LEE ROY SELMON, Hall of Fame Defensive End, Tampa Bay Buccaneers "Jack Youngblood's career speaks for itself, he would be a natural selection to the Hall of Fame. He had a great career, a long career, with the Rams. He was an outstanding player-strong-willed and determined. That gives players an edge, what's inside of them. Jack fit that mold, he had the determination to not get beat, to make the play. A lot was said about his playing in the Super Bowl with an injury, a serious injury, and he was admired by his peers for that as well." RICH JACKSON, All-Pro Defensive End, Denver Broncos "Jack Youngblood was one of those players who I thought was an outstanding ballplayer. He was very effective and made a major contribution to his team, I thought a lot of him." L.C. Greenwood, All-Pro Defensive End, Pittsburgh Steelers "Jack Youngblood was a tremendous talent. He was a great defensive end. He really had heart to go with his physical tools." Carl Eller, All-Pro Defensive End, Minnesota Vikings "Marchetti of the Colts was a very serious player, Deacon was kind of a predecessor, and Youngblood was another good one I liked. Jack was amazingly strong, country boy strong. He was good at both the run and the pass, an all-around defensive guy. I don't think he considered himself as a just pass rusher/sack guy, or whatever." Elvin Bethea, Pro Bowl Defensive End, Houston Oilers "Willie Davis, Deacon Jones, Carl Eller, Jack Youngblood, these guys were the ones that I tried to be as good as and emulate myself after and I think I did, playing 16 years" Harvey Martin, All-Pro Defensive End, Dallas Cowboys "Jack Youngblood is the reigning king of defensive ends." John Zook, Pro Bowl Defensive End, Atlanta Falcons, St. Louis Cardinals "Yeah, I'd put Jack Youngblood in the Hall of Fame. Especially as long he played and as consistent. He played with some bad injuries-he cracked a leg. You have to take you hat off to him." Barney Chavous, All-AFC Defensive End, Denver Broncos "Jack Youngblood was a good pass rusher, he had a variety of moves that were effective. "Look at the guys who were so great, like Deacon Jones was a master of the headslap. Then you look at a guy like Jack Youngblood. Jack had a real good swim move to the outside, then he could come inside. They created those things, they were inventors. If they could have patents on those moves, they'd be rich." Carl Hairston, All-NFC Defensive End, Philadelphia Eagles "Jack Youngblood played with great leverage, that's what you needed if you wanted to become a very effective pass rusher. You can't pass the passer high, you've got to play under the guy's pads and you've got to have leverage to do that. He did that, Youngblood was a helluva player." Tommy Hart, All-Pro Defensive End, San Francisco 49ers "Jack and I played in the 1977 Pro Bowl together. I always admired the way Youngblood played. He played that left end but he was in a right-handed stance. He had a knack for coming upfield and getting an inside move. I studied him a little bit because I wanted to see how he got that inside move and made it so smooth. "He didn't have that great speed to beat a guy upfield but he had enough speed to get a tackle on his heels and then use that inside move. "He also used his hands well. He was, really, one of the first to use them in a pass rush. He was a great, great player." Claude Humphrey, All-Pro Defensive End, Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles "I liked Jack Youngblood, not only as a player but as a person. I thought he was a real cool dude-I thought he was all right. He came into the league and played great. "As a matter of fact he played great against a guy I had a lot of respect for, a guy we had here-George Kunz. When we got ready to play Jack Youngblood, George made me stay after practice and give him all that Youngblood stuff. And Jack would still beat him. "That's the only thing that I might have disliked Youngblood for- he made me stay after practice." Bob Golic, Defensive Tackle, Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Raiders "Jack was a great, tough player. He's one who should be in the Hall of Fame, along with Dwight Stephenson, Mike Webster, Jerry Kramer and Shula. Jack just flowed out there, you'd watch him and he's just flow." Mike Golic, Defensive Tackle, Philadelphia Eagle "The five guys I'd pick for the 1997 Hall of Fame are Shula, Stephenson, Webster, Youngblood, and Jerry Kramer. With Youngblood, it's his tenacity(the guy played in a Super Bowl with a broken leg. You can't do much more than that for the love of the game. He was one of the throwbacks who played ball to play, not for glitz and glamour, he was one tough s.o.b. He had good stats, obviously, but what I liked was his leadership on the field." Howie Long, All-Pro Defensive End, Los Angeles Raiders Long states that while he was a young player he watched hours of film of Youngblood and Hall of Famers Lee Roy Selmon and Randy White to learn the techniques that made them successful and apply them into his career. "I absolutely think that Jack Youngblood should be in the Hall of Fame, I have always thought of him as that type of player. I hope his not getting in yet does not hurt his legacy. He was a great, great player who I admired very much. Willie Davis, Hall of Fame Defensive End, Green Bay Packers "I think Jack clearly played at a Hall of Fame level. There is no doubt in my mind. "Jack was, as we all know, one of the fine pass rushers of his time. Fundamentally, he was good, he came off the ball well, he got good leverage, and he could really do what they call a swim move. He also played mentally smart. He was strong, he bulked himself up with a strong weight program. "I was a coach for five years in the College All-Star game and I gotta tell you, Jack was one of the most coachable guys that came in there. Many of the guys took the All-Star game as something they were doing and their way to doing something else. Their bodies were there but their minds were somewhere else. "But Jack really worked there. He wanted to learn something and make every moment count. From that standpoint it was very noticeable, he was a good example player. He was a guy who was trying to do it and trying to do it right. "I clearly remember Jack for those qualities you learn to admire. I can basically say that I tended to measure them in successful people and Jack clearly had them. Frankly, I watched him for most of his career feeling very good about what Jack accomplished and about being a part of that bridge from college to the NFL." Gino Marchetti, Hall of Fame Defensive End, Baltimore Colts "I liked Youngblood. I liked the way he rushed the passer and how created havoc in the backfield. In the games I saw he was great. I'd vote for him for the Hall of Fame" Reggie White, All-Pro Defensive End, Green Bay Packers "Jack Youngblood was great, man." Bruce Smith, All-Pro Defensive End, Buffalo Bills "I really admired Jack Youngblood." Kevin Greene, All-Pro Outside Linebacker, Carolina Panthers "Jack Youngblood was one of the best, if not THE best, pass rusher of all time. I learned a lot from watching him." Trace Armstrong, Defensive End, Miami Dolphins "I've got to say Jack Youngblood was one of my idols." Ronnie Lott, All-Pro Safety, San Francisco 49ers, Raiders, Jets, Chiefs Lott remembers when Youngblood played 21/2 games on a broken leg in 1979. He uses that as inspiration when he plays with his serious injuries. Bill Pickel, Defensive Tackle, Los Angeles Raiders "Nobody put more into the game than Jack Youngblood."

QUOTES FROM COACHES CHUCK NOLL, Hall of Fame Head Coach, Pittsburgh Steelers "He had special pass-rush techniques. You really had to prepare especially for him. I think he's deserving of the Hall of Fame." -College & Pro Football Newsweekly Interview, 1996 " . . . the Rams have the best pass rush we've seen all year. I thought that Youngblood did a super job." -Los Angeles Times, December 21, 1975 TOM LANDRY, Hall of Fame Head Coach, Dallas Cowboys "One of the rare sights in football is somebody putting a perfect one-on-one block on Jack Youngblood. It's got to be 110 percent perfect or he's going to shuck it off and spoil the play." -All-Pro Football Stars 1977, by Jerry Brondfield "He was an excellent player. You had to give him special attention in blocking schemes because he was so active and quick as a lineman. He was able to get in there in a hurry. You really had to pay special attention to him. I know those offensive tackles paid attention to him all of the time (Laughs). I'm sure he is worthy of the Hall of Fame, no question about it." -Pro Football Journal Interview, October 30, 1996 DON SHULA, Hall of Fame Head Coach, Miami Dolphins "Yeah, I think Jack Youngblood is a Hall of Fame guy. He was very special. He played for a lot of years, he played through injuries( you could always count on him to line up. Just a great competitor and a truly great pass rusher." -Pro Football Journal Interview, December 3, 1996 BILL WALSH, Hall of Fame Head Coach, San Francisco 49ers "Jack Youngblood posed massive problems for our 49er offenses. He was a mob. He was just a tremendous pass rusher. He had excellent speed so he could pursue the ball from behind on plays that went away from him. He could recover and make plays. But he could really come up the field with his pass rush and he was just an awesome football player. He's certainly a Hall of Fame player." -DBFN Interview, September 8, 1997 JOHN MADDEN, Head Coach, Oakland Raiders "Not many defensive linemen create that much of a problem. Howie Long, Mark Gastineau, and Richard Dent do. Jack Youngblood did. "Jack Youngblood has been described as the John Wayne of football. Talk about true grit: In 1979, when the Rams went to Super Bowl XIV against the Steelers, he suffered a broken leg in the second quarter of a playoff game. But he played in the NFC title game the next week and the Super Bowl two weeks later . . . The doctors called it a fractured fibula. But with Jack's 240 pounds on it, his ankle area was swollen in every shade of purple. "To me, Jack not only typified what a defensive ends is, he also typified what a football player is. If a Martian landed in my backyard, knocked on my door and asked me 'What's a football player?' I'd go get Jack Youngblood." -One Knee Equals Two Feet, by John Madden "They ought to make a poster called 'Mr. Football' and this guy (Jack Youngblood) ought to be on it." -CBS Sports All-Madden Team, January 13, 1985 "The best defensive ends I've ever seen: Fred Dean, Rich Jackson, Deacon Jones, Howie Long, Gino Marchetti, Bubba Smith, Jack Youngblood." (listed alphabetically) -One Knee Equals Two Feet, by John Madden "Of all the players on the All-Time All-Madden team, I think Jack Youngblood of the Rams, best personified the All-Madden team spirit when he played with a broken leg." -All Madden, by John Madden "He's been on of the great players, We'd play against Jack Youngblood and he'd fight you for 60 minutes. We used to put one guy on him, two guys on him, three guys on him, we'd do nothing, against him. Just a fierce competitor and one tough man." -CBS Telecast, December, 1982 John Madden, Head Coach, Oakland Raiders Madden went so far as to say no one else ever perfected this technique. This is an innovation that should be attributed to Youngblood who used it so well for 14 years. . . . As a pass rusher, he had a way of getting underneath the offensive tackle, forcing him to stand up almost straight. That way Jack had all the leverage. Watching him on films, I was fascinated by how he did it. "'Watch this', I would tell my defensive ends, 'Watch how Youngblood gets under that tackle'. "They would try it, but they couldn't do it. Of all our ends, Tony Cline came closest to doing it, but he couldn't lean into that tackle the way Jack did, getting underneath the tackle's shoulder pad and taking away his strength. Other good pass rushers used quick moves, or got an arm on the tackle's shoulder and spun him, or whaapped the tackle with a head slap (before it was ruled illegal). But nobody else literally got underneath a tackle." -One Knee Equals Two Feet, by John Madden GEORGE ALLEN, Head Coach, Washington Redskins "I'd rather have a great defensive end like Youngblood than anyone because if you don't have defense you are not going to win anyway. Youngblood is the closest thing to Deacon Jones I've seen. He's the best defensive end in football." -Green Bay Gazette, September, 1977 -Allen also named Youngblood to his 1979 "Dream Team". (Allen's team included 12 future Hall of Fame players and 9 others who have had serious consideration, including 5 finalists.) -Sport Magazine, October, 1979 WEEB EWBANK, Head Coach, New York Jets "The way he played in against the Minnesota Vikings in the 1976 playoffs was the closest I've ever seen a defensive end approximate Gino Marchetti. Ron Yary simply couldn't stop Youngblood, always a menace to the opposing offense, an annual All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection. A guaranteed Hall of Famer." -Football Greats, by Weeb Ewbank , 1977 HANK STRAM, Head Coach, Kansas City Chiefs "There is no question that Jack Youngblood was a dominant force, he was a great player who I sincerely believe belongs in the Hall of Fame. He did everything you could hope for and more, he took the talent the Good Lord gave him and maximized it, he did the best he could with all he was given. "He was a dominate leader for the Rams, he was aggressive, he was strong for his size and very quick. He had a speed advantage on every tackle he played against, and gave it his all every time. I had great respect for him we had to know where he was on every offensive play. "What set him apart was how he played the game. Football isn't a 60 minute game, it's a game of 4 seconds, 7 seconds, 5 seconds one after another. Jack demonstrated that concept better than anyone. When a play went away from him he would read his keys, pursued in his lane and was often in on the tackle. That's what I mean by giving 100 percent, Jack did that." -DBFN Interview, November, 20, 1997 DON COYELL, Head Coach, St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Chargers "Youngblood is so great, he's the best" -Los Angeles Times, December 25, 1975 DICK NOLAN, Head Coach, San Francisco 49ers "There are a couple of studs who may come at you on third down better than Youngblood does but they don't play the first two downs, against the run, like he does." -Washington Post, December, 1975 JIM HANIFAN, Head Coach, St. Louis Cardinals "Jack Youngblood is the best true defensive end in the NFL. He can play mean against the run as well as rush the passer." -St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 10, 1980 "On defense they've got a future Hall of Famer, Jack Youngblood. He's the John Wayne of Football." -Los Angeles Times, October 30, 1984 "I always thought the world of him. He personified professionalism. The guy came off the ball every damn time. He exploded off that ball and gave tremendous effort-always. "He was a smart football player, he wasn't as big as a lot of other players during that time, but this guy can play this game, anytime, any era-because he had a big-time heart. "He used everything he had, not that he didn't have a lot of talent going for him because he did, but he maximized everything he had. That's probably the biggest compliment you can give a player. "He was also the kind of guy who rose to the occasion, he played his best games in the big games. He was a great football player." -Pro Football Journal Interview, February, 1996 "Jack had great effort and tremendous technique. He played over at the left defensive end, where the tight end was usually sitting. So, it's not as nice a situation as it is for the guy on the right side, where the quarterback can't see you, there's usually no tight end because most teams were right-handed-the right end is shorter. "The thing I always remember was he had a tremendous upfield rush and terrific balance. In his pass rush he would give you a tremendous upfield rush. If you weren't careful, as a tackle, what he was setting you up for was his next move. "He'd start it up and then bring the inside arm and club the living heck our of you and come back inside with an underarm move. Boy, it was an effective technique. Really effective." -Pro Football Journal Interview, February, 1996 JOE BUGEL, Head Coach, Oakland Raiders "When I think of Jack Youngblood, I think of ultimate toughness. Undersized, ultimate tough-plays with broken leg. He typifies the old pro. What you always thought the NFL was all about, that's how I picture him. "He was the kind of guy who made you prepare, your preparation was impeccable, you had to so it didn't become an embarrassing situation out there. You better bring a lunch because it's an all-day sucker out there. "He was strong, he had to be. He was the ultimate guy who played with his shoulder pads under the offensive guy's shoulder pads. That's really how he played well for so many years. He was the ultimate guy who knew his strengths and weaknesses and boy, he used it all. I had the ultimate respect for the guy." -Pro Football Journal Interview, February, 1996 BUD CARSON, Head Coach, Cleveland Browns "What everybody remembers is Jack breaking his leg and playing the Championship game and Super Bowl with it, but Jack was quick, smart, he had it all. He wasn't just a guy who could run and get upfield and the contain-type pass rush, he was very strong. He was great as far playing the run and doing all the other things you have to do at defensive end. "He had great heart, just a warrior, if you know what I mean. I would consider him a Hall of Fame player, he was one of the greatest defensive ends ever. "Any time a linebacker is making sacks, defensive ends are making sacrifices. When Jim Youngblood was making sacks in 1978-82, Jack made those defenses happen, believe me. Jack Youngblood was a great team player. He was never a guy that looked at a game plan and asked, 'What's in it for me?'. That was not him at all." -DBFN Interview, June, 1997 FRITZ SHURMER, Defensive Coordinator, Green Bay Packers On a 1984 Cardinal-Ram game that Youngblood dominated. "You've got to remember we're not talking about the average guy here. What he did defies his age. What he's doing is almost an unbelievable feat at that position." -Ram Press Releases, November, 1984 "Unquestionably, Jack Youngblood belongs in the Hall of Fame. He was as good as anyone who ever played the game at his position, one of the great, great players ever to play the game. He had the ability to play the run and the pass as well. He could beat people one-on-one, he played every down, he played with pain, he not only played hurt he practiced hurt. He did all the things great players do. "He made a tremendous sacrifice when we switched to the 3-4 defense in 1983. He made an unbelievable adjustment to the new position. He was incredibly strong and as a two-gap end he was required to line up opposite the offensive tackle and take on that blocker. Jack played great in those years. What he also brought to the team was leadership. He was the consummate pro. He was special. I'd be very disappointed if he didn't make the Hall of Fame" -College & Pro Football Newsweekly Interview, 1994 BILL ARNSBERGER, Defensive Coordinator, San Diego Chargers "To be a great pass rusher you have to get the quarterback to hurry, to not throw on time. That is how sacks happen, the great ones can get pressure without much help from the secondary. When you talk about the great ones, you're talking about Gino Marchetti, Willie Davis, Doug Atkins, Jack Youngblood, and nowadays Reggie White, and Bruce Smith. Those are the ones who could really get sacks and force interceptions." College & Pro Football Newsweekly Interview, 1993 RAY MEYER, Head Coach, Indianapolis Colts "Jack Youngblood is a Hall of Fame guy, he was the best, man, the best." -DBFN Interview, January, 1997 JERRY GLANVILLE, Head Coach, Atlanta Falcons, Houston Oilers "Anybody who would line up and play with a broken leg, somebody ought to put him in the Hall of Fame. -DBFN Interview, January, 1997 RICH BROOKS, Defensive Coordinator, Atlanta Falcons "Jack played all of the special teams, kickoff returns, on the wedge; R1 and R2 on the kickoff coverage (the middle guys bust up the wedge). He was on the kick block and kick protection and the punt and punt return. "We were very good on special teams in 1971-1972. It was a real pleasure to coach Jack because he had a good attitude and enthusiasm. He was enthusiastic about it and did a great job of it. He was 245 pounds and could run really well. There's not a lot of defensive lineman that you could find on the kickoff coverage teams in the NFL. Jack was very mobile, very athletic¾he was certainly very active and very good in the special teams." -College & Pro Football Newsweekly Interview, 1994 BOBB MCKITTRICK, Offensive Line Coach, San Francisco 49ers "Jack Youngblood came into camp after the College All-Star game and missed a couple of weeks, I suppose. Talented, we were excited and pleased to have him. In his second year he was a guy who played as well as Deacon Jones had the year before, from reviewing the films. I know Charlie Cowan and Harry Schuh had a lot of respect for him. "He was a very quick, talented, smart player. As he got older he was extremely smart and was still a factor all the way until he retired in 1984. I know he was exceptionally good in 1979-80-81 -he was a real challenge for Keith Fahnhorst. "His switch to the 3-4, that was tough for a guy who had been out in open space. It's tough lining up over an offensive lineman. We did a lot of combo blocks, slips-we cut people a lot. Jack was in that position that was vulnerable to Randy Cross or the tight end going each way. It's a tough position anyway without being accustomed to it. It was remarkable for him to move in there and play as well as he did-and he did play well. I has a lot of respect for him, he had a great career" -Pro Football Journal Interview, February, 1996 FLOYD PETERS, Defensive Line Coach, Oakland Raiders "Youngblood was a smaller, fast/speed/quick guy that had really good strength. He had quick strength where you can jerk a man off balance. "He had tremendous strength in his upper body. So, he was attacking a man, getting him off balance and jerking him back. When he jerked a tackle with his powerful arms he'd throw the guy off balance and Jack was free to go to the passer." -Pro Football Journal Interview, March, 1996 Fred Whittingham, Defensive Coordinator, Oakland Raiders "What Jack did on special teams was he was excellent on blocking field goals. In fact, he won a couple of games for us by blocking kicks. He also played wingback on kick protection, but I remember one game in particular, Jack blocked two field goals and won the game for us. "Jack worked hard, on and off the field. He was an avid weight lifter. He probably wasn't as naturally big as he played. He was a hard worker in practice, also. He was always striving for perfection. Jack had a great personality to play the game and it was contagious to a lot of those young guys we had. "Jack's biggest asset was his ability to rush the passer because his first two steps up the field were as quick as anybody who played that position, defensive end. He had quick steps up the field that were unbelievable. He had a very strong upper-body so he could use his hands real well for his pass rush techniques. He was just an excellent pass rusher. Plus, the fact that he played 110% all the time. He never took a down off, he played all-out on every down. "In the 3-4 defense he did a good job two-gapping the tackle and keeping people off our linebackers. Jack Youngblood played the scheme real well, which was a new for him, but being unselfish, the kind of individual he was he played it real well for us." -Pro Football Journal Interview, March, 1996 PAUL WIGGIN, Director of Pro Personnel, Minnesota Vikings "Jack Youngblood, he was a great player. He absolutely should be in the Hall of Fame. He is right up there with Gino Marchetti, Deacon Jones as one of the greatest defensive ends ever. "Youngblood was an arc rusher who had great leverage. He had great speed and quickness, with a great get-off time. He'd get a tackle on his heels and beat him to his outside shoulder and then rip by or do a change-up move. Boy, he got a lot of back-door sacks like that" -Pro Football Journal Interview, December, 1999 TOM CATLIN, Assistant Coach, Seattle Seahawks "Youngblood was an All-pro for years and years, being a weight- lifter, he was very strong. He didn't always want to play the run blocks but he did and always did a great job of it-he understood that it had to be done. What Jack wanted to do was rush the passer and he was amazing at that, one of the best ever. He always led our team in getting to the quarterback, he probably would have led the NFL but they didn't count sacks back then. "Jack realized that you can't go upfield all the time, sometimes you have to butt the guy in front of you and he did that well, he played the run better than any outside guy in the league. Our defense was always one of the best at stopping the run and Jack was one of the major reasons why. He was a great, great player in all aspects of the game" -College & Pro Football Weekly Interview, October, 1993 Sid Hall, Scout, New York Jets "Jack came in as a number one draft choice when Deacon Jones was getting up in years. We were excited for him. From the first time I saw him I knew he was going to be a star. Jack was a really hard working guy. He dedicated himself to football. He was smart, he studied all the film and teaching of Deac. He was just a heck of a kid, in all respects. "He did a great job when he played, he loved to play, he wanted to play, he was very competitive. He worked his fanny off and played hard. He probably would have started as a rookie on most teams but he was stuck behind two Pro Bowlers. "Jack wasn't that big, 245-50 pounds when we got him but he had real great quickness off the ball. He established himself as a quick rusher and used the headslap, club and swim move. He put combinations together and he had a good idea of leverage. He was able to use the other person's weight to his advantage. He'd use leverage to get the other guy off balance and push him outside or arm over the top and swim over the guy-he mastered all those moves. Or, he'd just blow by the guy. The more he played the better he got for 14 years. He had a great heart, he'd play no matter how bad he was nicked. When the game started, he started." -Pro Football Journal Interview, February, 1996 Garrett Giemont, Strength Coach, Oakland Raiders "Jack was a complete player. He came in from the University Florida, as a young person, as part of the first wave of changing new players who lifted weights. He did it from 1971 to the end, AND he picked it up as he got older. He did more work, quality work. His regiment picked up. His workout went two hours a day, every day, he never missed it. "His bench press was in the 450 range and stayed there his whole career and his incline press went from 225 to 315 pounds, which is even more impressive. He could bench press 225 pounds well over thirty times." "Also, he never did lose a step. His 'get off' time in the 10-yard dash was 1.65, and we timed that until the end of his career as well-he never dropped off a lick. The reason was he worked his rear end off. "He played with great leg strength, that part wasn't measured because he was a speed guy but he had a strong back and legs and after engaging a guy could push him back and work his move-a club, rip, or bull rush. "Not only did he pass rush well, he played the run. He had a lot of tackles every year. He wanted to get up the field but he played within the scheme of the defense. When he rushed the passer he was as good as any who ever played the game, from the beginning to the end. "Aside from his strength and quickness, he was the backbone of that defense. He was a gentleman with great compassion and he loved to play. He enjoyed the preparation and the competition. He never boasted, even if he beat a guy badly. "He was the consummate pro. He was a leader, not from talking, but from getting the job done. He was an ambassador to football, a true warrior of the game. "He played hurt: he played with a broken leg, broken ribs, he had hurt hands, shoulders, knees. It was amazing the passion he into the game. Jack is what pro football is all about, he's what the Hall of Fame is all about" -College & Pro Football Newsweekly Interview, 1995 EMMAL ALLEN, Special Assistant who rated all NFL players, Dallas Cowboys "Jack Youngblood is better than Carl Eller. He's the best pass rusher in the league." -Dallas Morning News, January 2, 1976 "Jack Youngblood is the best defensive end in football." -New York Post, January 4, 1979 LaVern Torgenson, Assistant Coach, Washington Redskins "Youngblood is excellent against the run and he's a great pass rusher." -Washington Post, January 6, 1979 Rod Dowhower, Head Coach, Indianapolis Colts After Youngblood's performance versus the Cardinals in 1984 "It was Jack Youngblood. Pure and Simple, the guy just dominated the game." Did Tackle Tootie Robbins get double team help? "Yes, at times but we had no idea the guy (Youngblood) would be a raving maniac." -St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 2, 1984 Mike Giddings, Assistant Coach, San Francisco 49ers "Jack Youngblood was a speed/wide 4-3 defensive end. He was a warrior who played the left side. He was tops despite right (weak) side weight. Known for ferocious pass rush but as a wide defensive end he was also a top run defender." -College & Pro Football Newsweekly Interview, 1995 Ralph Wilson, Owner, Buffalo Bills -In the summer of 1976 the Rams were trying to obtain O.J. Simpson in a trade. When the Bills asked that Youngblood be included in the deal was it scrapped showing 'Blood's value. "Youngblood is the key but the Rams have said he is untouchable." -Los Angeles Times, July 24, 1976 Don Klosterman, Administrator, Rams, Colts, Chiefs, Oilers, Chargers -On the O.J. Simpson trade saga "Jack was untouchable. We were not about to give up one of our defensive stalwarts. Of course Jack was our best defensive lineman, in my thoughts. He was the cornerstone of our defense, I thought, without question he was the best while I was there. Jack Youngblood should be in the Hall of Fame." -College & Pro Football Newsweekly Interview, 1995

FRANCO HARRIS, Hall of Fame Running Back, Pittsburgh Steelers "I remember that guy. I remember Jack Youngblood very much. He was a tough competitor, he should be elected to the Hall of Fame." JIM OTIS, FULLBACK, CARDINALS "He's the best defensive end we've ever played against. He's got it all-movement, speed, strength." -Los Angeles Times, December 28, 1975 "Youngblood is the best defensive man I've ever played against. Nobody plays his position better." TED HENDRICKS, Hall of Fame Linebacker, Raiders, Packers, Colts "We need to push for Ed White to be in the Hall of Fame. Another one that really should be in is Jack Youngblood of the Rams. Those are the two that I think are most deserving." JACK HAM, Hall of Fame Linebacker, Pittsburgh Steelers "Jack should definitely make the Hall of Fame. Jack was the best defensive end we had to face." JOHN BRODIE, All-Pro Quarterback, San Francisco 49ers In an article about the NFL's hardest hitters Brodie gave his opinion about Jack Youngblood's disposition on the field. "Jack Youngblood is a very nasty player." SONNY JURGESON, Hall of Fame Quarterback, Washington Redskins "He was a great player. He was a player that had a motor, he came all the time. He didn't take plays off. A lot of guys in the league, they knew when to play, they'd play hard one play and the next play they wouldn't play hard. They'd say hey, 'the play's going away from me. Jack Youngblood played every play. He should be in the Hall of Fame, He was THAT good." JOE NAMATH, Hall of Fame Quarterback, New York Jets "Jack Youngblood, I'd want him on my team every day of the week, anytime. The man was a 100% guy and was a wonderful with his teammates. I hope he's elected, he was one heck of a player." ROGER STAUBACH, Hall of Fame Quarterback, Dallas Cowboys "I consider him a phenomenal football player. I'd have to give Youngblood the vote as the best defensive player I ever competed against." -Time Enough To Win, a book by Roger Staubach "I think Jack Youngblood has got to be a Hall of Fame player-He did it all. He was a great player, his speed, he never quit, he played with a broken leg once. He's somebody I would recognize as a Hall of Fame player." -St. Louis Rams Press Release, January, 1996 "Over the last 7, or 8 years, Jack Youngblood has been the best defensive end in the NFL, and the most consistent, This year (1981) he is having is one of his best years, and that is saying something." FRAN TARTKENTON, Hall of Fame Quarterback, Minnesota Vikings On the 1974 playoff game versus the Rams- "We advanced by beating the Los Angeles Rams in a game people like Ed White and Ron Yary insist to this day was the most brutal football game they have played in. Most of it was legal all right. The line play was savage, particularly between Yary and Jack Youngblood of the Rams. They are two of the greatest in football, and on virtually every play they pounded each other as though this one play would end the universe. It was just awesome." ARCHIE MANNING, All-Pro Quarterback, New Orleans Saints "The Rams front four is the best I ever faced. I've got to say that Youngblood was nice enough to pick me up every time he knocked my ass off." -Los Angeles Times, September 23, 1974 "Jack was an unbelievable athlete, he probably hit me more than anyone else in my career." RON JAWORSKI, All-Pro Quarterback, Philadelphia Eagles "Jack was one of the greatest players of ever. He should be in the Hall." DON STROCK, Quarterback, Miami Dolphins "Jack Youngblood was a guy who was great at his position and never got enough credit for the job he did." DANNY WHITE, Pro Bowl, Quarterback, Dallas Cowboys "I remember Jack being a good guy. He was just a good ole' nice guy until he hit you. Then he acted like he felt bad, he'd help you up dust you off and then hit you even harder the next time around. He was a fierce competitor."

MORE QUOTES FRANCO HARRIS, Hall of Fame Running Back, Pittsburgh Steelers "I remember that guy. I remember Jack Youngblood very much. He was a tough competitor, he should be elected to the Hall of Fame." JIM OTIS, FULLBACK, CARDINALS "He's the best defensive end we've ever played against. He's got it all-movement, speed, strength." -Los Angeles Times, December 28, 1975 "Youngblood is the best defensive man I've ever played against. Nobody plays his position better." TED HENDRICKS, Hall of Fame Linebacker, Raiders, Packers, Colts "We need to push for Ed White to be in the Hall of Fame. Another one that really should be in is Jack Youngblood of the Rams. Those are the two that I think are most deserving." JACK HAM, Hall of Fame Linebacker, Pittsburgh Steelers "Jack should definitely make the Hall of Fame. Jack was the best defensive end we had to face." JOHN BRODIE, All-Pro Quarterback, San Francisco 49ers In an article about the NFL's hardest hitters Brodie gave his opinion about Jack Youngblood's disposition on the field. "Jack Youngblood is a very nasty player." SONNY JURGESON, Hall of Fame Quarterback, Washington Redskins "He was a great player. He was a player that had a motor, he came all the time. He didn't take plays off. A lot of guys in the league, they knew when to play, they'd play hard one play and the next play they wouldn't play hard. They'd say hey, 'the play's going away from me. Jack Youngblood played every play. He should be in the Hall of Fame, He was THAT good." JOE NAMATH, Hall of Fame Quarterback, New York Jets "Jack Youngblood, I'd want him on my team every day of the week, anytime. The man was a 100% guy and was a wonderful with his teammates. I hope he's elected, he was one heck of a player." ROGER STAUBACH, Hall of Fame Quarterback, Dallas Cowboys "I consider him a phenomenal football player. I'd have to give Youngblood the vote as the best defensive player I ever competed against." -Time Enough To Win, a book by Roger Staubach "I think Jack Youngblood has got to be a Hall of Fame player-He did it all. He was a great player, his speed, he never quit, he played with a broken leg once. He's somebody I would recognize as a Hall of Fame player." -St. Louis Rams Press Release, January, 1996 "Over the last 7, or 8 years, Jack Youngblood has been the best defensive end in the NFL, and the most consistent, This year (1981) he is having is one of his best years, and that is saying something." FRAN TARTKENTON, Hall of Fame Quarterback, Minnesota Vikings On the 1974 playoff game versus the Rams- "We advanced by beating the Los Angeles Rams in a game people like Ed White and Ron Yary insist to this day was the most brutal football game they have played in. Most of it was legal all right. The line play was savage, particularly between Yary and Jack Youngblood of the Rams. They are two of the greatest in football, and on virtually every play they pounded each other as though this one play would end the universe. It was just awesome." ARCHIE MANNING, All-Pro Quarterback, New Orleans Saints "The Rams front four is the best I ever faced. I've got to say that Youngblood was nice enough to pick me up every time he knocked my ass off." -Los Angeles Times, September 23, 1974 "Jack was an unbelievable athlete, he probably hit me more than anyone else in my career." RON JAWORSKI, All-Pro Quarterback, Philadelphia Eagles "Jack was one of the greatest players of ever. He should be in the Hall." DON STROCK, Quarterback, Miami Dolphins "Jack Youngblood was a guy who was great at his position and never got enough credit for the job he did." DANNY WHITE, Pro Bowl, Quarterback, Dallas Cowboys "I remember Jack being a good guy. He was just a good ole' nice guy until he hit you. Then he acted like he felt bad, he'd help you up dust you off and then hit you even harder the next time around. He was a fierce competitor."

TEAMMATE'S QUOTES RAM TEAMMATE QUOTES MERLIN OLSEN, Hall of Fame Defensive Tackle, Rams "Youngblood is the perfect defensive end. I think Jack's definitely of the quality that should be in the Hall of Fame. I don't think there is any question about it." DEACON JONES, Hall of Fame Defensive End, Rams, Chargers, Redskins "When I first came in contact with Jack Youngblood in 1971 I noticed what a super individual he was. He wasn't a smart-mouthed rookie punk. I went through the rest of his career with a respect for him on one basis. That basis was he was a MAN, understand? A Man. He wanted to understand the business. He put forth the effort needed and I will respect that until the day I die. If I had anything to do with it I would put Jack in the Hall of Fame, he belongs there, he had over 150 sacks and was All-pro every year in his prime" -College & Pro Football Newsweekly Interview, 1993 "Youngblood was an awesome football player. He played on the Rams for 14 seasons and he played consistently on every down. He even played with a broken leg. He was the last of the old breed of NFL players, and he led the Rams to their only Super Bowl appearance thus far. So why isn't Youngblood in the Hall of Fame? "He knew how to dominate the offensive unit and he knew how to pressure the quarterback. He had intensity, speed, quickness, desire, and talent. Youngblood played his heart out and missed only one game in his career. He mastered the ability to play with pain. He played in Super Bowl XIV with a broken leg. How many players in any era would be willing or able to do that?" LARRY BROOKS, All-Pro Defensive Tackle, Rams "Nobody can block Youngblood one-on-one. " "The privilege of watching him play was very gratifying." FRED DRYER, Pro Bowl Defensive End, Rams "Jack Youngblood best represents pro football. Jack is the only player I ever knew who would, and did, play with a broken leg." There is nothing more you can ask of a guy. He does things I cannot understand." "Jack should be in the Hall of Fame, I believe. I played with him 10 of his 14 years and I played the same position, defensive end, so I know how to play that spot. He knows how to play it. Jack did things no one else did. He had tremendous leg drive, I didn't have that kind of leg drive, and speed and strength. No one today plays that spot better than Jack did. "Look, you can't say any more about Jack as a person. He's more dedicated than anybody I've ever known. The guy loved to play football. To me, he epitomized football." Jackie Slater, All-Pro Tackle,Rams "Jack Youngblood epitomizes what being a pro football player is all about. I'd say 75% of what I learned as a football player has taken place here against Jack on the practice field." -Slater listed Jack as one of the toughest opponents he faced in his 20-year career. "Going against Jack every day in practice was very, very tough." Dennis Harrah,All-Pro Guard, Rams "He's the hardest working guy on the team, probably the NFL. He's an outstanding person and a natural leader. He truly is number one. He could be called Mr. Football." "He's the toughest player I've ever been associated with. Look at Jacks fingers: They look like the fingers of a man who put in transmissions all his life, without any tools." Doug France, Pro Bowl Tackle, Rams "I had to go against Jack every day in practice. I used to dread those sessions. You can't slack up against a guy like Jack because he goes 110% all the time. Working out against Jack made me a better ball player . . . if I can block Jack I can block anyone in the game because he is definitely the best in the NFL." Bill Bain, Tackle, Rams "Jack Youngblood is the greatest player ever to play this game and I am trying be one-tenth of him. I am trying to emulate him right now and not doing a very good job of it." "If you could draw up a team with men half as good as he is, you'd have a Super Bowl team every year. There will never be another one like him. Physically, mentally, everything, he was the best." Doug Reed, Defensive End, Rams "I learned from Youngblood how to compete on every down. I learned how to play football all over again. I had some things going for me but I could look at him and I could get a clear understanding of what my job was. I learned pass rushing techniques from him and Jack was a good two-gapper, too." (A two-gapper is the end in a base 3-4 defense in which Jack played his last two years.) Rich Saul, All-Pro Center, Rams "He deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. He was one of the best defensive ends ever to play the game. But if someone chooses to overlook him, that doesn't mean he wasn't a great, great player. Fame is one thing. Greatness is another." "Jack was an intense guy with a lot of pride and poise. He was smart, tough, disciplined-a team ballplayer. His peers looked up to him, they respected him as an individual, because he let his helmet and shoulder pads do the talking, he didn't say a lot in the locker room."It was really fun to watch him, especially in the film room-he had moves that were unbelievable. He was the star of that great defensive line." Johnnie Johnson, All-Pro Safety, Rams "You know, it seems as though he hurts all week but he shows up on Sunday and plays the best game he's played that year and that's the inspiration to the younger players." Rod Perry, All-Pro Cornerback, Rams "Jack brought a lot of pressure from the outside. He was extremely quick off the football and he didn't allow people to get their hands on him. He also did an excellent job of playing the run-if anything came to the outside Jack would stop it. "He was a very, very, tough-tough son-of-gun that was highly competitive. He really pushed himself to be the best. "He was the team spokesman, team leader, who wanted to lead by example-he did an excellent job of that. Once he got on the field he brought it-every day, every play." Pat Thomas, All-Pro Cornerback, Rams "You won't find a more fierce competitor than Jack Youngblood. Jack was a hard worker, not only that he was a big-time leader on our team. A lot of people lead by example on the field but Jack was a leader off the field also. He had a lot of people who looked up to him, he had that personality about him. People wanted to follow him. It was a direct result of the things he did on the field. "Jack did a good job of playing the run but the thing he did best was put a lot of heat on the quarterback. He was fluid and he would stand up in crucial situations-you could always depend on him. He was the catalyst of our defense." Nolan Cromwell, All-Pro Safety, Rams "Jack made it easier for our secondary because anytime you put consistent pressure on the quarterback and make him throw on time and not hold the ball it's going to give you, as a defensive back, a lot better chance to defend the pass. "Usually, with the pressure we had from Jack and the other defensive linemen, the receivers didn't do a lot of double moves. They didn't have time for what I call "gimmick routes". "Jack was one of THE leaders in the locker room. His commitment to establish the tempo of the game. He did so much that never shows up in the stats, it's all locker room-type stuff. He was also committed to developing younger players to have the type of attitude it takes to play the game." Pat Haden, Quarterback, Rams "Jack was a phenomenal pass rusher. Not only that but as a team leader, too. When I come here to New Orleans, I think about Archie Manning because Jack got after him so often for so many years. "Jack was our captain, our leader, which he took very, very seriously and he was one heck of a player. You always talk about him as a pass rusher but this guy played hard every single down, any kind of weather, played in the Super Bowl with a broken leg. A courageous guy, a fun guy to be around. He deserves to be in the Hall. "He was a quickness kind of guy and the opposing team always had to account for him first, they usually tried to get him with not only a tackle but maybe a back or tight end. They always had two people trying to account for Jack. It was his quickness and determination that got him to the quarterback so much. He was a dominant player." Joe Namath, Quarterback, New York Jets "Jack Youngblood the All-Time great of the Rams, was great at the rip technique move. He was also a master of the swim." -Pro Football Techniques, by Joe Namath John Madden, Head Coach, Oakland Raiders Madden went so far as to say no one else ever perfected this technique. This is an innovation that should be attributed to Youngblood who used it so well for 14 years. " . . . As a pass rusher, he had a way of getting underneath the offensive tackle, forcing him to stand up almost straight. That way Jack had all the leverage. Watching him on films, I was fascinated by how he did it. "'Watch this', I would tell my defensive ends, 'Watch how Youngblood gets under that tackle'. "They would try it, but they couldn't do it. Of all our ends, Tony Cline came closest to doing it, but he couldn't lean into that tackle the way Jack did, getting underneath the tackle's shoulder pad and taking away his strength. Other good pass rushers used quick moves, or got an arm on the tackle's shoulder and spun him, or whaapped the tackle with a head slap (before it was ruled illegal). But nobody else literally got underneath a tackle." -One Knee Equals Two Feet, by John Madden Jim Hanifan, Offensive Line Coach, Washington Redskins "Jack had great effort and tremendous technique. He played over at the left defensive end, where the tight end was usually sitting. So, it's not as nice a situation as it is for the guy on the right side, where the quarterback can't see you, there's usually no tight end because most teams were right-handed-the right end is shorter. "The thing I always remember was he had a tremendous upfield rush and terrific balance. In his pass rush he would give you a tremendous upfield rush. If you weren't careful, as a tackle, what he was setting you up for was his next move. "He'd start it up and then bring the inside arm and club the living heck our of you and come back inside with an underarm move. Boy, it was an effective technique. Really effective."

TACKLES QUOTES DAN DEIRDORF, Hall of Fame Tackle, St. Louis Cardinals "I played against Jack my entire career and I can say that he was the most difficult assignment I ever had during my career. He was the most challenging player I ever had to block. No question in my mind, Jack Youngblood deserves to be in the Hall of Fame." "He's extremely competitive and extremely strong, a lot stronger than most other ends, Youngblood is the best overall." "Youngblood is by far the best defensive end I've ever faced and may be the best all-around end in football." "Jack Youngblood is the best all-around defensive end in football and that isn't just pregame buildup. He plays the run really well, he's a tough guy and he's smart." "He's the best. Period." ART SHELL, Hall of Fame Tackle, Oakland Raiders "Jack Youngblood was a terror. He had a lot of heart, he played hard, he played tough, and he was as quick as a hiccup. He was on the small side but he had great pass rush moves. "Jack was a hellacious player. He had a great career. He definitely should be in the Hall of Fame, he was one of the great ones of all time." RON YARY, All-Pro Tackle, Minnesota Vikings "I have nothing but respect for Jack Youngblood." "Youngblood isn't the biggest defensive end in the league, but he's big enough at around 250 and he's tall. He's quick and strong and has good instincts. I'd say he's been about the best the past couple of years." "The guy is just fabulous. He may be the best defensive lineman in football. He's got mobility and strength and he never stops coming." "Jack is quicker than I am and just as strong. He's the best defensive lineman in football." "In my opinion he's probably the best defensive end I've ever played against. "It's his quickness, his understanding of the game, his great speed. He's a smart defensive end. You can never be over aggressive against him because he comes off the blocks so fast. "I've never seen him blocked in a big game. Even when the Cowboys beat them in the playoffs 37-7 that year, Rayfield Wright couldn't block him. But people didn't notice that because of the way the game went. "I'll tell you, you just can't believe how good Jack Youngblood really is. If he stays at this level for another couple of years, he'll go into the Hall of Fame." "I'd have to say Jack Youngblood was the toughest I ever faced. It's his quickness, his intensity, plus he's smart. If he takes a chance, he takes it at the right time. He's so quick he's not afraid to take an inside move when he still has outside responsibilities because he's quick enough to adjust." Rayfield Wright, All-Pro Tackle, Dallas Cowboys Wright listed the top players he ever faced. Youngblood was listed along with Deacon Jones. "Of the guys I played, they were all 'bad' but Jack Youngblood was phenomenal. He was very strong but he did not use his strength to beat you. Jack was a finesse player, he used his speed and quickness. I have a great amount of respect for Jack. He always was tough to prepare for and play against. He deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, he is as good as anyone who played his position."

FORMER RAM COACHES John Robinson, Head Coach, Los Angeles Rams "I think that Jack Youngblood is the best football player I've ever been around. He is truly special. He has worked harder to achieve greatness than anyone I have ever seen. I've never see anyone in my career display more leadership. From the beginning, he said, 'I'm going to make this team work'. For that I will be eternally grateful." "All of us assume greatness is a gift. But anyone who's been around greatness on a daily basis knows that's not true. Jack worked harder to be great in the brief time I've been around than any I've ever seen." "Here's a guy who works out for six days, almost ritualistically, to get ready for Sunday. For two years I have been pointing to him and saying 'That's how you do it'." "He was tough everyday. I'm not talking about a guy who gets in fist fights or makes one big play then disappears. It was like Jack said, 'This is what I am, and this is what I'm going to be every damn day of the week. To me, he epitomizes what the Hall of Fame is all about." Chuck Knox, Head Coach, Rams, Bills, and Seahawks "He was a great, great football player. He had so many big plays in five years, it was amazing. In my book he'll go down as one of the top defensive ends in the history of pro football." "Jack was a great defensive end who's pass rush ability was as good as anyone who played the game." Ray Malavasi, Head Coach, Rams "I think he did a helluva job. He's wasn't 100 percent because of the broken leg but he gave 120 percent. He's a winner." Marv Goux, Defensive Line Coach, Los Angeles Rams On the Cardinal Game,November 1, 1984 "It was the finest performance I have ever seen by an individual player." "I've never seen a man compete as hard as he does on every down. And I've seen a few." Jack Faulkner, Coach Administrator, Los Angeles Rams "He has such a high threshold of pain. You look at his hands. Talk about a guy who needs operations. The year he play with the broken leg, it was awesome. And it was broken. I know, I saw the X-rays." "Our captain. Jack was a left-side guy, he had to put up with tight ends double-team blocking him. He was a tough kid, a good athlete. He had finesse and quickness. He was a determined guy-his determination was unbelievable. He was very dedicated to the game, just total focus on the game. When he walked onto the field he was totally focused on the game. "His job was to meet traps-he could read things so quick. He played with a broken bone in his leg, totally dedicated. He could block pain out -I don't know how he did it. I'm surprised he isn't in the Hall of Fame." BUD CARSON "Jack Youngblood is one of the greatest people I've ever known to have on your ballclub when things are going bad because he will pick you up. He will not let your players get down." Fran Tarkenton, Hall of Fame Quarterback, Minnesota Vikings "There's the best defensive end in footballC Jack Youngblood. He's one of the most intense football players I've ever played against. He's hand fisticuffs with most of the quarterbacks in the league, including me. He's even had a couple with Roger Staubach, but he's a quality player and a quality person. There is no player I have more respect for than number 85, Jack Youngblood."