be ten feet tall and weigh five hundred pounds and still not fuck with him. He just had this hangman look in his eyes and didn’t say much. Even the craziest raiders left Tate alone....” Ken stablers book.

[@muckmire3716]

Manson was a manipulative pussy. He wasn't fearless

[@morrisonreed1]

totally premeditated and the circumstance caused stingly to be the victim.Did he desire to paralyze him? probably not; but to hurt him ? yes

[@jasonarruda8576]

He was a dirty player. Watch any film of him and he's not looking to make hard hits or be aggressive at the point-of-attack he's clearly launching, using the crown of his helmet and head-hunting every single time. His intention was to hurt somebody at any cost. If they end up paralyzed, so be it

[@johnsullivan3628]

@@jasonarruda8576 Yeah...he had wanted to play reciever...But..." too short"..Someone commented..."Tatums got hands...but hes only 6" 1..But if you cut his "Afro" hair...hes 5" 9"

[@johnsullivan3628]

Yep...but the hit on Stingley was CLEARLY shoulder to head...allthough he could have pulled a shitload off it.

[@lwmson]

@@jasonarruda8576 When looking at the archived footage of his hits, it's sadly ironic that there's footage of him delivering a late, unnecessary hit on Stingley in another game. Yes, he was a dirty player.

[@dzanier]

it was wrong on tatum's part, but he was a creature of instinct and habit. that's how he played. jack always hit people to hurt them, not just to tackle them. this was so unfortunate.

[@SuperBigblue19]

It was a pre-season game. If muppets want to run Tatum's bathwater fine, but justifying a hit like that in pre-season in any era is impossible. Tatum was out to hurt players, not just play hard.

[@GawdNas]

SuperBigblue19 You sound like a bitch🤦🏾‍♂️

[@paulfrombrooklyn5409]

@@GawdNas You sound like a MORON!

[@dallasbrubaker6054]

Muppets want to run his bathwater? Never heard of that one.

[@cliffmoher1096]

Complain all you want about it, but for most of the 20th century, and most particularly by the 1970s, American football was NOT a sport for the faint-hearted. Clothes-lines, head slaps, crack backs, chop blocks, leg whips and sparing were all commonplace in those days. Moan about it if you want to, but the philosophy of "punishing" a ball carrier or receiver did not start, nor did it necessarily end, with Jack Tatum. Good or bad, right or wrong, like it or not, he was simply one of the --if THE-- best at it.

[@vendmaster7107]

Yea, I get your point about the game back then, but the NFL is to blame. They really didn't do anything to stop his bullshit style of playing. Sorry but going after a guy's head as your method of tackling is retarded, and that's mainly what Tatum did. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out if you try to rip a guy's head off you could possibly hurt him badly, but that's the NFL for you. Even today they enforce rules but they pretty much don't do anything for these players after they retire and have serious problems

[@POET913]

That's terrible your analyst

[@POET913]

It was a pre season game tho..

[@edwardmunson3896]

@@vendmaster7107 You got that right. There was no excuse back then, nor is there today, for that kind of shit.

[@TheLocalLt]

Vend Master back then it was desirable to hurt someone because then they couldn’t play. This was actually the attitude all the way until 2011 “bountygate”

[@mattjean2652]

The mindset was different back then. They played to knock you out! Inflict pain. There were many like Tatum. And there still are. The rules have just reeled them in...by the way...sometimes he got his own teamates accidentally...read his book,"They call me ASSASSIN"

[@ebannaw]

The rules suspend them from the NFL apparently too (Burfict).

[@mattjean2652]

@@ebannaw Burfict's hit was egregious. Add the fact that he was laughing and making fun of the hit when he left the field and the NFL had to make a statement.

[@adonisguy3243]

Deacon Jones was one!

[@patrickgray5633]

Never had a problem Tatum guys like him & Dick Butkus from those days they wanted to knock you out. The hit on Stingley was a tragic result but a legal hit.

[@parallaxxx69]

George Atkinson, the other Raiders safety with Tatum, could put the wood to you as well!!

[@hezamachine]

Darryl Stingley passed away on April 5, 2007 from heart disease and pneumonia complicated by quadriplegia. Jack Tatum died on July 27, 2010 from a heart attack.

[@mayhemjr.803]

Stingley never got that apology, and Tatum never offered it. Truly tragic.

[@seanm3226]

Mayhem Jr. Apology for what?

[@mayhemjr.803]

@@seanm3226 Don't be a dipshit. Do you KNOW the story?

[@davidlafleche1142]

@@mayhemjr.803 I just realized something ironic. When Tatum hit Stingley, he nearly killed him. Tatum never apologized, never felt any remorse. Football fans made excuses for Tatum, saying, "Well, that's old-school football." Compare that to another incident: August 18, 1967. Pitcher Jack Hamilton hit Tony Conigliaro in the eye, and nearly killed him. (If the ball had hit him a little bit higher, it would have crushed his temple.) Hamilton apologized profusely, and swore he never meant to do that; even Conigliaro forgave him. Yet a lot of baseball fans unfairly accused Hamilton. Ironically, Hamilton's career ended sooner. He was terrified of hitting another batter, and could no longer pitch inside effectively. He was cut in 1969, and never played again. Conigliaro did come back, and even had his best year in 1970; but he kept suffering blurred vision and headaches. He tried one more time (1975), but never made it. He died at age 45.

[@wxman5401]

Tatum tried this on the goal line at the Astrodome against Earl Campbell and Campbell stumbled but scored. Both players were knocked out by that hit and did not return to the game

[@chrisjohnson4039]

Tatum felt he truly did nothing wrong. No one intends to put his opponent in a wheelchair and deny his opportunity to feed his family. Now that both men are gone, what have we learned from this? Nothing will bring them back. All we can do is hope their spirits will find peace and tranquility.

[@joemarchand8313]

The fact that "Tatum felt he truly did nothing wrong" clearly indicates that he lacks morals and respect, 2 key components that real "men" have. And to not apologize seals the deal. He was a thug playing a game.....nothing more.

[@MrRayVictory]

​@@joemarchand8313It's unfortunate what happened. However, for the time, it was a completely legal hit. I remember it like it was yesterday.

[@Discovery_Overland]

When you decide to play in the nfl you take a risk, even knowing there are some guys who will take your head off. All the best to both men.

[@AwesomeDude799]

Astonishing that he held no remorse about it all his life.

[@steveguse4481]

He did his job. That's the game they play.

[@IndianOutlaw1870]

@@steveguse4481 I remember the hit. It was unnecessary then, and it's unnecessary now.

[@steveguse4481]

@@IndianOutlaw1870 it's a rough game. Not for everyone.

[@markprijic1782]

⁠​⁠@@steveguse4481 Any decent human would apologize or at least talk to Stingley even if it is part of the game. All Stingley wanted was closure.

[@steveguse4481]

@@markprijic1782 It was my understanding he did try. The family wouldn't let him

[@antonchigurh3794]

I don’t know…. Seems like Tatum looks at it like being in War. Soldiers don’t usually go apologize to the enemy they just shot. I just think that’s how he saw things.

[@a1sent126]

Me on cod mobile😂😂😂

[@jeremy144713]

I love how he says he doesn’t see the correlation between him losing a leg and ending up in a wheel chair and Stingleys injuries. Jack Tatum was just so prideful and arrogant. Glad the NFL cares more about longevity and health now.

[@anthonyalsobrook8635]

If anyone thinks that the players of today could have played professional football when this man played, you are sadly mistaken

[@JCYTTV]

Lol the players today are much stronger, faster, bigger, and athletic. If the players today went up against the players from the 70s-80s with the rules from the 70s then the modern players would be charged for murder after every hit.

[@gregcushing1716]

Players of today aren't mentally capable of playing like they did in the 70's, except for a very very few I would think.

[@donniearchuleta4910]

What many of these replies are not taking into account, is the era of when Stingley was hurt. It was the 70’s. Every secondary had safeties whose job it was to police the back end. The best teams had the hardest hitting guys. The Raiders, Steelers, Dolphins and Cowboys all had head hunters back there. The league is very lucky there weren’t more injuries like this one. When you hear someone talking about a receiver having the toughness to go over the middle, it’s because of that era long ago. Tight ends weren’t running around catching everything like they do now. It don’t take any extra balls to go over the middle anymore, just a route assignment. Tatum played the way the position called for at that time. He should’ve spoke to Stingley afterward, but it’s too late now.

[@dp233332]

quite honestly until the league cracked down on hitting after they admitted CTE was real only about a decade or so ago its always been a safety's job to lay the lumber and make people pay for going across the middle... It was Tatums disposition after the fact that more people, mself included, found unnacceptable...

[@justinedse8435]

One could also argue it made the game worse.

[@luckybestwash]

The bottom line for Tatum seems to be that he went after bodies and not the football. Was he even interested in interceptions? He had 37 but you wonder how many he turned down to destroy some guy instead.

[@mike203203]

If he went for the interception instead of the big hit, the immaculate reception would have never happened. Kind of like the ultimate payback for being a headhunter

[@MrRayVictory]

That was the nature of tge game back then. Fear and intimidation was a part of a safety's arsenal. Unless you grew up watching football in the 70s, you have no clue as to the mentality of the defensive players, particularly the safeties and linebackers.

[@karynation128]

I hate football but Tatum was just doing what he was taught from the first coaches he had worked with to his coaches in the NFL. Those same values were taught to me in JR High football. Tatum just seemed to follow what the coaches drilled into him and all other football players from early youth to adulthood. To not get caught breaking the rules but hit hard and punish your opponent until they are demoralized into crushing defeat. His only sin was to execute his instructions with heartless conviction. A trait considered honorable in any soldier or warrior. From a football perspective, he should be singled out as the face of football in the hall of fame.

[@dp233332]

They didnt teach you to celebrate while the other guy was laid out and being carted off...if thats what the coaches taught why did john madden, the raiders coach, spend the night with stingley in the hospital?...Tatums moral crime wasnt paralyzing stingley...it was showing no real sympathy after the fact...hes a pos

[@marcmclane2640]

Kary Nation if you hate football, who gives a rats ass what you think.... Go watch tennis or bowling and SHUT the hell UP....

[@mike203203]

LOL. "Okay Jackie, next time try to mame this receiver and I'll give you a juice box after the game". This was the funniest comment I've read so far

[@jaxsonsdad79]

I met Jack Tatum in 1990 as an 11 year old kid in Fresno, California. He was signing autographs with Cliff Branch and Clarence Davis. He could not have been a nicer person. Both he and Branch were amazed at how this kid who clearly wasn't old enough to have watched them play, knew so much about them and the Raiders. We literally chatted for about 3-4 minutes, which is an eternity at a busy autograph session and as I've gotten older, I took away from all this that he did have remorse, but he was a proud man and admitting something like that would undercut the entire reputation he had as a football player...the man's very legacy. I do wish he had gone to apologize, though having heard Charlie Murphy talk about Darryl Stingley and how he could be a jerk himself, maybe it was for the best.

[@dp233332]

Im not a truly religious type but there are decent reasons pride is considered a sin....I dont blame him for the hit itself and I dont blame him fully for the end result he didnt know it would end up like that, and Stingley sees the hit coming and tries to duck to avoid getting sent backwards and as a result the colision ends up being worse my problem and many other peoples was Tatums pride made it so that he acted/spoke as tho if he had that chance to do it all over again he still would make the same exact hit and how could anyone deliberately paralyze a guy?

[@RELopez-mk4ic]

Hope you wiped your ass with that autograph!

[@peterrodby2786]

Going for the big hit on Frenchy Fuqua instead of wrapping him up allowed Franco Harris the chance at catching a deflected pass.

[@starguy2718]

Purpose, of defense: stop the other team from scoring. Tatum's hit, on Fuqua, allowed Franco to score. Raiders lost: epic fail, on the Raider's defense.

[@lamonthunt8711]

@@starguy2718 yeah, you're talking about the immaculate deception, right?

[@mrfunnylookinhayes9088]

@@starguy2718 The question to this day was, was it a legal catch? We will never know because Pittsburg got rid of the video that show Harris got that ball off the ground. lol

[@mike203203]

Heck, he may have been able to intercept the ball. Trying to mame another player on the field does not garner real respect. I like big hits, but Tatum was dirtier than that.

[@kevinstephenson3880]

Football is a dangerous game. Many people after Mr. Stingley have had their lives changed forever by playing the game they love. The only difference now is the players are compensated financially more than back in the day. Trading their health for a paycheck.

[@hicks727]

the HEAD hunter days..and I mean the HEAD HEAD HEAD hunter days..70's 80's 90's -2008...nobody taught players to tackle that way

[@mr.brenman2132]

Yes they did.

[@dexterbernard2701]

Remember, the NFL used to glorify that type of play. It was an accident involving two players each trying to make a play. No one let up. Though, I wish they did.

[@davidlafleche1142]

It was not an accident. Tatum knew the pass was out of reach, but he still went full-blast into Stingley, on purpose. When Jack Hamilton hit Tony Conigliaro, THAT was an accident.

[@dallasbrubaker6054]

@@davidlafleche1142 Yep, and Lawrence Taylor snapping Joe Theismann's leg. THAT was an accident. Tatum showed no remorse while Taylor did.

[@davidlafleche1142]

@@dallasbrubaker6054 Oh, yes. When Taylor saw Theismann's leg, he screamed in horror. The Redskins thought he was taunting, but he was actually begging for help. Theismann and Conigliaro were two of the most gruesome non-fatal injuries ever seen on a field.

[@JayDogTitan]

Everyone complains about how the NFL is too soft nowadays and how the league has lost its toughness, But yet when you bring up Jack Tatum everyone labels him a dirty player, Tatum brought it on every play, Yeah some of his hits were excessive but during his era the NFL was excessive not just Tatum.

[@thorthunderlungs5171]

Damn straight.

[@steve-si3oz]

I agree. I was watching when Stingley got hit. Sad story but guys like Tatum made the game exciting.

[@Troy428492]

NFL is getting weak

[@MrAquinas1]

Bull Shit. The coward was a head hunter who thrived on hitting defenseless receivers, especially when they were lying on the ground.

[@billa7571]

Thank you brother that is how it was played it was a legal hit no flags Jack Tatum was a awesome player and he play hard every game the whole game he should be in the hall of fame he is the best to play his position every my opinion . Rest in peace Jack !!!!

[@RomanBarba-v8v]

Back in those days that is how football was play hit hard and that was how they played. Everything team had players that hit hard. It’s that jack could hit you the hardest.

[@Bluedevil82nd]

As much as people say that "he didn't mean to", there's no reason to hit a guy like that ever.

[@Diet_Bleach]

Dude could be Booker T's stunt double.

[@brianroiger3665]

2:45 The play

[@calvinlewis8924]

The big disappointment in whole unfortunate incident was that Jack Tatum never visited or contacted Daryl Stingly or visited him in the hospital to express his concern for his condition or any love for him and that is what makes the event such a tragedy.

[@cliffdr.detroitlynch3903]

jack tatum played the game, everyone knew the risks, and he played it well, jack was a bad ass,

[@jpemydura4860]

But a god nonetheless

[@rmsmith2396]

bad ass hole

[@davidlafleche1142]

Funny, the Raiders never could win anything with TATUM'S help, or without DREITH'S help!

[@Harley08]

Football players sell their souls too for riches.

[@p.j._staten]

@@davidlafleche1142 And won a Super Bowl in '76

[@RUSure-jm9rp]

Steve Grogan should apologize for throwing that hospital pass. Stingley had to reach out and up while running into the middle… Tatum’s territory. Grogan left him unprotected.

[@43STEELERS43]

Who's here after Charlie Murphy's story?

[@sharinamcdonald8915]

Uncle Kyle 🖐🏽

[@spudinboise]

Me

[@BallersLife3]

Me

[@supertaints1710]

Only a true sociopath would "accidentally" paralyze someone and not feel remorse. Unfortunately neither man is alive any longer.

[@paulm3072]

uuuhhhh At 2:01 He is bouncing off the Tank Earl Cambell.

[@robertdore9592]

Yes , but Earl Campbell ended up leaving that game early.

[@paulm3072]

@@robertdore9592 He most likely didn't have to leave on his account. He probably had 147 yards already. He was an overworked workhorse. Earl Cambell would have only left the game from a sick and dirty helmet. to helmet. Hitting his torso or thighs/legs was like hitting a concrete wall. The guy was no joke.

[@gfrrfandoe8044]

@@paulm3072 I remember seeing a 250 lb linebacker bouncing off his thighs trying tackle him and Earl didn't even slow down a microsecond!

[@ZakKing01]

I don't find Tatum to be wrong. He has stated many times he was told that Stingly didnt wamt to hear from him. Also that era if football was different. The great teams had guy who played till the play eas called dead. If ball was in your hands or coming your direction you were getting rocked.

[@fredsawyer9845]

Steve Grogan worked out at my gym and we were talking about benefits for former NFL players during the last players strike . I raised the point to him about how Stingley couldn't afford /get the proper care after the injury which showed just how remiss the NFL was in taking care of former players . Steve told me he would give anything to be able to go back and not throw that pass which led to the incident . It was the one regret he had after leaving the game. Sadly the hit by Tatum was unnecessary and the ball was not catch-able

[@dallasbrubaker6054]

Yeah, that pass haunted him

[@lwmson]

Your point was invalid. After the accident Stingley sued the NFL over his injury and they reached an out of court settlement by which the league agreed to pay Stngley a living allowance each month and also pay all of his medical bills for the rest of his life.

[@TuckFrump-r9h]

@@lwmson It shouldn't REQUIRE a lawsuit to get such treatment.

[@prettyricky411ify]

In high school I always was number 32 . I played like Tatum. Hard !!! I picked the number because of Tatum!!

[@tonysteel1377]

Some elements of poetic justice.

[@michaelmiguelicutti2829]

Legal or not, the fact is Jack Tatum was intent on hurting people over a game. He’ll always be remembered as a filthy player and a bad person. It’s why he was denied the HOF.

[@ronkali5365]

As a LB we play the game to hurt people NOT to injure : Tom Jackson ,Denver Broncos. Major difference

[@r0n718]

I watched a video a couple of years back where Tatum met with Stingley’s son and apologized. They both hugged and it was emotional. I think I remember them also crying.

[@prestonphilly8905]

Where you see that at?

[@lwmson]

I hate question your veracity, but I don't believe that. As he does in this video, Tatum said he would never apologize for the hit he delivered on Stingley because he would never apologize for how he played the game.

[@tommyodonnell9]

I don't recall anything like that.

[@MrShymon3y]

Ngl this dude is cold blooded. He even had a slight smirk when saying “nothing personal.”

[@wilrobles9824]

Tatum was a beast.

[@pgraybengal]

Absolutely he was awesome hell of a player I won’t call him dirty many will I refuse lots of hits were legal back then & aren’t today.

[@RELopez-mk4ic]

He was a thug turd!

[@albailey4307]

Tatum was a good football player that was a legal hit on Stingley he played in a era when they played real football it was not a dirty play at all

[@rjturner8591]

It was fuckin preseason!!t.f he probably rotting in hell for it to,senseless ass comment

[@alfredmcglothen6050]

Jack Tatum sounded pretty cold hearted. It is sad I believe both men are gone now are there was never any reconciliation I know of . Sad story . I believe Tatum probably felt remorse in his heart but pride would never let him show it .

[@jeremy144713]

Yeah :/ he came off so prideful and you can tell he felt bad but he never wanted to say it because of the guilt and awkwardness of it all.

[@paulesposito5856]

Tatum was a human missile. My father in law was his backup. Tatums hits were epic but he would have been banned for life today

[@peace-yv4qd]

I knew a guy who was a defensive lineman on the Raiders. He said that Tatum would mostly sit by himself during practice and that he practiced just like it was an actual game. He went all out. He said he was the toughest meanest player he ever played with.He said that everyone was afraid of Tatum.

[@jamesanthony5681]

He wasn't a big guy: 5'10", 200-205lbs.

[@dallasbrubaker6054]

Yeah, okay and who is this Raiders defensive lineman that you "knew"?

[@peace-yv4qd]

@@dallasbrubaker6054 Yeah. Convincing some random KZbin'r that I talked to a former NFL player in order to maintain my standing and reputation in the youtube universe. Thanks, but no.

[@dallasbrubaker6054]

@@peace-yv4qd I figured as such. You could name him if it happened since it wasn't anything that was a hush-hush secret or a shock. But I have to go pick up a close friend at the airport. He was an NFL linebacker who won a Super Bowl and doesn't know his way around town.

[@peace-yv4qd]

@@dallasbrubaker6054 What ever floats your boat. Lol.

[@physicalgrafiti12345]

Absolute psychopath. Tee Higgins was in tears for a hit that was actually a freak accident. This guy saw a man in a vulnerable position, and thought about nothing but how to hurt him. Thats not even football, thats just barbarism.

[@ccwnoob4393]

Blame the game not the player; the game at that time allowed that sort of play. Tatum says he's sorry about what happened to Stingley but will never be sorry for the way he played.

[@dp233332]

yeah thats a half assed apology which rubs me the wrong way even tho im not stuck in a wheel chair for the rest of my life, let alone as a result of anything to do with him.

[@burprobrox9134]

If he’s sorry, be a man and tell him to his face. Look him in the eyes and apologize. He’s a sad old coward.

[@24quorthonschuldiner62]

@@burprobrox9134 You’re the sad old coward lol

[@ninorcairam]

Imagine paralyzing someone and just being like “mehh shit happens”

[@joshdaboss2365]

Because that was the game back then don’t blame him he was just playing football it was within the rules so he did it I don’t think he was a bad person he was just doing what he could to get his team a win

[@patrickgray5633]

@@joshdaboss2365 Yea people call Tatum dirty & I won’t do that cause many of his hits were legal at the time. Blame Steve Grogan if you want to blame someone why that was a terrible pass he lead Stingley to far & it was right into Tatum. The fact that Tatum was vilified for that is a disgrace.

[@dbjkatz]

@@joshdaboss2365 In a meaningless pre-season game. Fixed it for ya.

[@dbjkatz]

@@patrickgray5633 It's not as much for the incident itself as it was for Tatum's silence after the fact. I agree that Tatum did not wake up that morning with a plan to injure / paralyze a player on the opposing team. Because of this incident and countless other brutal hits over the years, Tatum was vilified and will never inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame. Oh well.

[@jmysterio100]

While those hits may have been legal back then (usually they only focused on hits after the whistle) what disturbs me is that in most of those clips he's hitting someone who doesn't even have the ball or had no chance of even catching it. Today, just the way he launched himself would alone be a disqualification. He certainly would've been suspended as a repeat offender and likely kicked out of the league. Of course, that's a rather moot point now as those types of violent hits are being punished as opposed to then.

[@joe-tatothepotatobiden47]

His job was to hit anybody going over the middle whether they caught the ball or not smh. Thats how football was back then. Teams wanted recievers to think twice before going over the middle. They wanted recievers to hear their footsteps and drop or not go for the ball. I dont think you understand how football was played back then.

[@jmysterio100]

@@joe-tatothepotatobiden47 You idiot. Read my post a few times before looking illiterate. I clearly said those hits were legal previously so how do I not understand how the game was played? Also you respond to something I wrote 4 years ago? You're pretty slow.

[@jmysterio100]

@@joe-tatothepotatobiden47 You don't understand shit.

[@johnwaz5678]

That was clean back then. I see a clean jack tatum typical aggressive hit, sucks they are tarnishing the mans reputation on 0 evidence based assumptions. The man played 💯💯 on every play, every game. They makin it like he was a cold intentional dude

[@aaronh8740]

Jack tatum is the definition of a raider

[@RELopez-mk4ic]

Definition of a POS is what he is.

[@FC-gq7fb]

He’s a scumbag

[@lovellrodriguez]

not any more now his a weak raider

[@voiceofreason2674]

This is back in the day when you stepped on that field you knew you may never walk again.

[@jeremey89jl]

The comments seem to have rose tinted 20/20. He was a defensive back playing football in a different era. An era where a defensive back wasn’t flagged for hitting an opponent trying to advance downfield. I concede that Tatum had malicious intent. But I wish that there was a middle ground, where current players aren’t flagged for playing their respective position. Such as the lions this past Monday against the packers. I vividly remember at least three blatant bad calls against the defense.

[@melmiller9507]

Jeremey Lampson no even then he was a pos

[@ronnieacerra1382]

When football was played by men.

[@rodneyrodriguez3676]

I am a Raider fan. However, although I enjoyed the mystique of the Raider defenses reputation for hurting players. I don’t approve or take any pride in Tatum as a player or frankly a person. His response and lifetime filthy attitude towards Darryle Stingley was disgusting.

[@dariuzjohnson9125]

No, Jack...Hitting a defenseless player *is* dirty

[@cristianortiz1525]

Not in these times tho. It was a clean hit in the 70’s. Football wise he had nothing to apologize for. But as a human he should’ve apologize due to the result of the clean play

[@Raisin_]

@@cristianortiz1525 explain the sequence of hitting defenseless players 2:29

[@BigDawg4]

He rocked earl Campbell too. Hardest hitter ever

[@pulsarlights2825]

Campbell was a lot bigger too

[@a1sent126]

Man at first I thought man this guy is a savage but back in the 70’s men were probably 5x tougher than in the 2020’s. Btw shout out to stephen a’s Know Mercy podcast he put me on to this😭

[@favrerules04]

Check out Charlie Murphy's story about Darryl Stingley.

[@melmiller9507]

Cheezeburger Walrus just came here from there lol

[@ronjames6128]

You aren't a tough guy when you are hitting a defenseless receiver. The receiver is the tough guy for taking the hit....get it right!!!

[@jtmiller9358]

DONT FUCK WITH THE ASSASSIN, IF YOU CATCH THE BALL YOU PAYING THE PRICE

[@ohmymym3231]

Jack Tatum was probably the best player ever to play his position.

[@whataboutrob442]

What? No way.

[@ynp1978]

You need to Google Ronnie Lott. A clean player who still hit hard....and a decent human being.

[@whataboutrob442]

@@ynp1978 Who the hell doesn't know who Ronnie Lott is? But yeah, a definite hard hitter.

[@ynp1978]

@@whataboutrob442 A lot of people under the age of 30.

[@seanm3226]

John Pottorgg You just watched a video of bone-crunching hits by Tatum and you make that comment? You obviously didn’t watch ‘70’s NFL football.

[@fsabot19022]

Playing hard is one thing. Playing cruel is another.

[@theredbaronlives9889]

Tatum tried to do the same thing to frenchy fuqua rb for Pittsburgh in the 1972 immaculate reception game instead making the pick or just swatting the ball down to the turf he went headhunting and the ball carrumed off him and into Harris hands who scored. Never understood why Tatum didn't get more criticism for that? Yes it was a fluke play but Tatum really caused the play to happen. Tatum was dirty so was dr.death skip Thomas and Atkinson was another cheap shot artist.The Raiders always lead the NFL in penalties during this era.For reason.

[@805livin4]

TheRedBaron Lives! Just as dirty as Pittsburg was in those times...

[@surfleopard]

@@805livin4 - not even comparable. Pittsburgh didn't wait until the whistle blew and your back was turned and then give you a clothesline from behind your head. Steelers were more rough than dirty. Raiders were more dirty than rough. Tatum was dirty, but nothing compared to Atkinson, a real punk.

[@jonburrows8602]

@@surfleopard Hypocritical. The Steelers of the 1960s were one of the dirtiest teams in history because they were so bad, they just tried to hurt people.

[@surfleopard]

@@jonburrows8602 , we are discussing 70's era football. Anything before that was a free-for-all. Are you kidding me? Read about Ed Sprinkle of the Chicago Bears. Or George Trafton. All teams were dirty back then. Let's not convolute the debate by bringing up previous decades. That debate could go on forever

[@keithmurphy5706]

Gee so maybe you might be a Steelers fan?? Let me tell you something - back in the day football was a game for MEN not crybabies like Pittsburg

[@robcop993]

Does anyone remember Chuck Cecil? He was the first defensive player I ever saw who was penalized for hitting too hard. I was confused when it happened. The idea that you could be penalized for making a tackle TOO hard was an alien concept to me. It still is. And, yes, I read Tatum's memoir. He was a cold-blooded maniac on the field.

[@kevinpayton2664]

I remember him. There was a hit he made when he played with the Cardinals that was so vicious I didn't want to see the replay.

[@mike203203]

Tatum did just hit hard. He was dirty

[@jantzenallen3077]

@@mike203203 you gotta understand back then hitting people like that was normal and legal nowadays you would not only be fined for a hit like stingley you would probably be jailed

[@mike203203]

@@jantzenallen3077 I totally understand - I watched the games back then. Tatum was considered dirty even for that time.

[@RELopez-mk4ic]

Cecil led with his helmet!

[@johnthomas3684]

Ronnie Lott didn't play any different than Jack Tatum. Neither did Steve Atwater. Neither was considered a "dirty" player. I think Tatum is the victim of an unlucky hit, just like he said.

[@dp233332]

its his disposition about the outcome after the hit took place that made him dirty...they didnt paralyze anyone and seemingly take pride in it

[@fredapeeples6619]

Tatum is the victim, eh? That is some fucked up thinking.

[@theinterruptionwithriansar3768]

John thomas youre a joke

[@josephgodoy25]

Whos here cause of undisputed

[@shlittyleo]

He was a dirty ass player. He had a reputation for making unessacary hits and dirty hits after the whistle.

[@MnMGpa]

This was not premeditated. Tatum played hard and had a reputation for it. The hit on Stingley was unfortunate but legal back then.

[@nicolek.3614]

Makes Vontaze Burfict look like a Disney princess.

[@jmariebradley9530]

Wright😂

[@SGobuck]

Burfect looks like bill romanowski to me..not Tatum.

[@vincentsheridan284]

And back then it was " legal"

[@vincentsheridan284]

@Paul Kryder context......... rules changed... and it was a nasty expletive hit, meant to harm

[@carlos00700]

This is the end result of play, that the people who complain about football today- want today

[@dp233332]

Idk about that... i enjoyed the bonecrunching hits of the 70s 80s 90s and 2000s but never wanted to see any1 srsly or permanently injured let alone paralyzed and even with all the rule changes designed to outlaw hitting and make it safer ultimately its still a deadly sport...players can still get paralyzed or die without being involved in a collision that appears highly dangerous the way tatums or countless other safeties and lbs hits appeared just look at the damar hamlin incident last season or the collision reggie brown of the lions suffered in wk17 1997... Players like Gronkowski have stated that they would have preferred to be subjected to those headhunter type hits rather than have opponents spearing their knees. Sadly many if not most of the players whove been damaged with cte have made it clear theyd do the same thing all over again even if equipped ahead of time with the knowledge about concussions that they didnt have until it was far too late... I wont say i wish it was still being played the way it was played 30yrs ago, but at the very least fans and analysts should acknowledge that the stats of players who benefit from those rule changes- players whove arrived in more recent yrs-will be heavily inflated and shouldnt be interpreted as evidence of any superiority over their predecessors. T.Kelce and his stats are a perfect example...He is a great route runner and a good pass catcher but he is by no means 1 of even the 3best TEs ive seen yet statistically is already able to claim GOAT status. I do miss the old era quite a bit i miss having an extra category-toughness-that we as fans and/or analysts were able to use to differentiate between players with...younger generations of fans dont understand that wrs like jerry rice and keyshawn johnson were never reluctant to take the hit in order to make the catch whereas wrs like Marvin Harrison and at times even the amazing Randy Moss clearly were,, and it does seem absurd to have entire generations who dont ever have to be willing to take those hits to make those catches yet be labelled better than those who were...its the same thing at qb...qbs had2b willing to take the hit in order2make the throw...these were philosophical, instructional absolute laws among coaches...now coaches have to instruct their defensive players not to make that hit lest they become the next Burfict and QBs no longer have to worry about protecting their routerunning teammates and instead can essentially pad their stats especially when working with elite route runners...

[@delyates2509]

Jack Tatum should be in the pro football Hall of fame

[@mariothemenace5303]

Del Yates he wasn’t that good..

[@starguy2718]

Cheap-shot artists don't make it to Canton. Sorry, dude.

[@TheDare97]

This man was a fucking beast

[@mikem591]

Tatum was foolish. Apologizing wouldn’t have diminished his reputation as ‘The Assassin’. He would have been viewed as a greater man and football player. His pride kept him from doing the right thing.

[@AlejandroSanchez-pl6jw]

mikem987 he doesn’t have to apologize

[@wildemouse]

@@AlejandroSanchez-pl6jw Yeah, he's dead.

[@AlejandroSanchez-pl6jw]

Bryce Alviso even before he doesn’t have too

[@Mario-mo4ll]

Alejandro Sanchez cuz he’s a classless fuck

[@Mario-mo4ll]

Probably reflects how his parents raised him..

[@roberthenderson2321]

Jack played football the way it was meant to be played. It is a violent sport, or at least it used to be. As Jack said, he was sorry that Stingley was injured but it was a clean hard hit, and you can't apologize for being a hard nose football player. RIP Jack.