Jackie Slater

Slater was born in Jackson, Mississippi. He was the first member of his family to attend a desegregated school while growing up at Wingfield High School.[1] He attended Jackson State University, where he played alongside Walter Payton, who personally recruited him to the university, for three years.[1][2] Slater later credited Payton as the player who "taught him to compete in practice", seeing how Payton often played with an injured elbow.[1] He was selected to the Southwestern Athletic Conference All-Star Game three times. After his senior season, he was invited to participate in the College All-Star Game.[3]

Although used primarily as a backup and special teams player during his first three seasons, Slater became the starting right tackle in 1979. That year the Rams went to Super Bowl XIV, where he successfully defended L. C. Greenwood from getting a quarterback sack.[1] In 1980, he was part of an offensive line that surrendered just 29 sacks and helped the Rams' offense finish second in the NFL in total yards gained with 6,006. In 1983, he and the Rams offensive line demonstrated their versatility when they allowed a league-low 23 sacks while also paving the way for Eric Dickerson’s rookie rushing record of 1,808 yards. In 1985, he was a key blocker for Dickerson as he ran for a playoff record 248 yards and two touchdowns against the Dallas Cowboys in an NFL divisional game.[2] During a 1989 playoff game, Slater prevented Reggie White, who was considered the premium pass rusher in the NFL, from sacking the quarterback, a game that Slater later became best known for.[1][4] Slater was considered by critics the most consistent lineman on one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, which also included Pro Bowlers Kent Hill and Dennis Harrah, and was recognized for his "work ethic and leadership skills" when he was inducted to the Hall of Fame.[4][5] He retired after the 1995 season when injuries reduced him to playing one game the entire year.[6] He is the only player in league history to play for one single team/franchise in three different cities (Los Angeles 1976–1979, Anaheim 1980–1994, and St. Louis 1995).

He was voted the National Football League Players Association NFC Offensive Lineman of the Year four times—1983, 1986, 1987, and 1989—and was the Athletes in Action/Bart Starr Award winner after the 1995 season. Slater played in 259 games from 1976 to 1995, a then-record for offensive lineman (broken by Bruce Matthews in the 1999 season).[1] He was the first player to play 20 seasons for one team, later matched by Washington Redskins cornerback Darrell Green, Detroit Lions kicker Jason Hanson, and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, and third all-time.[5] He played for 24 quarterbacks and 37 running backs in his lengthy career, during which seven running backs rushed for over 1,000 yards in a season and played in seven Pro Bowls.[5] Former teammate Jim Everett stated "Jackie Slater is proof they were playing football in the prehistoric days".[1] He was Dickerson's Hall of Fame presenter in 1999.[1] In 2001, Slater was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Upon hearing of his induction to the Hall of Fame, fellow inductee and teammate Jack Youngblood said "Jackie Slater didn't want to just beat you, he wanted to dominate you. That's what made him the player that he was."[1] On being honored, Slater stated "As you walk around and shake hands with some of the greatest players in history, it finally hits you, that you belong. You're a part of the greatest roster ever assembled."[7]

After his football career ended, Slater worked with an ABC affiliate in Los Angeles.[8] He participated as a guest coach during St. Louis Rams training camps in the early 2000s.[8] On February 16, 2006, Oakland Raiders head coach Art Shell hired him to become a co-offensive lineman coach along with Irv Eatman. Slater was hired to mentor Robert Gallery, moving him to left tackle.[9] Gallery struggled that season and Slater was released by the Raiders for the 2007 season and replaced by Tom Cable.[9] He was most recently the offensive line coach at Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, California.[10]

Slater's son Matthew, who played college football at UCLA, was drafted by the New England Patriots in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft.[11] He is currently a gunner and special teams captain for the Patriots. The Slaters have 16 Pro Bowl nods between them, and his son's nominations to the Pro Bowl makes the Slater family the third most nominated family in the NFL (only the Manning family (Archie, Peyton and Eli) and the Matthews family (Bruce, Clay Jr and Clay III)) have more Pro-Bowl nominations as a family).[12] Another son, David, is in his final year in college. Slater and his family live in Orange County, California.[10]

Slater is active with the NFL Play 60 program, which sends NFL players to schools to discuss spending 60 minutes a day to participate in sports activities.[13]

• Jackie Slater at the Pro Football Hall of Fame