I've heard Jack Youngblood name checked twice since this article came out. Yes, because of what Charlie Morton did for Atlanta yesterday, But a few days earlier, I heard former NFL players mentioning the characteristics that they thought defined the greatest players: "toughness" and "playing hurt", eagerly and effectively. And Jack Youngblood was the one they pointed to first.
One a curious tangential note, Youngblood is one of five LA Rams linemen who also had acting careers--most notably, Fred Dryer and Merlin Olson, but also Rosey Grier and Deacon Jones. (The remaining member of the Rams' Fearsome Foursome, Lamar Lundy also had a bit role or two.) Obviously the Rams' proximity to Hollywood helps, but I'd be hard-pressed to name five former Rams cumulatively at any other positions who also went Hollywood. There might have been a few players with brief stops on the Rams, but not long-time Rams like these.
Bernie Casey was probably the most prominent player/actor that you left off. He has a legit IMdB page & was a starting wide receiver for several years. And Roman Gabriel acted some. Terry Crews played a few games for the Rams and a couple of full seasons elsewhere. People forget he was a football player, but obviously he was mainly an actor.
If memory serves me right, in addition to all the other unlikely coincidences of two unrelated dudes named Youngblood on the same team, wasn't Jack Number 85 and Jim was 58?
Anyway, as a boy I couldn't think of a player tougher than Jack Youngblood, and that was before the broken leg Super Bowl. Just the way he played and of course, THAT NAME (!). Lambert, Joe Greene, and Mel Blount (as well as some non-Steelers) may have seemed AS tough, but couldn't conceive of anyone being MORE tough.
I've heard Jack Youngblood name checked twice since this article came out. Yes, because of what Charlie Morton did for Atlanta yesterday, But a few days earlier, I heard former NFL players mentioning the characteristics that they thought defined the greatest players: "toughness" and "playing hurt", eagerly and effectively. And Jack Youngblood was the one they pointed to first.
Did we miss 85 and 86?
https://joeposnanski.substack.com/p/nos-86-and-85-howie-long-and-ted - I think these posted some time last week.
One a curious tangential note, Youngblood is one of five LA Rams linemen who also had acting careers--most notably, Fred Dryer and Merlin Olson, but also Rosey Grier and Deacon Jones. (The remaining member of the Rams' Fearsome Foursome, Lamar Lundy also had a bit role or two.) Obviously the Rams' proximity to Hollywood helps, but I'd be hard-pressed to name five former Rams cumulatively at any other positions who also went Hollywood. There might have been a few players with brief stops on the Rams, but not long-time Rams like these.
And now some linemen for the Browns have "gone Hollywood", doing the Spitzer Shield Shuffle.
Bernie Casey was probably the most prominent player/actor that you left off. He has a legit IMdB page & was a starting wide receiver for several years. And Roman Gabriel acted some. Terry Crews played a few games for the Rams and a couple of full seasons elsewhere. People forget he was a football player, but obviously he was mainly an actor.
I would have said Chuck Norris wears Jack Youngblood pajamas.
Chuck Norris' tears could cure cancer, but we'll never get that because Chuck Norris never cries.
Because he's never met Jack Youngbood.
If memory serves me right, in addition to all the other unlikely coincidences of two unrelated dudes named Youngblood on the same team, wasn't Jack Number 85 and Jim was 58?
Anyway, as a boy I couldn't think of a player tougher than Jack Youngblood, and that was before the broken leg Super Bowl. Just the way he played and of course, THAT NAME (!). Lambert, Joe Greene, and Mel Blount (as well as some non-Steelers) may have seemed AS tough, but couldn't conceive of anyone being MORE tough.
He was great.