| No. 78 | |||||||
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| Position | Offensive tackle | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born | (1954-05-27)May 27, 1954 (age 71) Jackson, Mississippi, U.S. | ||||||
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||
| Weight | 277 lb (126 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school | Jackson (MS) Wingfield | ||||||
| College | Jackson State (1972–1975) | ||||||
| NFL draft | 1976: 3rd round, 86th overall pick | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
Playing | |||||||
Coaching | |||||||
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| Awards and highlights | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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Jackie Ray Slater (born May 27, 1954), nicknamed "Big Bad Jackie", is an American former professionalfootball player who was anoffensive tackle for 20 seasons in theNational Football League (NFL). He played his entire career with theRams franchise: 19 seasons in Los Angeles, from 1976 to 1994, and one game in St. Louis in 1995. Slater holds the record amongst all offensive linemen who have played the most seasons with one franchise.
A graduate ofJackson State University, he was a teammate ofWalter Payton. Drafted in the third round of the1976 NFL draft, Slater seldom played his first few years before starting in 1979. Known as the most consistent member of one of the most potent offensive lines in NFL history, Slater was selected to sevenPro Bowls and broke a record for most seasons with one team. His jersey number was retired and he was inducted to thePro Football Hall of Fame in 2001.
Slater was most recently the offensive line coach atAzusa Pacific University inAzusa, California. His son,Matthew Slater, is a former special teams player for theNew England Patriots.
Slater was born inJackson, Mississippi. He was the first member of his family to attend a desegregated school,Wingfield High School.[1] He attendedJackson State University, where he played three years alongside Walter Payton, who personally recruited him.[1][2] Slater was selected to theSouthwestern Athletic Conference All-Star Game three times. After his senior season, he was invited to participate in theCollege All-Star Game, the last of the series.[3]
Used primarily as a backup and special teams player during his first three seasons, Slater became the startingright tackle in 1979, winning the job in training camp from veteranJohn Williams, who held the position the previous six years. The 1979 Rams went toSuper Bowl XIV, losing to thePittsburgh Steelers.[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, Rams' offensive line allowed a league-low 23 sacks while also blocking for running backEric Dickerson's rookie rushing record of 1,808 yards. On September 25, Slater took exception toNew York Jets defensive endMark Gastineau, who showboated after beating Slater for a sack, leading to a bench-clearing brawl that saw both players get ejected. The next season, Slater suffered a season-ending injury in week seven vs. theNew Orleans Saints. Despite Slater's absence in the final nine weeks, Dickerson set the single-season rushing record with 2,105 yards
In 1985, Slater was a key blocker for Dickerson as he ran for a playoff record 248 yards and two touchdowns against theDallas Cowboys in an NFL divisional game. However, Slater was overpowered byChicago Bears linemenDan Hampton,Steve McMichael andWilliam Perry in the NFC championship game eight days later as the Bears' famous46 defense smothered Dickerson and quarterbackDieter Brock. The Bears won 24-0, then routed theNew England Patriots 46-10 inSuper Bowl XX.[2][4]
Slater was considered the most consistent members of one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, which also includedPro BowlersKent Hill andDennis 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, the Rams' first in theTWA Dome vs. theCarolina Panthers.[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). Due to his longevity, Slater was also teammates with multiple Hall of Famers from multiple Rams eras such asMerlin Olsen,Jack Youngblood,Joe Namath, Eric Dickerson,Jerome Bettis,Kevin Greene andIssac Bruce.
He was voted theNational Football League Players Association's NFC Offensive Lineman of the Year four times—1983, 1986, 1987, and 1989—and was theAthletes in Action/Bart Starr Award winner after the1995 season. Slater played in 259 games from 1976 to 1995, a then-record foroffensive lineman.[1] He was the second player to play 20 seasons for one team followingCleveland Browns tackle/kickerLou Groza. This record was later matched byWashington RedskinscornerbackDarrell Green,Detroit LionskickerJason Hanson, andNew England Patriots quarterbackTom Brady.[5] He played for 24 quarterbacks and 37 running backs.[5] Former teammateJim 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 thePro Football Hall of Fame.
After his football career ended, Slater worked for anABC affiliate in Los Angeles.[7] He participated as a guestcoach during St. Louis Rams training camps in the early 2000s.[7] On February 16, 2006,Oakland Raidershead coachArt Shell hired him to become offensive line coach alongsideIrv Eatman. Slater was hired to mentorRobert Gallery, who was moving toleft tackle.[8] Gallery struggled that season and Slater was released by the Raiders for the2007 season and replaced byTom Cable.[8] He was most recently the offensive line coach atAzusa Pacific University in Azusa, California.[9]
Slater's son,Matthew Slater, played college football atUCLA and was drafted by theNew England Patriots in the fifth round of the2008 NFL draft.[10] He was agunner andspecial teams captain for the Patriots. The Slaters have 17 Pro Bowl nods between them, making the Slater family the third most-nominated family in history behind theMatthews family (25) and theManning family (20).[11] Slater and his family live in Orange County, California.[9]
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.[12]
