Hard-hitting former Raider Jack Tatum dies at 61

Jack Tatum, the storied Oakland Raiders protection best known for landing the hit that paralyzed New England receiver Darryl Stingley, has died. He was 61.

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

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

¡°As numerous large plays as Jack produced, it let you know this guy knew in which being when the chips had been down,¡± Atkinson explained. ¡°Guys didn¡¯t want to appear across the middle mainly because receiving arrive at by him was like having arrive at by a truck. He was devastating with his timing and his angles of contact.¡±

In no way was that more accurate than on Aug. 12, 1978, within an exhibition game against the Patriots, when Tatum attack Stingley on a pass over the middle. The collision severed Stingley¡¯s fourth and fifth vertebrae, leaving the receiver nearly absolutely paralyzed through the neck down.

Outside of his close circle of close friends, who swear he had an uncomplicated smile and infectious laugh, Tatum largely kept to himself in public settings, which only seemed to create him a lot more intimidating. John Madden, Tatum¡¯s past coach, explained the Stingley attack affected the Raiders star.