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Biography[]
Jack Raphael Ham, Jr. (born December 23, 1948 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania) is a former American Football linebacker who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is considered one of the greatest outside linebackers in the history of the NFL. He attended Bishop McCort High School in Johnstown, Pennsylvania followed by Massanutten Military Academy in Woodstock, Virginia for a post graduate season.
Pro Football career[]
He was the Pittsburgh Steelers second Round draft pick (34th overall) in the 1971 NFL Draft out of Penn State, where he was an All-American. He won the starting left linebacker job as a rookie. He was All-Pro seven years and was named to eight straight Pro Bowls.
Ham's career statistics include 25 sacks, 21 fumbles recovered, and 32 interceptions. As these numbers indicate, Ham had a flair for the big play, guided by some of the best football instincts ever found in a linebacker. Ham won 4 Super Bowl titles during his 12 year career, all of it spent with the Steelers.
Most people believe that 1972 was Jack Ham's best year, as he picked off 7 passes, ran back an interception for a touchdown and recovered 4 opponents fumbles.
After football[]
Ham retired from professional football in 1982 and began a career as a radio personality. He is currently a sports analyst for Penn State Radio Network and hosts a radio show in Pittsburgh with Mark Madden during the NFL season. He also appears as an analyst on the Westwood One radio network, a natural progression for a player so in tune with the strategic aspect of football. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1990.
Ham and his family currently reside in the Pittsburgh suburbs.
Trivia[]
Dobre Shunka (either Polish or Slovak for "good ham") was Ham's nickname while playing, as well as the name of Ham's fan club in the '70s.
Scouting Report[]
Statistics[]
Interception Stats[]
| year | team | league | games | INT | YDS | LNG | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | PIT | NFL | 14 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| 1972 | PIT | NFL | 14 | 7 | 83 | 32t | 1 |
| 1973 | PIT | NFL | 13 | 2 | 30 | 27 | 0 |
| 1974 | PIT | NFL | 14 | 5 | 13 | 10 | 0 |
| 1975 | PIT | NFL | 14 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 1976 | PIT | NFL | 14 | 2 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1977 | PIT | NFL | 14 | 4 | 17 | 9 | 0 |
| 1978 | PIT | NFL | 14 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1979 | PIT | NFL | 15 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 0 |
| 1980 | PIT | NFL | 16 | 2 | 16 | 15 | 0 |
| 1981 | PIT | NFL | 12 | 1 | 23 | 23 | 0 |
| 1982 | PIT | NFL | 8 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 12 year NFL career | 162 | 32 | 218 | 0 | 1 | ||
Sack/Safety Stats[]
| year | team | league | games | SK | SFY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | PIT | NFL | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 1972 | PIT | NFL | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 1973 | PIT | NFL | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 1974 | PIT | NFL | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 1975 | PIT | NFL | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 1976 | PIT | NFL | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 1977 | PIT | NFL | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 1978 | PIT | NFL | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 1979 | PIT | NFL | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| 1980 | PIT | NFL | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| 1981 | PIT | NFL | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| 1982 | PIT | NFL | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| 12 year NFL career | 162 | 3 | 0 | ||
Fumble Recovery Stats[]
| year | team | league | games | TOT | OWR | OPR | YDS | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | PIT | NFL | 14 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1972 | PIT | NFL | 14 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 1973 | PIT | NFL | 13 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1974 | PIT | NFL | 14 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 1975 | PIT | NFL | 14 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1976 | PIT | NFL | 14 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 0 |
| 1977 | PIT | NFL | 14 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1978 | PIT | NFL | 14 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1979 | PIT | NFL | 15 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1980 | PIT | NFL | 16 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1981 | PIT | NFL | 12 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1982 | PIT | NFL | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 year NFL career | 162 | 2 | 0 | 21 | 19 | 1 | ||