To all of you who have sent your memory of Jack I say THANK YOU.
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The memory I had of Jack was him playing on that broken leg,man that guy was tough and always around the ball.He was definitely a thorn in Staubach`s side. Congrat`s on the Super Bowl,hope you guys can bring it back for the NFC(where it belongs). DALLAS COWBOYS WORLD CHAMPIONS 71,77,92,93,95 SHAKY When I think of Jack standing out on the field on *D*. I always knew their was a chance that the Rams would stop the other teams *O*. Boy, I loved that feeling!!!!!!!!! Shaky G. NICKERSON As young boy in the 1970's Jack Youngblood was my idol. One vivid memory I have is seeing youngblood's elbow mangled up looking like a torn piece of meat. I have no idea what game or even what year it was, but to see big jack snarling and smashing into offensive players; what balls!!!! Jack Youngblood is the all time BADDEST in my books; regards, Greg Nickerson JAN GETTING We know the real reason 'Blood isn't in the HoF -his team never won the big one. Take Bradshaw, for instance. His playing was erratic, but he was surrounded by a fantastic team that made him look good. I rest my case. CHRIS BELJIE Jack Youngblood was my boyhood idol In 4th grade that was 1976, for Christmas I got his jearsey and pretty much wore It non stop til I out grew It. Now It hangs on a bedroom wall, once and a while my 8 yr. old gets to wear It. I hope to permantly retire It when Jack makes the Hall of fame. This web site brings back memories, thanks for the info on his book and where to get it Chris Brelje Portland, Oregon Class of 1985 RAUL SOTO Growing up a L.A.Rams Fan I always neutralized an argument by simply stating that IF they get PAST Jack they still had to get by JIM Youngblood !! An Icon of a moment would summerize Jack Youngblood and his career ; In the last quarter of a game,the Rams losing, Jack Youngblood had made the play to end a series and force a punt. As the the TV camera zoomed in on Jack Youngblood, simply getting up, unstrapping his chin strap and limping to the sidelines,the camera focused in on Jack's uniform all 'Bloody and Torn' John Madden commented in admiration "Look at this, this is what the Game of Football is all about" the Rams went on to win that game and then to the Super Bowl.............................................Jack Youngblood Belongs in the Hall Of Fame !!!!!!!!!!! Raul Soto Always an L.A. Rams El Paso,Tx HENRY QUINTERO Jack Youngblood should be in the Hall. He was a great player, but a better human being. Remember the NFC Championship Game against the Vikes in '76, 0 degrees and he never quit. MIKE SHEPARD I am a Steeler fan and I was at Super Bowl XIV (Steelers vs Rams) and watching Youngblood play the WHOLE game with a broken leg, all of us (Steeler fans) became Youngblood fans. If the voters of the HOF saw what I saw and ddn't vote for Youngblood, don't buy his rag cause he's an idiot. Mike TIM JACKSON I used to hate Jack Youngblood and the Rams in the 70's. He always played my Cowboys tough. Now, as the years have gone by, I am a fan of Youngblood's (I still hate the Rams, though) ROBERT GATES Over 150 sacks, played in over 200 straight games, was Captain of a defense that was one of the all-time greats,led his team to 7 consecutives division titles (NFL RECORD) and not in the Hall of Fame. I don't need to say anymore. JIM THOMAS To the Hall of Fame voters. PLEASE CHECK THE QUOTE LINK. AND READ!!!! RON TRASK I would like to ask the voters what Lee Roy Selmon did that Jack did not do (or more) Selmon is a HOF Players but so is Jack. PHIL ANDERSON Being a 49er fan since 1970, the rivalry between us and the Rams was heated. But, the one Ram player that stood out was Jack Youngblood. He deserves to be in the HOF. STEVE JACKSON Jack Youngblood was the best DE in football.Just ask the coaches. CHUCK HAMPTON Jack Youngblood should of been a first time voted in. I will book a bet that the reason he is not in is because of not winning the Super Bowl. I t wasn't the defense of the Rams fault. CHAD FERTIG Jack Youngblood was the Rams in the 70's. One of the greatest defensive ends of all-time. If he doesn't make it this year, let's build him a Hall of Fame. PAUL LANE First, what your doing is truly great. I love these webpages of Jack Youngblood and the Los Angeles Rams. Jack is more qualified than half those players in the Hall of Fame. STEVE ROBERTS Here is my "one Jack Youngblood Moment" that I will never forget. Sure, everyone talks about how he played every defensive down in both the NFL Championship game in 1980 and the Super Bowl in the same year with a broken leg. And he definitely deserves to me remembered and honored for his fortitude. But I recall a game back in 1984. It was an early November midseason game at ironically at St. Louis against the St. Louis Cardinals. Of all the great games that Youngblood played that was the one in which he was the most dominant. He recorded three sacks that afternoon, and did a great job of stopping the run. But he also saved the game for us when he blocked St. Louis' last-second field goal attempt. The score at the the time was 16-13, and the Cardinals were trying to send the game into overtime. I'll just always remember the entire Ram bench running out on the field and congratulating him, hugging him and just basking in a great victory. Furthermore, the Rams finished that year with a record of 10-6 and securing a playoff berth. The Cardinals finished that year 9-7. Guees who would have gone to the playoffs that year if the Rams hadn't beaten the Cardinals on that long-ago afternoon? Yes, Youngblood was one heck of a player--a money player, a clutch player. It's too bad the Los Angeles Rams couldn't get back to the Super Bowl before he retired. Oh, how I would have loved to watch Jack Youngblood have another crack for the championship that unfortunaley eluded him. But what a great player he was. BTW, he was interviewed on ESPN radio tonight. He didn't mention that game against the Cardinals, but of course he spent a lot of time discussing the 1979-1980 Super Bowl season. Rightfully so, but I'll never forget that game against the Cardinals. And if memory serves me correctly, I believe Jim Hanifan was the head coach of the Cardinals that year. I have no doubt that he would also remember that afternoon when Youngblood almost singlehandly won the game for us. Anyway, for what's it worth that's my memory of Jack Youngblood. Let's put it this way: The pro football hall of fame is somehow incomplete without him. Good luck in your efforts to have him elected to the Hall. He surely belongs with the immortals of the world's greatest game. Steve Roberts TOM SANDERS I am a Jet fan, but, any football fan has to be a Youngblood fan. He was that great. TERRY CANTRELL Jack Youngblood played the run great and when you see he has over 150 sacks too, that says he is one of the greatest of alltime. CHUCK PETERS I am a die hard Ram fan and Jack is my favorite of all-time. Playing 2 and a half games with a broken leg, they should make a Hall for him. CHARLES BACKMAN I think it has been said already, give him his just due. RICHARD ANDERSON Jack Youngblood career stats make him a Hall a Famer. MIKE THORTON I am a die hard Viking fan and I used to hate Jack Youngblood, but, as time goes by I miss those NFC Championship games the Rams and Vikings had in the 70's. I hope Ron Yary and Jack Youngblood both make it. FRANKIE My late father was a ticket holder since 1947, when the rams moved from Ohio, He said jack was one of the best and had run Deacon Jones out of town fro a new era. My favorite memory of Jack was the playoff game Vs Dallas he had cahonies that day the average player today would have said IM done but not Jack he continued to chase Stabach in the back field, and the sideline celebration the next week Vs Tampa Bay as Rams broadcaster Al Wisk was saying The Rams are in the Super Bowl as Jack was celebrating in the locker room with their theme song that year Aint no stoppen us now. Jack Belongs in the Hall and when he goes in go in as a LOS ANGELES RAM GREG JOHNS Growing up in LA during the 70's, Jack was my idol. The relentlessness with which he played was something to admire. My father was an acquaintance to one of the Cardinals during the 70's so I was able to attend the 1975 game in the Coliseum. I remember Lawrence McCutcheon running all over the Cardinal defense, but mostly I remember Jack Youngblood's interception for a touchdown. After scoring, I remember him firing the ball into the stands for us fans to celebrate. As Hall of Fame voting weekend approaches, I hope that the best defensive end of his era finally gets his due. Maybe if he would have gone into broadcasting, such as the inferior as a player Howie Long did, he would already be in the Hall. This is the year. PETE SMITH Being a die hard Ram fan, it seems I'm a die hard Jack Youngblood fan. It is truly a mockery he isn't already in. THOMAS A. BLACK Let me add this up 150 plus sacks,played in over 200 consecutive games and played 2 and a half games on a broken leg. That doesn't add up to the Hall? EQUEST Jack essentially invented the swim move. This guy was almost universally considered the premeire DE in the game by his peers. A totally selfless player who did whatever it took. This guy is definitly at least on par with Lawrence Taylor and Reggie White. It's a travesty that he wasn't a first ballot Hall of Famer. The Hall has no credibility without him. Jack Youngblood was on par with Deacon Jones, Gino Marchetti, and few others. 'Ever see how pathetic LT was in covering tight ends in the flats? Remember, for much of the 70's, the line Youngblood led was so tough on QB's that the Rams didn't have any blitz plays in their playbook. Their linebackers covered receivers and tackled runners. Let's see LT do that. (Could LT make a team if he didn't get to blitz QB's?) Put him in the hall, or close the joint up! GREG SANDS Only that a friend and I were in a video store in Tustin, CA about 1988 or so and Jack came in to rent a video. We couldn't believe how big he was and he had a ram's head ring that I could have worn around my neck! STUART LANG First off, I salute you sir for your effort on making these web pages. Jack Youngblood should be in the hall of fame. If I say that, a lifelong 49er fan that hates the Rams. That mean Youngblood must be great and he was. JEFF ADAMS Jack Youngblood should already be in Canton. DAVE SWINDELL I'm a die-hard Bronco fan,but, I do know greatness and Jack Youngblood has that in spades. It i a shame he isn't in and I hope this Saturday is his day. JEFF WILLIAMS Hey, let's all get together this Saturday night and celebrate Jack Youngblood getting int the HOF. My place. MIKE ANDERSON Great player and great tribute to him, I hope he gets in. thanks RICHARD LAITINEN ALL I CAN SAY TO JACK IS THANK YOU FOR SO MANY HAPPY MEMORIES OF GREAT GAMES, GREAT PLAYS, AND GREAT QUOTES. YOU WERE IN GRAND RAPIDS MI. AWHILE BACK AND I MISSED YOU. I HAD TO WORK. I HAVE YOUR ROOKIE CARD AND WOULD HAVE LIKED TO GET AN AUTOGRAPH. I AM NOT AN AUTOGRAPH HOUND. I ONLY ASKED FOR AND RECIEVED 1 AUTOGRAPH SO FAR. THAT WAS THE DEACON. GOOD OLD 75. I USED TO ATTEND ALL THE RAM PACKER GAMES IN GREEN BAY IN THE 60'S AND 70'S. A FRIEND OF MY FATHERS HAD 4 SEASON TICKETS FOR THE PACKERS AND ALWAYS TOOK MY FATHER AND ME WHEN THE RAMS WERE IN TOWN. ONCE AGAIN THANK YOU! LARRY MARTIN As a life-long University of Fla. fan, Jack was one of my heroes as a teenager. After my senior football season in high school in 1970 (which was Jack's senior season at UF), my father took me to a Fellowship of Christian Athletes convention in Jacksonville, where Jack was to be a featured speaker. Some friends of my Dad took me up to introduce me to Jack before the program started. I will never forget the size of Jack's hand as we shook hands, and the kindness he extended to me. He treated me as though I ws a personal friend and not just a high school kid who wa a huge fan. When he found out I was headed to the University of Fla., he asked if I was going to play football, and I explained that I was just going to be a student. Thirty years later and I still remember it as if it were yesterday. Thanks Jack! Larry Martin Jim Butchko I don't remember very much about my high school days, but one event I do remember some details. I think it was 1974, I was a Junior attending Leuzinger High School in Lawndale, California. At 6'-1" 210lbs I was a starting defensive end for the Olympian's. One day at practice my defensive coach Dan (last name eludes me) introduced Jack Youngblood to our team. Jack went over some moves for us defensive ends to use. Needless to say we were awed at him. But, I believe what I received the most from Jack was the emphasis on you can accomplish anything if you want to bad enough! Jack's attitude expressed to me, has stuck more than anything else. I applied it to my life, and also to the lives of others. I have coached High School Freshman Football linemen for 10 years now, and I instill to every new crop of young men this same attitude. Jack, thank you for your inspiration. I don't know why I didn't express sooner, but just felt compelled to do it now. God bless Jim Butchko |
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here's why Jack Youngblood is and always will be my favorite Ram. Three years ago on Ground Hog Day was my Father's 85th birthday. How do I say this, my Dad was a self made man from Wales. Whatever he wanted he could afford so presents to him ended up in the closet. The family is going to have a big party for him and my sisters had all this stuff made for him. My strategy is buy him the best socks money can buy and that's what I did. $250 worth of socks (I know I know but he'll use them). The night before my Fathers birthday trying to get to sleep IT HIT ME!!! Jack Youngblood is GM of the Orlando Predators of the Arena league. I will set my alarm at 5 am and call their office and maybe the secretary has some photo's of Jack. My alarm goes off I make the coffee strong and get the Predators phone number and call. A woman answers and says Orlando Predators. I say "hi, today is my Father's 85th birthday and him being a big Ramsfan and Jack- She cuts me off and says one moment please and puts me on hold. I thinking another call must of came in. About a minute later I hear a deep male voice say THIS IS JACK, HOW CAN I HELP YOU? Donna, I have been in sales all my life but I couldn't put two words together. I say "Today is my Father's 85th birthday he big fan of the Ram and ,JACK CUTS ME OFF AND SAYS "Does your Dad have a fax machine?" I can answer that one and I say "Yes! Yes he does!!! (it was the first four words I put together) And Jack says this "give me the fax number and your Dad's name and I will take care of it for you, partner". While giving him that information I say to myself "I will take the bullet for this man forever". I go over to my Father's and their is presents on every side of him. But, what he has in his hand is a 8 by 11 glass picture frame (he went out and bought a classy teak frame) and in it was Jack's fax. I go and give him a hug and his socks and he is smiling handing me the frame. Do you know what Jack did (every time I think of this my emotions come out) he wrote about 25 words like he knew my Father. It started out "Art, 85 been pretty lucky for us". My Dad had this on his desk (it is still there) and isn't it funny that his most cherished gift he received in years was a fax. God bless him. take care |
BOB GILLOTT
The one and only time that I had the occasion to
speak to Jack Youngblood is a memory I will always treasure. I took my Cub Scout pack to Cal State Fullerton to watch them practice. It was the afternoon practice. I have pictures, but I believe that my son may have them now. The enclosed scan was was 1982, my son was 9 at the time. After practice we approached Jack, who had spent 45 minuets or better signing autographs, for a picture. It is dark as he knelt next to his truck, which the rookies had removed the door from. My son was scared to death but it was Jack who said, "I'm the one who should be scared." He signed a replica jersey for me, now in my sons collection.
17 years ago in a sports cards store in Reno I bought a real Rams helmet with a name tape "85 Youngblood" inside. Another treasure. Through 47 years of being a Ram Fan, Jack and Fred Dryer are the absolute greatest DE's to ever play the game. (well, Deacon too.) Thanks for your efforts on his behalf.
--
Robert "Bob" Gillott
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MIKE MUGATO
In 1995 I had sent a few videos to John Turney, the sack statistician, and he said he caught a sack that was originally noted as a half sack and changed his original number. I think it was from a game in 1979 or 1980. He told me it boosted Jack into double figures in sacks for that year to make every year doubles from 1973.
I've been a big Rams/Youngblood follower since 1976 and I have a few memories. They used to televise 8 -10
Ram games here in Hawaii.
In the championship that year I clearly remember Ron Yary holding him and not being called for it. There was a blatant obvious one where Youngblood and Yary were out in the open and Jack had beat him on the play but Yary had his arms out and was pulling at Youngblood from behind by his facemask! The ref was standing there watching it!I was yelling "Where's the penalty?" after Tarkenton got the pass off.
I still have a big black and white picture of it and Jack's helmet is crooked on his head and one of Yary's hands is covering his face. (attached)
When Jack later picked up the football on a play where Tarkenton fumbled and was running toward the end zone I was jumping up and down and chearing.
The first game of the season in 1977 I remember the Falcons had a big rookie tackle starting on the left side
named Waymond Bryant. He was 6-6 270 and very big for those days. Jack was dominating him to the point
of when a penalty was called, it was almost surely holding on Bryant. The Rams lost 17-6 in an upset but that's
the kind of impact Youngblood had. Drawing holding penalties.
Think about it. Many times penalties are declined and forgotten because those won't show up in the final stats.
The Falcons were only penalized 6 times for 53 yards but I clearly remember Jack's impact on that rookie.
"Holding, #66...offense!"
I emailed Turney about the penalties drawn and he said he was including that in his effort to get # 85 elected to
the HOF. John said he was also a friend of Youngblood's and he was doing everything he could to help him get in.
Of course we were both upset at that time when the they were announced and Jack wasn't on it.
In 1979 when Youngblood broke his leg they never announced it during the game so I didn't know until reading the paper the next day. I was devastated. Though he gutted it out, and I respect him for it, he was clearly not the same player in the title game and Super Bowl. He helped the defense as a whole, but would have done more individually had he been 100%. Yes, the Rams did play "team defense" but I can't help thinking... what if!
The NFL has been keeping track of qb pressures since the 90's. Youngblood had a fair share of those every game I saw him play! Just think if they would have kept stats on that back then. He was always chasing the qb's around forcing them to throw it in the stands or get sacked by Jack or by running him into someone else. Or worse causing him to make a mistake like fumbling or throwing an INT. And if the Rams knocked the starting qb out, Youngblood would terrorize the next guy.
I also remember him stringing out running plays a lot and one on one tackling the running back on a number of occassions too.
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