John David "Jack" Tatum was an American football defensive back who played ten seasons from 1971 through 1980 for the Oakland Raiders and Houston Oilers in the National Football League . He was popularly known as "The Assassin." He was voted to three consecutive Pro Bowls and was a member of one Super Bowl-winning team in his nine seasons with the Raiders. Tatum earned a reputation as a fierce competitor, and was considered one of the hardest hitters ever to play the game. In a 2006 poll by Sports Illustrated on the century's best defensive backs, Tatum finished with eight percent of the... vote. He is also known for a hit he made against New England Patriots wide receiver Darryl Stingley in a 1978 preseason game. The hit paralyzed Stingley from the chest down. Tatum was also noted for his involvement in the Immaculate Reception play during a 1972 playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tatum was born in Cherryville, North Carolina and grew up in Passaic, New Jersey, where he had little interest in playing sports in his early years.
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| Birthdate: | November 18, 1948 |
| Birthplace: | Cherryville, North Carolina |
| Date of death: | July 27, 2010 |
| Height: | 5' 10" |
| Weight: | 200.4 lbs. |
| All Positions Played: | Defensive back, Safety |
| Education: | Ohio State University |
| Also known as: | The Assassin, John David Tatum |