Herbert Jackson "Jack" Youngblood III (born January 26, 1950 in
Jacksonville, FloridaJacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida, and is the county seat of Duval County. Since 1968, as a result of the consolidation of the city and county government, and a corresponding expansion of the city limits to include almost the entire county, Jacksonville became the...
) is a former
American footballAmerican football, known in the United States and Canada simply as football, and often as Gridiron or Tackle football outside North America, is a competitive team sport known for combining strategy with physical play. The objective of the game is to score points by advancing the ball into the...
defensive endDefensive End is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
who played for 14 years for the
Los Angeles RamsThe St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team has won three NFL Championships, including one Super Bowl.The Rams began...
of the
National Football LeagueThe National Football League is the largest professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing its name to the National Football League in 1922. The league currently consists of...
. He was a five-time consensus
All-ProAll-Pro is a term mostly used in the NFL for the best players of each position during that season. It began as polls of sportswriters in the early 1920s. There are also 2nd Team All-Pros which connotes the runner-up at each position...
and a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and was inducted to the
Pro Football Hall of FameThe Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, United States, on September 7 1963 with 17 charter inductees...
. Youngblood graduated from the
University of FloridaThe University of Florida is a public land-grant, sea-grant, space-grant major research university located on a campus located in Gainesville, Florida, in the United States. The university traces its origins to 1853, and has continuously operated on its present Gainesville campus since the fall...
, was an
All-AmericaAn All-American "team" is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific All-America and typically referred to as All-American athletes, or simply...
selection, and is considered among the best players the school has ever produced, having been named to the
Gator Football Ring of HonorThe Gator Football Ring of Honor is Florida's alternative to retiring a player's number and pays homage to the greatest former players and coaches. Physically, it...
and voted into the
College Football Hall of FameThe College Football Hall of Fame, located in South Bend, Indiana, USA, is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. It is situated in the renovated downtown district, near convention centers and not far from the campus of Notre Dame...
.
After retiring from the NFL in 1985 he was a member of the front office for the Rams until 1991. In 1991-92 he worked in the front office of the
Sacramento SurgeThe Sacramento Surge was a professional American football team that played in the WLAF in 1991 and 1992. The team played its first season at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento, and the second season in Hornet Stadium on the Sacramento State University campus. It was owned by Managing General Partner...
and in 1993-94 he worked in the administration of the
Sacramento Gold MinersThe Sacramento Gold Miners were a Canadian football team based in Sacramento, California. The franchise was the first American team in the Canadian Football League. The Gold Miners were originally the "descendants" of the Sacramento Surge from the defunct World League of American Football...
. He was a vice-president, then president, of the
Orlando PredatorsThe Orlando Predators are an Arena Football 1 team based in Orlando, Florida that was founded in 1991 as a member of the Arena Football League. Their playoff streak is currently 17 seasons in a row, becoming the ArenaBowl champions in 1998 and 2000...
from 1995 until 1999. From 1999 through 2002 he served as the National Football League liaison for the
Arena Football LeagueThe Arena Football League was founded in 1987 as an indoor American football by Jim Foster. It was played indoors on a smaller field than American football, resulting in a faster-paced and higher-scoring game...
.
Youngblood has made forays into broadcasting (both radio and television), acting, business, and penned an autobiography. He was a popular spokesperson for various products, and he has been consistently involved in charity work, starting in college, continuing throughout his NFL career, and remaining so today.
Early years
The son of Herbert J. and Kay Youngblood, Jack has two sisters, Paula and Lynn. Jack married Nicole Youngblood and had a son named Nicholas Youngblood. Jack and Nick Youngblood attended Monticello-Jefferson County High School in
Monticello, FloridaMonticello is a city in Jefferson County, Florida, United States. The population was 2,533 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 2,572
. It is the county seat of Jefferson County...
, graduating in 1967. As an offensive lineman and linebacker, he was a starter on offense and defense and team captain of the state champion Tigers, earning All-State honors in 1966. He was also All-Big Bend, All-Conference and the Big Bend Linemen of the Year and the Outstanding Lineman for the Tigers that season while leading a defense that shutout seven opponents and allowed ten touchdowns in 12 games, including the state playoffs. He was a four-year letterman in football and also played basketball at M-JC High as well as participating in 4-H, Student Council and
Key ClubKey Club International is the oldest and largest service program for high school students. It is a student-led organization whose goal is to teach leadership through serving others. Key Club International is a part of the Kiwanis International group...
International.
Youngblood was named to Florida's All-Time High school football team by
Sports IllustratedSports Illustrated is an American sports magazine owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. It has over 3 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men, 19% of the adult males in the United States. It was the first magazine with circulation over one...
in 1989. In November 2007, he was voted to the
Florida High School Athletic AssociationThe Florida High School Athletic Association is a member of the National Federation of State High School Associations , which is based in Indianapolis, Indiana...
's
All-Century High School football teamThe FHSAA's All-Century Team was selected in December, 2007, to celebrate 100 years of high school football in the state of Florida. It was selected by a panel of Florida high school experts. The Florida High School Athletic Association lists the 34 greatest high school football players in state...
.
College career
At the
University of FloridaThe University of Florida is a public land-grant, sea-grant, space-grant major research university located on a campus located in Gainesville, Florida, in the United States. The university traces its origins to 1853, and has continuously operated on its present Gainesville campus since the fall...
, Youngblood earned a degree in finance, was a brother of the Florida Alpha Omega Chapter of the
Alpha Tau OmegaATΩ is an American Leadership fraternity that annually ranks among the top ten national fraternities for number of chapters, and total number of members. ATO has more than 250 active and inactive chapters with more than 200,000 members and more than 6,500 active undergraduate members...
fraternity, and was a three-year varsity letterman. Youngblood had entered school at 195 pounds and put on 10 pounds a year through weight-lifting, finishing around 245 pounds. Youngblood and his teammates were part of the testing of what became
GatoradeGatorade is a brand of flavored non-carbonated sports drinks manufactured by the Quaker Oats Company, now a division of PepsiCo. Intended for consumption during physically active occasions, Gatorade beverages are formulated to rehydrate and replenish fluid, carbohydrates and...
, a beverage created by Doctors
Robert CadeJames Robert Cade was a professor of medicine and physiology at the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida, who is widely remembered as the primary inventor of the sports drink Gatorade....
and Dana Shires, designed to help Gator athletes who had to practice and play in Central Florida heat. Said Youngblood, “Dr. Cade began experimenting with Gatorade my freshman year. He tried to kill us all! That first stuff was lethal! It was thick, like syrup, and had an aftertaste. Then, it started to look like milk.″
As a freshman Youngblood defensive end, wearing number 52, for the Gator Freshman Team. It was his first experience on the defensive line, after playing linebacker in High School. As a sophomore in 1968, Youngblood played defensive end and defensive tackle while also handling the kicking chores for the Gators, kicking a career-long 42-yard field goal to provide the three point winning margin in his first collegiate game which was against
Air ForceThe United States Air Force Academy , is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of commissioned officers for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...
.
In 1969 Youngblood was part of a 9-1-1 Gator team that upset the
University of Tennessee VolunteersThe University of Tennessee , sometimes called the University of Tennessee, Knoxville is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville...
in the
Gator BowlThe Gator Bowl is an annual college football bowl game that is played at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. It is the sixth oldest college bowl, held continuously since 1946. Its current full name is the Konica Minolta Gator Bowl after its present sponsor, Konica...
in
Ray GravesSamuel Ray Graves is a former college and professional football player, who is best known as the former head coach of the University of Florida Gators football team.- Playing career :...
's final game as coach at Florida. Youngblood played a key role in the Gator Bowl recording nine tackles and forcing a fumble. Youngblood first gained national attention after an October 4, 1969, 5-sack performance 21-6 win versus instate rival Florida State University. He set a school record for sacks (14) in 1969 and led the teams' defensive linemen with 66 tackles.
In 1970, Youngblood was voted
All-AmericanThe 1970 College Football All-America team is composed of various organizations that choose College All-America teams that season. The organizations that chose the teams were Associated Press, United Press International, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Central Press, Football Writers Association...
, while leading the team with 10 sacks to finish his Gator career with 29 quarterback sacks. Additionally, he was a finalist for the
Outland TrophyThe Outland Trophy is awarded to the best United States college football interior lineman by the Football Writers Association of America. It is named after John H. Outland...
following the 1970 season and was voted the 1970
SECThe Southeastern Conference is a college athletic conference headquartered in , which operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I in athletic competitions; for football, it is part of the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision...
lineman of the year. Youngblood was also named to the SEC All-Conference team in 1970, which ended three winning seasons while at Florida. He was also the 1970 recipient of Florida's
Forrest K. (Fergie) Ferguson AwardThe Forrest K. Ferguson Award is given in memory of one of the University of Florida's finest athletes. The Award is made annually in the form of a trophy, which remains in the permanent possession of the school, and is given to the football player selected by the football coaches to the Gator's...
, which goes to the senior who displays outstanding leadership, character, and courage. His performance in the
Florida/University of Georgia"The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party" is the nickname for the annual college football game between the University of Florida Gators and the University of Georgia Bulldogs, one of the great rivalry games in college football and one of the last remaining neutral site rivalries...
rivalry earned him a spot in the Florida-Georgia Game Hall of Fame as well. In the 1970 edition of the game, Florida trailed Georgia by seven points and the Georgia offense had driven to Florida's 1-yard line, Youngblood stopped a Georgia running back short of the goal line and forced him to fumble and then recovered the loose ball beginning a rally that gained a come-from-behind 24-17 victory in what is known as "The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party".
Some regard Youngblood, who was considered to be an excellent pass rusher, as the best defensive lineman in Gators history as well as one of the top five players in the University of Florida's football program. When
TimeTime is a component of the measuring system used to sequence events, to compare the durations of events and the intervals between them, and to quantify the motions of objects...
magazine chose him for their 1970 All-America Team, it said of Youngblood: "Deceptively fast for his size, he reads screens and swing passes so adroitly that he intimidates quarterbacks by his mere presence." His coach Doug Dickey told
The Sporting NewsSporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
, “He is difficult to move when you run at him, has the speed an agility to pursue down the line of scrimmage, and the strength and quickness to rush the passer”. One experienced Florida writer still agrees stating, “Youngblood has to be viewed as one of the top five Gators ever. A phenomenal pass rusher″.
NFL career
Youngblood was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the first round of the
1971 NFL DraftThe 1971 National Football League Draft was held on January 28–29, 1971.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
. He was the 20th overall pick in that draft and signed a 3-year $105,000 contract including a $30,000 signing bonus. That season he backed up
Deacon JonesDavid D. "Deacon" Jones is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League for the Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers, and the Washington Redskins. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980.Jones specialized in quarterback sacks, a term attributed to him...
at left defensive end and started four games when Jones was sidelined with a severely sprained arch. He was named All-Rookie by
Football Digest and after the season Jones was traded to the San Diego Chargers. In 1972 the left defensive end position was Youngblood's as he led the Rams defensive linemen in tackles with 70, and started 11 of the 14 games he played, recording six sacks.
In 1973 Youngblood was a Second-team All-pro selection and went to the first of his seven Pro Bowls and led the Rams with 16½ sacks. The Ram defense led the NFL in fewest yards allowed and fewest rushing yards. He was voted the Rams defensive lineman of the year by the Rams Alumni Association. The following year, 1974, the Rams again led the NFL in rushing defense and Youngblood led the Rams with 15 sacks while being voted a consensus First-team All-Pro. The Rams advanced to the NFC Championship game, losing 14-10 to the Minnesota Vikings.
Youngblood was honored as the
NFC Defensive Player of the YearFrom 1970 to 1996, the United Press International awarded the NFC Player of the Year to players from the NFL's National Football Conference .-NFC Offensive Player of the Year:-See also:*UPI AFL-AFC Player of the Year...
by
United Press InternationalUnited Press International is a news agency headquartered in the United States with roots dating back to 1907. Once a mainstay in the newswire service along with Associated Press and Reuters, it began to decline as afternoon newspapers, its chief client category, began to fail with the rising...
in 1975 and
Pro Football WeeklyPro Football Weekly is an American sports magazine, founded in 1967, that covers the National Football League...
named Youngblood the NFL defensive lineman of the year. For the third consecutive season Youngblood led the Rams in sacks (15) and was a consensus All-pro again, repeating his 1974 honor. In a December, 1975, 35-23 playoff win over the
St. Louis CardinalsThe Arizona Cardinals are a professional American Football team based in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals are members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Cardinals were founded in 1898, and are the oldest continuously run professional...
, Youngblood pass-rushed Cardinals offensive lineman
Dan DierdorfDaniel Lee "Dan" Dierdorf is a former American football player and current television sportscaster. He played 13 NFL seasons and has worked for ABC's Monday Night Football and CBS as a color commentator since his retirement....
, penetrated into the backfield, then tipped and intercepted a pass by Jim Hart, returning the interception 47 yards for a touchdown. Later in the game, Youngblood forced a fumble that was recovered by teammate
Fred DryerJohn Frederick "Fred" Dryer , son of the late Charles F. Dryer and Genevieve Nell Clark; an American actor and former football defensive end in the National Football League...
, blocked an extra point attempt, and sacked Hart to stop a Cardinals drive.
Youngblood repeated his NFC Defensive Player of the Year Award in 1976 while co-leading the Rams in sacks with 14½ and being a consensus First-team All-pro for the third straight season. The following year, 1977, Youngblood was voted to his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl and a consensus All-NFC selection and Second-team All-pro while leading the Rams in sacks for the fifth straight season. In 1978 the Rams led the NFL in total defense and Youngblood was a consensus First-team All-Pro for the fourth time in five years.
One of the athletic feats for which Youngblood is best known, is that of playing the entire
1979 playoffsThe NFL playoffs following the 1979 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XIV.Note: As per the rules of the NFL playoffs prior to the 1990 season , the Dallas Cowboys did not play the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional playoff round because both teams were in the same division.-AFC: Houston Oilers 13,...
, including
Super Bowl XIVSuper Bowl XIV was an American football game played on January 20, 1980 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 1979 regular season...
, with a fractured left
fibulaThe fibula or calf bone is a bone located on the lateral side of the tibia, with which it is connected above and below. It is the smaller of the two bones, and, in proportion to its length, the most slender of all the long bones...
. He also played in the
1980 Pro BowlThe 1980 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was played on January 27, 1980 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The final Score was NFC 37, AFC 27. Chuck Muncie of the New Orleans Saints was the game's MVP. It was the first game of 30 consecutive Pro Bowls played in Honolulu. It also marked a return to the game...
with the injured leg, a week after the Super Bowl. In the playoffs, Youngblood sacked
Dallas CowboysThe Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team that plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . They are headquartered in suburban Irving, Texas, which lies between Fort Worth and Dallas...
quarterbackQuarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the center, in the middle of the offensive line. Quarterbacks are the leaders of the offensive team, responsible for calling the play in the huddle...
Roger StaubachRoger Thomas Staubach, also known as Roger the Dodger, The Jolly Roger, Captain Comeback, and Captain America, is a businessman, Heisman Trophy winner and Hall of Fame quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys from 1969 until 1979...
near the sideline in the waning moments of the divisional playoff game versus the Cowboys. Playing with the fractured leg was noted by
Sports Illustrated in their Top 10 list of athletes playing in pain. For that and other achievements Jack was dubbed the “John Wayne of football” by Jim Hanifan and echoed by Hall of Fame coach
John MaddenJohn Earl Madden is a former American Professional Football player in the National Football League, a former head coach with the Oakland Raiders in the American Football League and later the NFL, and a former color commentator for NFL telecasts. In 2006, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall...
. The
NFL NetworkNFL Network is an American television specialty channel dedicated to American football. It is owned and operated by the National Football League and is also shown in Canada and Mexico. It was launched November 4, 2003, only eight months after the league's 32 team owners voted unanimously to...
series
NFL Top 10NFL Top 10 is a documentary program produced by NFL Films for airing on the NFL Network. The host and narrator is Derrin Horton.The program counts down 10 items directly related to the players, coaches, and events of the National Football League...
selected Youngblood's performance in the 1979 playoffs as top on its list of the “Gutsiest Performances″ of all-time.
For the 1979 season Youngblood had a career-high 18 sacks and was a consensus First-team All-pro for the fifth time. He was voted to his seventh consecutive Pro Bowl. In 1980 he was Second-team All-pro and First-team All-NFC while leading the Rams with 11½ sacks. In 1981 Jack led the Rams with 12½ sacks and was the Rams outstanding defensive lineman. In the off-season, prior to the 1981 season, Jack had emergency surgery to remove a hot-dog sized blood clot from under his left arm. It was a result of repeated trauma to a nerve in his arm that blocked the flow of blood. Despite the broken leg and numerous other injuries, Youngblood played in 201 consecutive games, a Rams team record; and only missed 1 game in his 14-year NFL career. He played in seven straight Pro Bowls, 5 NFC Championships, and one Super Bowl. He was also the Rams defensive captain from 1977 through 1984 and was voted the
Dan ReevesDaniel Edward Reeves is a former American football player and head coach. He played in two Super Bowls, Super Bowl V and Super Bowl VI and also coached in four more, Super Bowl XXI, Super Bowl XXII and Super Bowl XXIV as the Denver Broncos' head coach, and Super Bowl XXXIII as the head coach of...
award 3 times, which is awarded to the team's MVP. He had 151½ career sacks and led the Rams in sacks nine times despite playing first in assistant Coach Ray Malavasi's stop-the-run-first defensive scheme and then in his final two seasons in Defensive Coordinator Fritz Shurmer's 3-4 two-gap scheme which limited some pass rush opportunities to make sure the opponent's running game was handled.
Youngblood faced a challenge in 1983 when the Rams adopted Shurmer's 3-4 defense. Critics thought Youngblood might be too small to play that position, yet he performed in it well (recording 10½ sacks in 1983 and 9½ sacks in 1984 while Rams were among the NFL's best defenses at stopping the run) despite being considered undersized. Among the standout games in Youngblood's final two seasons were the opening game of the 1983 season, against the New York Giants in which Younblood recorded two sacks; and the 1983 season finale against the New Orleans Saints. In the Saints game Youngblood recorded 10 tackles, two sacks, recorded a safety and was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year by
Pro Football WeeklyPro Football Weekly is an American sports magazine, founded in 1967, that covers the National Football League...
for the effort. In Week 5 of 1984 against the New York Giants, Youngblood recorded two sacks, drew three holding calls and was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week by the NFL. Then, in Week 10, against the St. Louis Cardinals, Jack dominated the game sacking Neil Lomax three times and drawing three holding calls, and blocking a potential game-tying field goal on the game's final play to preserve a 16-13 Rams win.
His streak of consecutive games played ended in Week 15 of the
1984The 1984 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 47th year with the National Football League and the 39th season in Los Angeles. During this season second-year running back Eric Dickerson set the NFL record for most rushing yards in a season, with 2,105 yards....
season, when Youngblood had to sit out his first football game since being a collegiate player in 1970. He had suffered a ruptured disc in his lower back two weeks earlier. Despite the injury, he returned for the season finale against the 49ers and the playoffs. He attributed his ability to play to a series of back adjustments that allowed him more freedom of movement, even though team doctors told Youngblood he was out for the season and needed surgery. He was voted the Rams' recipient of the 1984
Ed Block Courage AwardThe Ed Block Courage Award Foundation promotes the prevention of child abuse by raising awareness of the epidemic and assisting agencies who provide for the care and treatment of abused children in communities throughout the National Football League...
by “representing everything that is positive about professional football and serving as an inspiration in their locker rooms being a positive role model in his communities”.
When Youngblood retired on August 27, 1985, he asked his career to be remembered for “dignity, integrity, respect and pride″.
Acting and broadcasting
Youngblood appeared in two television movies:
C.A.T. Squad in 1986 and
C.A.T. Squad: Python Wolf in 1988. For "Python Wolf" he was nominated for an Emmy for 'Best Supporting Actor'. In the telefilms Youngblood played a Secret Service agent in the "Counter Assault Technical Squad" named John Sommers who was the “best weapons and munitions man in the business″ and who was a fine secret service agent but hated big cities like Washington D.C. and New York and was thus banished to Alaska. In the plot-line of the movies "John Sommers" was a member of the Air Force Reserve who piloted SR-71 spyplane. In these films Youngblood starred along with Joe Cortese,
Steve JamesSteve James may refer to:* Steve James , American producer and director* Steve James , English cricketer and journalist* Steve James , English snooker player* Steve James , American actor...
, and
Deborah Van ValkenburghDeborah Gaye Van Valkenburgh is an American actress. She is most widely known as Ted Knight's daughter in the role of Jackie Rush on the ABC television situation comedy Too Close for Comfort.-Movies:...
. Both films were directed by
William FriedkinWilliam Friedkin is an American film director, producer and screenwriter best known for directing The Exorcist and The French Connection in the early 1970s...
who is most noted for directing
The ExorcistThe Exorcist is a 1973 U.S. horror film directed by William Friedkin, adapted from the 1971 novel of the same name by William Peter Blatty, dealing with the demonic possession of a young girl, and her mother’s desperate attempts to win back her daughter through an exorcism conducted by two priests....
,
The French ConnectionThe French Connection is a 1971 American crime film directed by William Friedkin. The film was adapted and fictionalized by Ernest Tidyman from the non-fiction book by Robin Moore. It tells the story of New York Police Department detectives named "Popeye" Doyle and Buddy Russo, whose real-life...
, and the
Boys in the BandBoys in the Band may refer to:* The Boys in the Band , by Mart Crowley* The Boys in the Band , adaptation directed by William Friedkin* Boys in the Band , by The Libertines...
.
Youngblood was a reporter and co-host for ESPN's
NFL GameDayNFL GameDay redirects here. For the video games series, see NFL GameDay Sunday NFL Countdown is a pregame show of all the NFL action for that week. The official name is Sunday NFL Countdown presented by IBM. The show airs on ESPN, ESPN HD, TSN and TSN HD from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Eastern time every...
show in 1985 and 1986, alongside
Chris BermanChristopher James "Chris" Berman also known by the nickname Boomer is an American sportscaster. He anchors SportsCenter, Monday Night Countdown, Sunday NFL Countdown, Baseball Tonight, U.S...
and was succeeded by current co-host,
Tom JacksonThomas Jackson also referred to "TJ" or Tommy is an NFL analyst for ESPN and a former Pro Bowl linebacker for the Denver Broncos.-College:...
in 1987. In 1988 he auditioned for the
NFL on CBSThe NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS television network's coverage of the National Football League's games wherein the road team is from the American Football Conference, produced by CBS Sports.-Market coverage:...
's
NFL Today along with
Dick ButkusRichard Marvin "Dick" Butkus is a former American football player, widely regarded as the greatest linebacker of his generation and one of the best football players of all time. Butkus starred as a football player for the University of Illinois and the Chicago Bears...
,
Lyle AlzadoLyle Martin Alzado was a professional American football defensive lineman of the National Football League who played 15 seasons for the Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns and Oakland Raiders. He was drafted in the 4th round of the 1971 NFL Draft by the Broncos...
, and
Gary FencikJohn Gary Fencik is a former professional American football free safety. Fencik played twelve seasons with the Chicago Bears and is their all-time leader in interceptions and total tackles. He was the team's defensive captain through the 1980s including 1985 Super Bowl championship season. He...
, with Butkus being hired to fill the co-host slot. Youngblood was also a regular guest on ESPN programs
Star-Shot (1988),
Sportslook (1984, 1986, 1988) and
Great Outdoors (1989) programs.
Youngblood was a radio analyst for the Los Angeles Rams from 1987–1991, the
Sacramento SurgeThe Sacramento Surge was a professional American football team that played in the WLAF in 1991 and 1992. The team played its first season at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento, and the second season in Hornet Stadium on the Sacramento State University campus. It was owned by Managing General Partner...
in 1992, and a television analyst for the
Sacramento Gold MinersThe Sacramento Gold Miners were a Canadian football team based in Sacramento, California. The franchise was the first American team in the Canadian Football League. The Gold Miners were originally the "descendants" of the Sacramento Surge from the defunct World League of American Football...
in 1993.
In 2000, Youngblood was hired as the co-host for
Wal-Mart's Great Outdoors (with
Bert JonesBertram Hays "Bert" Jones is a former LSU and NFL quarterback who played for the then Baltimore Colts and, briefly, the Los Angeles Rams. At Ruston High School, he was given the nickname, "The Ruston Rifle"...
) and served in that capacity through 2003.
Wal-Mart's Great Outdoors was telecast 52 weeks a year and was a mainstay on ESPN's popular Saturday morning outdoors programming block, drawing impressive ratings throughout its 10-year history.
Autobiography
In 1988, Youngblood authored (with Joel Engel) his autobiography,
Blood. The book outlined Youngblood's drive and passion for professional football and reviewed his career, his injuries, his successes, and his failures on the football field. The book recounts when, between the 1973 and 1974 seasons, Youngblood traveled to Logan, Utah, to help Rams teammates Merlin and Phil Olsen with their summer football camp. An altercation in the parking lot of a local pub resulted in Youngblood having a .44 pistol stuck in his eye and the trigger pulled and fortunately the chamber was empty, although other chambers were not. A cut eyelid was the only injury he sustained. After initially pleading innocent, the assailant later pled guilty and received a one-year suspended sentence. The book was favorably reviewed by
Publishers WeeklyPublishers Weekly, aka PW, is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers and literary agents...
as “an unusual sports book″.
Football administration
After his retirement, Youngblood worked in player relations and marketing for the Rams from 1985-90 and served as the Rams' color analyst for the Rams Radio Network from 1986-1991. Youngblood moved to the
World League of American FootballThe World League of American Football was founded in 1990 with support from the National Football League to play professional American football in North America, Europe and later possibly Asia...
as the Director of Marketing for the
Sacramento SurgeThe Sacramento Surge was a professional American football team that played in the WLAF in 1991 and 1992. The team played its first season at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento, and the second season in Hornet Stadium on the Sacramento State University campus. It was owned by Managing General Partner...
in 1991 (although he remained as Rams color announcer for the 1991 season), during which time the Surge won the 1992
World BowlThe World Bowl was the American football Championship game of NFL Europe, similar to the Super Bowl of the National Football League.The World Bowl trophy itself was a globe made of glass measuring 35.5 cm in diameter and weighing 18.6 kg .-World League of American Football:When NFL Europe was...
. He moved to the
Sacramento Gold MinersThe Sacramento Gold Miners were a Canadian football team based in Sacramento, California. The franchise was the first American team in the Canadian Football League. The Gold Miners were originally the "descendants" of the Sacramento Surge from the defunct World League of American Football...
of the
Canadian Football LeagueThe Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located entirely in Canada.Its eight teams, which are located in eight cities, are divided into two divisions of four teams each . The league's nineteen-week regular season runs from mid-June to early November. Each team plays...
in 1993. He also served as a color analyst for the both the Surge and the Gold Miners radio networks and hosted a sports radio talk show at
KHTKKHTK is located in the Sacramento, California area and broadcasts at 1140 AM. This Sports/Talk station is the flagship station of the Sacramento Kings and Sacramento Monarchs. KHTK also broadcasts UC Davis football games. KHTK broadcasts at 50,000 watts and can be heard from Redding to Merced. It...
-AM 1140 in
SacramentoSacramento, an Italian-, Spanish- and Portuguese-language word meaning sacrament, is a common toponym in parts of the world where those tongues were or are spoken....
,
CaliforniaCalifornia is the most populous state in the United States, and the third largest by area. California is the second most populous sub-national entity in the Americas, behind only São Paulo, Brazil...
, when that station became a sports format station in 1994.
In 1995, he returned to his native Florida as Vice President and General Manager, then later as President, of the
Orlando PredatorsThe Orlando Predators are an Arena Football 1 team based in Orlando, Florida that was founded in 1991 as a member of the Arena Football League. Their playoff streak is currently 17 seasons in a row, becoming the ArenaBowl champions in 1998 and 2000...
of the Arena Football League. One of his major projects with the Predators was taking the team a publicly traded company on the
NASDAQThe National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations, known as NASDAQ, is an American stock exchange. It is the largest electronic screen-based equity securities trading market in the United States...
stock exchange. In 1998, Youngblood's final year with the team, the club won its first
Arena League championshipArena Bowl XII was the Arena Football League's twelfth Arena Bowl. In this match-up, it pitted the #4 Orlando Predators of the National Conference against the #1 Tampa Bay Storm , also of the National Conference. This would be the second and final ArenaBowl to have the "War On I-4" rivalry on...
, defeating the favored
Tampa Bay StormThe Tampa Bay Storm are a member franchise of the Arena Football League. They are also one of the founding members of the league, then known as the Pittsburgh Gladiators. They are also the last of the original four Arena Football League teams to still exist, marking them as the oldest team in...
. In 1999 he began to work for the AFL office as a liaison to the National Football League and served as a special consultant to the Arena Football League and arenafootball2.
Business
Currently, Youngblood is a division president of Dave Liles Ethanol Fuels, which produces a fuel additive that purports to boost octane, clean fuel systems, and help the environment by reducing engine emissions and being completely biodegradable. He also owns and maintains a farm in his native North Florida, in which he currently raises pine trees and where he raised cattle until 2002.
During his NFL career Youngblood partnered with L.A. Rams teammate
Larry BrooksLawrence Lee Brooks, Sr. , is a former American Football defensive tackle for the Los Angeles Rams eleven seasons from 1972 to 1982 in the National Football League...
to open "The Wild Bunch" in 1980, a western clothing store that featured high-end western wear, including cowboy boots, cowboy hats, silver belt buckles, jeans, and all else country. Additionally, while still active with the Rams Youngblood worked with BankAmericard, in a public relations capacity. He also owned and operated the South Coast Club in Huntington Beach, California, during his career.
Additionally, some of the sponsorships and advertising ventures Youngblood was invloved with were a
Miller LiteMiller Lite is a 4.2% abv pale lager brand sold by Miller Brewing Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. Sibling beers include Miller Genuine Draft and Miller High Life.-History:...
TV commercial in 1985 and
Hondais a Japanese multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles. Honda is the world's largest manufacturer of motorcycles as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume. Honda surpassed Nissan in 2001 to become...
Power machines in 1985. He also had print ads for Pro Tron Weights, regional ad, 1984, Dan Post Handcrafted Boots, national print-ad 1986, Cal-Gym, national print-ad, 1986, and was a national spokesman for Protatonin in 2001.
In the mid-1980s he also modeled Munsingwear briefs in a series of magazine and billboard ads. In the mid-1970s Jack did television commercials and print-ads for
In-N-Out BurgerIn-N-Out Burger, usually called In-N-Out, is a regional chain of fast food restaurants located in the Western United States. Founded in 1948 by Harry Snyder and his wife Esther, and headquartered in Irvine, California, In-N-Out Burger has since expanded outside Southern California to the rest of...
, a California-based fast food chain.
Continuing popularity
During his career Youngblood gained a loyal following which seems to continue through today. In July, 2006, a game-used Jack Youngblood jersey sold for $6565 in an online auction. Fox News' Mike Straka listed Youngblood as having one of the NFL's “Great names″.
In 2007
Sports Illustrated named Youngblood the greatest professional athlete to wear the uniform number 85. Youngblood was also given the same honor in the 2004 book
Right on the Numbers by Nino Frostino, and the
Best Athletes by the Number blog. One of Youngblood's biggest fans, David G. Lewber, died on June 28, 2007. Mr. Lewber was buried in his autographed Jack Youngblood jersey a week later on July 3, 2007.
Collegiate
Youngblood was an
All-AmericaAn All-American "team" is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific All-America and typically referred to as All-American athletes, or simply...
selection in 1970, as well as being the SEC Lineman of the Year, All-SEC, and a finalist for the Outland Trophy. After his college career, Youngblood played in the
Senior BowlThe Senior Bowl is a post-season college football exhibition game played in Mobile, Alabama which showcases the best NFL draft prospects of those collegiate players who have completed their eligibility. First played in 1950 in Jacksonville, Florida, the game moved to Mobile's Ladd Peebles Stadium...
and recorded four sacks. He was named the Outstanding Lineman of the Game and in 1989 he was voted into the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame. Additionally he was voted a member of the 50th Anniversary Senior Bowl All-Time Team in 1999.
For his achievements he was selected to the All-Time SEC team in 1983. He was also voted to the All-SEC Quarter-Century Team (1950-74) as well as being voted to the 25-year All-SEC teams which spanned from the 1961 through the 1985 seasons. He was also voted best Defensive end in SEC for the years 1960-85. Additionally, he was voted to the SEC All-Decade team for the 1970s. In 1995, Youngblood was voted one of the
SEC Football Legends-East Division:-West Division:...
and was presented at the SEC championship game in
Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta is the capital and most populous city in the state of Georgia, as well as the urban core of one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States....
.
Youngblood, who is regarded by some as the best defensive end in Gators history, was named to the All-time Florida Gators teams both in 1983 and in 1999 as well as the 100-year Anniversary Gator Team in 2006. In 1975, Youngblood was voted to the
Florida Sports Hall of FameThe Florida Sports Hall of Fame is an association dedicated to honoring athletes with outstanding achievement in sports in Florida. It has expanded its goals to include encouraging physical fitness among Florida's citizens through the example of its honorees.The FSHOF was founded by the Florida...
which features great athletes who played college or professional athletics and have a Florida connection. In 2001, he was elected to the University of Florida Hall of Fame. Five years later, in 2006, Youngblood was among the first four Gator legends to be inducted into the
Florida Football Ring of HonorThe Gator Football Ring of Honor is Florida's alternative to retiring a player's number and pays homage to the greatest former players and coaches. Physically, it...
, alongside
Steve SpurrierStephen "Steve" Orr Spurrier is a former college and professional football player, and is the current head coach of the University of South Carolina Gamecocks football team. He was a two-time All-American quarterback, and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player...
,
Danny WuerffelDaniel Carl Wuerffel is a former American football player. He won the 1996 Heisman Trophy while playing quarterback at the University of Florida under coach Steve Spurrier. He later played for several National Football League teams, retiring in 2002...
, and
Emmitt SmithEmmitt James Smith III is a former American football player. He played for the Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals and is the NFL's all-time rushing leader, a record formerly held by his childhood hero, Walter Payton...
.
In 1992, Youngblood was elected to the
College Football Hall of FameThe College Football Hall of Fame, located in South Bend, Indiana, USA, is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. It is situated in the renovated downtown district, near convention centers and not far from the campus of Notre Dame...
. He was also selected to the FWAA 1969-1994 All-America Team with players like
Lawrence TaylorLawrence Julius Taylor , nicknamed L.T., is a retired Hall of Fame American football player. Taylor played his entire professional career as a linebacker for the New York Giants in the National Football League...
,
Jerry RiceJerry Lee Rice is an American former football player. He is widely regarded as the greatest wide receiver ever and one of the greatest players in National Football League history...
,
John ElwayJohn Albert Elway, Jr. is a retired American football quarterback. He played his college football at Stanford and his entire professional career for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League ....
,
Tony Dorsett Anthony "Tony" Drew Dorsett is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos.-College career:...
,
Ronnie LottRonald Mandel "Ronnie" Lott is a former American football player who starred as a cornerback, free safety and strong safety in college football and the NFL. He is most well known for his hard hits on opposing players...
, and
Jack TatumJohn David Tatum is a former American football defensive back who played ten seasons from 1971 to 1980 for the Oakland Raiders and Houston Oilers in the National Football League...
. In 1999, he was named to the
Sports Illustrated NCAA Football All-Century Team as one of only six defensive ends named to the squad.
He was named by one SEC publication as the Top All-Time SEC Defensive of All-Time. Youngblood was also named by the
Birmingham News as one of the Top 10 defensive lineman in SEC history, ranking with SEC greats as
Reggie WhiteReginald Howard "Reggie" White was a professional American football player who played defensive end for 17 seasons in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers becoming one of the most decorated players in NFL history...
,
Doug AtkinsDouglas Leon Atkins is a former American football defensive end who played for the Cleveland Browns, the Chicago Bears and the New Orleans Saints. He played college football at the University of Tennessee under legendary head coach Robert Neyland...
, and
Bill StanfillWilliam Thomas Stanfill is a former defensive end for the Miami Dolphins, in the American Football League and then in the NFL...
. In addition, he is one of the three the top defensive lineman in history of the SEC, making the 75th Anniversary All-SEC Team in 2007 as determinded by votes of SEC fans.
National Football League
Youngblood was elected to NFL All-Pro teams five times (
1974The 1974 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 37th year with the National Football League and the 29th season in Los Angeles.-NFL Draft:-Season schedule:-Playoffs:-Division standings:...
,
1975The 1975 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 38th year with the National Football League and the 30th season in Los Angeles.-NFL Draft:-Season schedule:-Playoffs:-Season standings:-References:*...
,
1976The 1976 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 39th year with the National Football League and the 31st season in Los Angeles.-NFL Draft:-Season schedule:-Playoffs:-Division standings:...
,
1978The 1978 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 41st year with the National Football League and the 33rd season in Los Angeles.-NFL Draft:-Schedule:-Season standings:-NFC Divisional Playoff:*Los Angeles Rams 34, Minnesota Vikings 10...
,
1979The 1979 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 42nd year with the National Football League and the 34th season in Los Angeles. It was the final season for the franchise in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, as owner Carroll Rosenbloom previously announced the Rams would move to Anaheim Stadium for...
) during his 14 years with the Rams and was an All-NFC selection seven times (1974-80). In addition, Youngblood was a second-team All-Pro in
1973The 1973 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 36th year with the National Football League and the 28th season in Los Angeles. The Rams were 8-0 at home for the first time since 1945. On the road, the Rams were 5-2.-NFL Draft:-Season schedule:...
,
1977The 1977 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 40th year with the National Football League and the 32nd season in Los Angeles. Hobbled by chronic knee woes, Joe Namath was waived by the New York Jets, who were unable to trade him. Namath signed with the L.A. Rams in May 1977...
, and
1980The 1980 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 43rd year with the National Football League and the 35th season in Los Angeles.-NFL Draft:-Schedule:-Playoffs:-Season standings:-References:*...
and was second-team All-NFC in 1973 and 1984. He was also named to seven Pro Bowls and was a first alternate to the game in 1984, his final season. Youngblood was also on the 1984 All-Madden team and was chosen by
John MaddenJohn Earl Madden is a former American Professional Football player in the National Football League, a former head coach with the Oakland Raiders in the American Football League and later the NFL, and a former color commentator for NFL telecasts. In 2006, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall...
as the player who most exemplified the All-Madden team.
Youngblood is also a member of the Los Angeles Rams' 50th Anniversary Team (1985), and the Rams All-Century Team chosen after the 1999 season. In October 2001 he was honored in the St. Louis Rams Ring of Fame, along with
Jackie SlaterJackie Ray Slater is a former American football offensive tackle who played his entire 20-year career with the Rams organization, playing 19 seasons for the Rams in Los Angeles and one season for the St. Louis Rams in 1995.-College:Slater attended Jackson State University and was a letterman in...
. Youngblood was voted the Rams' Outstanding Defensive Linemen by the Rams' Alumni nine times (1973, 1975-76, 1978-81, and 1983-84).
Youngblood, in 1987, was voted to the Orange County (California) Sports Hall of Fame along with Pat McCormick,
Ann MeyersAnn Elizabeth Meyers is a retired American basketball player and sportscaster. She is a distinguished figure in the history of women's basketball and sports journalism...
and Cap Sheue. Four years earlier Youngblood was recognized as the 1983 Orange County Sportsman of the Year by the Orange County Youth Sports Foundation. Other notable honorees have been
Jim NantzJames William Nantz, III is an American sportscaster, known primarily for his work with CBS Sports television.-Early life:...
,
Peter UeberrothPeter Victor Ueberroth is an American executive. He served as the 6th commissioner of Major League Baseball from 1984 to 1989. He was recently the chairman of the United States Olympic Committee; he was replaced by Larry Probst in October 2008.-Early life:Although Ueberroth was born in Evanston,...
, John McKay, Bill Walsh, and
Pete CarrollPeter Clay Carroll is an American football coach, former National Football League head coach, and the current head coach of the University of Southern California Trojans football team, having held that position since 2001...
.
Youngblood played in 201 consecutive games, a Rams team record; he only missed one game in his 14-year NFL career. He was also the Rams' defensive captain from 1977 through 1984 and was voted the recipient
Dan ReevesDaniel Edward Reeves is a former American football player and head coach. He played in two Super Bowls, Super Bowl V and Super Bowl VI and also coached in four more, Super Bowl XXI, Super Bowl XXII and Super Bowl XXIV as the Denver Broncos' head coach, and Super Bowl XXXIII as the head coach of...
award three times, which is awarded to the team's most valuable player. He had 151.5 career sacks and led the Rams in sacks nine times despite playing first in assistant coach Ray Malavasi's stop-the-run-first defensive scheme and then in his final two seasons in defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmer's 3-4 two-gap scheme which limited some pass rush opportunities to make sure the opponent's running game was handled. His highest single-season sack total was 18 in 1979.
He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001 along with
Ron YaryAnthony Ronald "Ron" Yary is a former professional American football offensive tackle, playing primarily for the Minnesota Vikings and also for the Los Angeles Rams. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001...
,
Lynn SwannLynn Curtis Swann is an American former professional football player and sportscaster, and current politician. In 2006, he was the Republican nominee to run against the incumbent Ed Rendell for Pennsylvania Governor.-Early life:...
, Jackie Slater,
Mike MunchakMichael Anthony Munchak is a former American Football guard who played for the Houston Oilers. Munchak was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001. He is currently the Tennessee Titans offensive line coach...
,
Marv LevyMarvin Daniel Levy is a former American and Canadian Football coach and front office executive.He is a former professional football coach, in the CFL as head coach of the Montreal Alouettes , and in the NFL as head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills , coaching the Bills to...
, and
Nick BuonicontiNicholas Anthony Buoniconti is a former American Football League and NFL Hall of Fame middle linebacker, who played for the Boston Patriots and Miami Dolphins....
and inducted in August in Canton, Ohio. Youngblood echoed his post-retirement sentiments in his Hall of Fame acceptance speech by stating, “I didn't sack the quarterback every time I rushed the passer. I didn't make every tackle for a loss. I guess — no one could. But, it wasn't because I didn't have the passion to, the desire to. I hope that showed”.
Youngblood's style of play and perceived ability to play hurt brought many notations in NFL lore. In 1996
NFL FilmsNFL Films is a Mount Laurel, New Jersey-based company devoted to producing commercials, television programs, feature films, and documentaries on the National Football League, as well as other unrelated major events and awards shows...
named him to their list of the 100 Toughest Players of All-Time and in 2006 NFL writer Neil Reynolds featured Youngblood in his 2006 book "Pain Gang," in which Reynolds names Youngblood as one of the 50 Toughest players of All-Time. In addition,
Blitz magazine,
The Sporting News,
Football Digest, and
Sport magazine have singled Youngblood out as one of the toughest and one of the hardest hitting players of all-time. He was named by
Yahoo! writer Charles Robinson as the best-ever player taken in the 20th slot of the 1st round of the NFL draft calling Youngblood “the essence of today's defensive end——a mixture of strength, toughness and speed that few ends boasted in the 1970s.” In 2000,
Sports Illustrated ranked Youngblood as #4 in its list of the greatest pass rushers of all-time, behind only
Deacon JonesDavid D. "Deacon" Jones is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League for the Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers, and the Washington Redskins. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980.Jones specialized in quarterback sacks, a term attributed to him...
,
Reggie WhiteReginald Howard "Reggie" White was a professional American football player who played defensive end for 17 seasons in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers becoming one of the most decorated players in NFL history...
and
Lawrence TaylorLawrence Julius Taylor , nicknamed L.T., is a retired Hall of Fame American football player. Taylor played his entire professional career as a linebacker for the New York Giants in the National Football League...
.
During his career, Jack won the respect of both teammates and opponents.
Dan DierdorfDaniel Lee "Dan" Dierdorf is a former American football player and current television sportscaster. He played 13 NFL seasons and has worked for ABC's Monday Night Football and CBS as a color commentator since his retirement....
, a Hall of Fame tackle, said that Youngblood was “by far the toughest opponent I faced in my career”, a thought echoed by Viking Hall of Fame tackle
Ron YaryAnthony Ronald "Ron" Yary is a former professional American football offensive tackle, playing primarily for the Minnesota Vikings and also for the Los Angeles Rams. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001...
who said, “There wasn't anybody who was tougher to block than Jack”. Other NFL greats such as Hall of Fame tackles
Bob BrownRobert Stanford Brown is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League from 1964 through 1973.In 2004, Brown was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.-College career:...
and
Rayfield WrightLarry Rayfield Wright is a former American football offensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.-High school and college years:...
, rank Jack among the top players they faced. Opposing quarterbacks also ranked Youngblood highly, with two of them,
Fran TarkentonFrancis Asbury "Fran" Tarkenton is a former professional football player, TV personality, and computer software executive....
and
Roger StaubachRoger Thomas Staubach, also known as Roger the Dodger, The Jolly Roger, Captain Comeback, and Captain America, is a businessman, Heisman Trophy winner and Hall of Fame quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys from 1969 until 1979...
, stating that Jack was the top defensive lineman they faced in their careers. Hall of Fame defensive tackle
Merlin OlsenMerlin Jay Olsen is a former American football player in the National Football League and an actor. He played his entire 15-year career with the Los Angeles Rams and was elected to the Pro Bowl in 14 of those seasons, a current record shared with Bruce Matthews...
paid Youngblood the highest compliment by stating that Jack was the “perfect defensive end″. Running backs also entered the chorus, “I remember bouncing off Jack Youngblood and it was just like a pillar of strength over there on the defense,”
Rocky BleierRobert Patrick "Rocky" Bleier is a former National Football League halfback who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1968 and from 1971 to 1980.-Origin of nickname:He was nicknamed "Rocky" as a baby...
recalled. “Jack played hurt, he played tough, and he was a great opponent.”
To all the praise, Youngblood responded, “I don't consider myself tough, I consider myself a
nut for some of the things I did”. Youngblood concluded, “I wasn’t the biggest guy, I certainly wasn’t the strongest and I wasn’t the fastest either. But I think one of my biggest assets was that I had an undeniable determination to be the best that has ever put his hand on the ground, I had a genuine desire to be great.”
Charitable activities
While at the University of Florida, Youngblood was invloved in the
Fellowship of Christian AthletesThe Fellowship of Christian Athletes is a not-for-profit evangelical Christian organization that has been based in Kansas City, Missouri since 1956. Members are encouraged to be athletes but are not required to be....
while also speaking to youth groups and raising funds for needy children—one such event was a 57-mile bicycle ride he organized which intended to send disadvantaged youth to a summer camp. Youngblood was involved in the 1974 NFL-
USOThe United Service Organizations Inc. is a private, nonprofit organization that provides morale and recreational services to members of the U.S. military, with programs in over 135 centers worldwide. Since 1941, it has worked in partnership with the Department of Defense , and has provided support...
tour to
VietnamVietnam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam , is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea to the east...
and Southeast Asia. In 1977, Youngblood was the chairman of the
Los AngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the municipality of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123.445 inhabitants...
-area "Right to Read" program and active in the
Muscular DystrophyMuscular dystrophy refers to a group of genetic, hereditary muscle diseases that weaken the muscles that move the human body. Muscular dystrophies are characterized by progressive skeletal muscle weakness, defects in muscle proteins, and the death of muscle cells and tissue...
Foundation. The same year, he was the United Way spokesman for the Rams and was the club's Man of the Year nominee in 1975 and 1983. In 1986 He participated the
Hands Across AmericaHands Across America was a benefit event and publicity campaign staged on Sunday May 25, 1986 in which approximately seven million people held hands in a human chain for fifteen minutes along a path across the continental United States...
, an event to end hunger in the United States. Other NFL stars including Walter Payton and Tony Dorsett were also in the nation-wide hand-holding line. In his final 13 years (1979-1991) in Los Angeles, Youngblood sponsored a celebrity golf tournament for the John Tracy Clinic for Deaf Children, and was active with programs at the Children's Hospital for Orange County. He was named the Orange County "Sportsman of the Year" by the hospital in 1987.
Since 2001, Youngblood has been the St. Louis Rams' host for the
Taste of the NFL charity event, a dinner held annually at the Super Bowl to raise funds for Feeding America-The Nation's Foodbank Network. In April, 2007, Youngblood was inducted into the
National Football League AlumniThe NFL Alumni is a 501 charity that is composed of former NFL players and associate members who work voluntarily to raise funds for youth-oriented causes and engage in hands-on service to foster the development of "youth through sports and sports through youth." The NFL Alumni advances its motto...
Association’s prestigious Order of the Leather Helmet, which is the highest award for the NFL Alumni given to those “who make a lasting impression on the game”.
Throughout his NFL career and after Youngblood has been a skilled public speaker being sought after by corporate, athletic, and Christian groups due to his activity and success in those arenas. He also attends hunting, fishing and golf outings when associated with a good cause. He also is active in the Orlando chapter of
Young LifeYoung Life is a non-profit, Christian non-denominational, incarnational, parachurch ministry. Young Life consists of many branches of ministry but most commonly the name "Young Life" refers to the outreach arm of the organization directed towards high school students...
, a nationwide organization whose goals include attempting to mentor young men and women in the Christian faith. Jack's wife, Barbara Youngblood, serves on the Executive Committee for Young Life for the Orlando Chapter.
Youngblood serves on the Honorary Advisory Board of the St. Louis Rams along with notables like
Bill CosbyWilliam Henry "Bill" Cosby, Jr. is an American comedian, actor, author, television producer, musician and activist. A veteran stand-up performer, he got his start at various clubs, then landed a starring role in the 1960s action show, I Spy. He later starred in his own series, The Bill Cosby Show,...
, August A. Busch III,
Jonathan WintersJonathan Harshman Winters III is an American comedian and actor.-Early life:Winters was born in Bellbrook, Ohio, the son of Alice Kilgore , a radio personality, and Jonathan Harshman Winters II, an investment broker. He is a descendant of Valentine Winters, founder of the Winters National Bank in...
,
Dick GephardtRichard Andrew "Dick" Gephardt is a former prominent American politician of the Democratic Party. Gephardt served as a U.S. Representative from Missouri from January 3, 1977, until January 3, 2005, serving as House Majority Leader from 1989 to 1995, and as Minority Leader from 1995 to 2003...
,
Jackie Joyner-KerseeJacqueline "Jackie" Joyner-Kersee is a retired American athlete, ranked among the all-time greatest athletes in the women's heptathlon as well as in the women's long jump. She won three gold, one silver, and two bronze Olympic medals, in those two different events...
, and
Stan MusialStanley Frank "Stan" Musial , born Stanisław Franciszek Musiał, , is a retired American professional baseball player who was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969. Nicknamed "Stan the Man", Musial played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1941 to 1963...
,
Maxine WatersMaxine Waters is a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1991, representing California's 35th congressional district . She resides in the Hancock Park area of Los Angeles, which is approximately six miles west of downtown...
, Dr. Toby Freedman, et al. Former members of the Rams Advisory Board, created in 1981, include, Lord David Westbury, former Ram and Evangelist
Rosey GrierRoosevelt "Rosey" Grier is an American actor, singer, Christian minister, and former professional American football player. He was a noteworthy college football player for Pennsylvania State University who earned a retrospective place in the National Collegiate Athletic Association 100th...
,
Maureen ReaganMaureen Elizabeth Reagan was the only biological child of the former President Ronald Reagan and his first wife, Hollywood actress Jane Wyman, to survive infancy. Another daughter, Christine, was born prematurely and died the day after her birth. The couple's son, Michael Edward Reagan, was...
,
Henry ManciniHenry Mancini was an American composer, conductor and arranger. He is remembered particularly for being a composer of film and television scores. Mancini also won a record number of Grammy awards, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995...
,
Bob HopeBob Hope, KBE, KCSG was an American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO tours entertaining American military personnel...
,
Danny ThomasDanny Thomas was an American nightclub comedian and television and film actor, best known for starring in the television sitcom Make Room for Daddy, or The Danny Thomas Show. He is also the founder of St...
, Jane Upton Bell, former President
Gerald FordGerald Rudolph Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
among others.
Youngblood is also involved in helping former NFL players in need by supporting the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund (GGAF). The Gridiron Greats sponsors golf tournaments, autograph signings, memorabilia auctions, clay pigeon shoots and dinners to raise funds for retired players.
External links