Jack Youngblood Herbert Jackson Youngblood , III ( born January 26 , 1950 ) is a former American college and professional football player who was a defensive end for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League ( NFL ) for fourteen seasons during the 1970s and 1980s . He was a five - time consensus All - Pro and a seven - time Pro Bowl selection and was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame . Before playing professionally , Youngblood played college football for the University of Florida , and was recognized as an All - American . He is considered among the best players Florida ever produced — a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and one of only five Florida Gators to be named to the Gator Football Ring of Honor . After retiring as a player in 1985 , Youngblood worked in the Rams ' front office until 1991 . He also worked in the front office of the Sacramento Surge of the Canadian Football League ( CFL ) from 1992 to 1993 , and the administration of the CFL ' s Sacramento Gold Miners from 1993 to 1994 . He was a vice - president , then president , of the Orlando Predators from 1995 until 1999 . From 1999 through 2002 , he served as the NFL ' s liaison for the Arena Football League . Youngblood has made forays into broadcasting ( both radio and television ) , acting , and business , and has written an autobiography . He was a popular spokesperson for various products , and he has been consistently involved in charity work , starting in college , continuing throughout his NFL career , and remaining so today . Currently , Youngblood serves on the NFLPA Mackey - White Traumatic Brain Injury Committee . Early years . Jack Youngblood was born in Jacksonville , Florida , the son of Herbert J . and Kay Youngblood . He has two sisters , Paula and Lynn . Youngblood attended Monticello - Jefferson County High School in Monticello , Florida , graduating in 1967 . As an offensive lineman and linebacker , he was a starter on offense and defense and team captain of the state champion Tigers , earning All - State honors in 1966 after recording 70 tackles . He was also All - Big Bend , All - Conference and the Big Bend Linemen of the Year and the Outstanding Lineman for the Tigers that season while leading a defense that shutout seven opponents and allowed ten touchdowns in 12 games , including the state playoffs . He was a four - year letterman in football and also played basketball at M - JC High as well as participating in 4 - H , Student Council and Key Club International . Youngblood was named to Florida ' s All - Time High school football team by " Sports Illustrated " in 1989 . In November 2007 , he was recognized as one of the state of Florida ' s thirty - three all - time greatest high school football players when he was voted to the Florida High School Athletic Association ' s All - Century High School football team . College career . At the University of Florida , Youngblood earned a bachelor ' s degree in finance , was a brother of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity ( Alpha Omega Chapter ) , and was a three - year varsity letterman for coach Ray Graves and coach Doug Dickey ' s Florida Gators football teams from 1968 to 1970 . Youngblood had entered school at 195 pounds and put on 10 pounds a year through weight - lifting , finishing around 245 pounds . Youngblood and his teammates were part of the testing of what became Gatorade , a beverage created by Doctors Robert Cade and Dana Shires , designed to help Gator athletes who had to practice and play in Central Florida heat . Said Youngblood , " Dr . Cade began experimenting with Gatorade my freshman year . He tried to kill us all ! That first stuff was lethal ! It was thick , like syrup , and had an aftertaste . Then , it started to look like milk . ″ As a freshman Youngblood played defensive end , wearing number 52 , for the Gator freshman team . It was his first experience on the defensive line , after playing linebacker in high school . As a sophomore , Youngblood played defensive end and defensive tackle while also handling the kicking chores for the Gators , kicking a career - long 42 - yard field goal to provide the three - point winning margin in his first collegiate game which was against Air Force . In 1969 , Youngblood was part of a 9 – 1 – 1 Gators team that upset the Tennessee Volunteers in the Gator Bowl in Ray Graves ' s final game as coach at Florida . Youngblood played a key role in the Gator Bowl recording nine tackles and forcing a fumble . Youngblood first gained national attention after an October 4 , 1969 , 5 - sack performance 21 - 6 win versus instate rival Florida State University . He set a school record for sacks ( 14 ) in 1969 and led the teams ' defensive linemen with 66 tackles . In 1970 , Youngblood was voted All - American , while recording 58 tackles and leading the team with 10 sacks to finish his Gator career with 29 quarterback sacks . Additionally , he was a finalist for the Outland Trophy following the 1970 season and was voted the 1970 SEC lineman of the year . Youngblood was also named to the SEC All - Conference team in 1970 , which ended three winning seasons while at Florida . He was also the 1970 recipient of Florida ' s Fergie Ferguson Award , which goes to the senior who displays outstanding leadership , character , and courage . His performance in the Florida – Georgia rivalry earned him a spot in the Florida – Georgia Game Hall of Fame as well . In the 1970 edition of the game , Florida trailed Georgia by seven points and the Georgia offense had driven to Florida ' s one - yard line , Youngblood stopped a Georgia running back short of the goal line and forced him to fumble and then recovered the loose ball beginning a rally that gained a come - from - behind 24 – 17 victory . Some regard Youngblood , who was considered to be an excellent pass rusher , as the best defensive lineman in Gators history as well as one of the top five players in the University of Florida ' s football program . When " Time " magazine chose him for their 1970 All - America Team , it said of Youngblood : " Deceptively fast for his size , he reads screens and swing passes so adroitly that he intimidates quarterbacks by his mere presence . " His coach Doug Dickey told " The Sporting News " , " He is difficult to move when you run at him , has the speed an agility to pursue down the line of scrimmage , and the strength and quickness to rush the passer . " In one of a series of articles written for " The Gainesville Sun " in 2006 , Youngblood was ranked as the No . 5 all - time greatest player for the Florida Gators . Youngblood graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor ' s degree in business administration in 1972 . NFL career . Youngblood was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the first round of the 1971 NFL Draft . He was the 20th overall pick in that draft and signed a 3 - year $ 105 , 000 contract including a $ 30 , 000 signing bonus . That season he backed up Deacon Jones at left defensive end and started four games when Jones was sidelined with a severely sprained arch . He was named All - Rookie by " Football Digest " and after the season Jones was traded to the San Diego Chargers . In 1972 the left defensive end position was Youngblood ' s as he led the Rams defensive linemen in tackles with 70 , and started 11 of the 14 games he played , recording six sacks . In 1973 Youngblood was a Second - team All - pro selection and went to the first of his seven Pro Bowls and led the Rams with 16½ sacks . The Ram defense led the NFL in fewest yards allowed and fewest rushing yards . He was voted the Rams defensive lineman of the year by the Rams Alumni Association . Beginning in the 1973 season , the Rams added the unrelated Jim Youngblood to its roster , so from that time on , both Youngbloods had the unique distinction of having their entire name on the back of their jerseys , the given name appearing above the family name . The following year , 1974 , the Rams again led the NFL in rushing defense and Youngblood led the Rams with 15 sacks while being voted a consensus First - team All - Pro . The Rams advanced to the NFC Championship game , losing 14 - 10 to the Minnesota Vikings . Youngblood was honored as the NFC Defensive Player of the Year by United Press International in 1975 and " Pro Football Weekly " named Youngblood the NFL defensive lineman of the year . For the third consecutive season Youngblood led the Rams in sacks ( 15 ) and was a consensus All - pro again , repeating his 1974 honor . In a December , 1975 , 35 - 23 playoff win over the St . Louis Cardinals , Youngblood pass - rushed Cardinals offensive lineman Dan Dierdorf , penetrated into the backfield , then tipped and intercepted a pass by Jim Hart , returning the interception 47 yards for a touchdown . Later in the game , Youngblood forced a fumble that was recovered by teammate Fred Dryer , blocked an extra point attempt , and sacked Hart to stop a Cardinals drive . Youngblood repeated his NFC Defensive Player of the Year Award in 1976 while co - leading the Rams in sacks with 14½ and being a consensus First - team All - pro for the third straight season . The following year , 1977 , Youngblood was voted to his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl and a consensus All - NFC selection and Second - team All - pro while leading the Rams in sacks for the fifth straight season . In 1978 the Rams led the NFL in total defense and Youngblood was a consensus First - team All - Pro for the fourth time in five years . One of the athletic feats for which Youngblood is best known , is that of playing the entire 1979 playoffs , including Super Bowl XIV , with a fractured left fibula . He also played in the 1980 Pro Bowl with the injured leg , a week after the Super Bowl . In the playoffs , Youngblood sacked Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach near the sideline in the waning moments of the divisional playoff game versus the Cowboys . Playing with the fractured leg was noted by " Sports Illustrated " in their Top 10 list of athletes playing in pain . For that and other achievements Jack was dubbed the “ John Wayne of football ” by Jim Hanifan and echoed by Hall of Fame coach John Madden . The NFL Network series NFL Top 10 selected Youngblood ' s performance in the 1979 playoffs as top on its list of the “ Gutsiest Performances ″ of all - time . For the 1979 season Youngblood had a career - high 18 sacks and was a consensus First - team All - pro for the fifth time . He was voted to his seventh consecutive Pro Bowl . In 1980 he was Second - team All - pro and First - team All - NFC while leading the Rams with 11½ sacks . In 1981 Jack led the Rams with 12½ sacks and was the Rams outstanding defensive lineman . In the off - season , prior to the 1981 season , Jack had emergency surgery to remove a hot - dog sized blood clot from under his left arm . It was a result of repeated trauma to a nerve in his arm that blocked the flow of blood . Despite the broken leg and numerous other injuries , Youngblood played in 201 consecutive games , a Rams team record ; and only missed 1 game in his 14 - year NFL career . He played in seven straight Pro Bowls , 5 NFC Championships , and one Super Bowl . He was also the Rams defensive captain from 1977 through 1984 and was voted the Dan Reeves award 3 times , which is awarded to the team ' s MVP . He had 151½ career sacks and led the Rams in sacks nine times despite playing first in assistant Coach Ray Malavasi ' s stop - the - run - first defensive scheme and then in his final two seasons in Defensive Coordinator Fritz Shurmur ' s 3 - 4 two - gap scheme which limited some pass rush opportunities to make sure the opponent ' s running game was handled . Youngblood faced a challenge in 1983 when the Rams adopted Shurmur ' s 3 - 4 defense . Critics thought Youngblood might be too small to play that position , yet he performed in it well ( recording 10½ sacks in 1983 and 9½ sacks in 1984 while Rams were among the NFL ' s best defenses at stopping the run ) despite being considered undersized . Among the standout games in Youngblood ' s final two seasons were the opening game of the 1983 season , against the New York Giants in which Youngblood recorded two sacks ; and the 1983 season finale against the New Orleans Saints . In the Saints game Youngblood recorded 10 tackles , two sacks , recorded a safety and was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year by Pro Football Weekly for the effort . In Week 5 of 1984 against the New York Giants , Youngblood recorded two sacks , drew three holding calls and was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week by the NFL . Then , in Week 10 , against the St . Louis Cardinals , Jack dominated the game sacking Neil Lomax three times and drawing three holding calls , and blocking a potential game - tying field goal on the game ' s final play to preserve a 16 - 13 Rams win . His streak of consecutive games played ended in Week 15 of the 1984 season , when Youngblood had to sit out his first football game since being a collegiate player in 1970 . He had suffered a ruptured disc in his lower back two weeks earlier . Despite the injury , he returned for the season finale against the 49ers and the playoffs . He attributed his ability to play to a series of back adjustments that allowed him more freedom of movement , even though team doctors told Youngblood he was out for the season and needed surgery . He was voted the Rams ' recipient of the 1984 Ed Block Courage Award by “ representing everything that is positive about professional football and serving as an inspiration in their locker rooms being a positive role model in his communities ” . Though the injury ended his streak , Youngblood still holds the record for most consecutive starts in the NFL by a strong - side defensive end with 184 . When Youngblood retired on August 27 , 1985 , he asked his career to be remembered for “ dignity , integrity , respect and pride ″ . Seasonal Sack Totals : 1971 ( 3 ) , 1972 ( 6 ) , 1973 ( 16½ ) , 1974 ( 15 ) , 1975 ( 15 ) , 1976 ( 14½ ) , 1977 ( 8½ ) , 1978 ( 7 ) , 1979 ( 18 ) , 1980 ( 11⅓ ) , 1981 ( 12½ ) , 1982 ( 4 ) , 1983 ( 10½ ) , 1984 ( 9½ ) , Career Total ( 151½ ) Post - NFL career . Acting and broadcasting . Youngblood appeared in two television movies : " C . A . T . Squad " in 1986 and " C . A . T . Squad : Python Wolf " in 1988 . In the telefilms Youngblood played a Secret Service agent in the " Counter Assault Technical Squad " named John Sommers who was the “ best weapons and munitions man in the business ″ and who was a fine secret service agent but hated big cities like Washington D . C . and New York and was thus banished to Alaska . In the plot - line of the movies " John Sommers " was a member of the Air Force Reserve who piloted SR - 71 spyplane . In these films Youngblood starred along with Joe Cortese , Steve James , and Deborah Van Valkenburgh . For " Python Wolf " he was nominated for an Emmy for ' Best Supporting Actor ' . Both films were directed by William Friedkin who is most noted for directing " The Exorcist " , " The French Connection " , and " The Boys in the Band " . Youngblood was a reporter and co - host for ESPN ' s " NFL GameDay " show in 1985 and 1986 , alongside Chris Berman and was succeeded by current co - host , Tom Jackson in 1987 . In 1988 he auditioned for the NFL on CBS ' s " NFL Today " along with Dick Butkus , Lyle Alzado , and Gary Fencik , with Butkus being hired to fill the co - host slot . Youngblood was also a regular guest on ESPN programs " Star - Shot " ( 1988 ) , " Sportslook " ( 1984 , 1986 , 1988 ) and " Great Outdoors " ( 1989 ) programs . Youngblood was a radio analyst for the Los Angeles Rams from 1987 – 1991 , the Sacramento Surge in 1992 , and a television analyst for the Sacramento Gold Miners in 1993 . In 2000 , Youngblood was hired as the co - host for " Wal - Mart ' s Great Outdoors " ( with Bert Jones ) and served in that capacity through 2003 . " Wal - Mart ' s Great Outdoors " was telecast 52 weeks a year and was a mainstay on ESPN ' s popular Saturday morning outdoors programming block , drawing impressive ratings throughout its 10 - year history . Autobiography . In 1988 , Youngblood authored ( with Joel Engel ) his autobiography , " Blood " . The book outlined Youngblood ' s drive and passion for professional football and reviewed his career , his injuries , his successes , and his failures on the football field . The book recounts when , between the 1973 and 1974 seasons , Youngblood traveled to Logan , Utah , to help Rams teammates Merlin and Phil Olsen with their summer football camp . An altercation in the parking lot of a local pub resulted in Youngblood having a . 44 pistol stuck in his eye and the trigger pulled and fortunately the chamber was empty , although other chambers were not . A cut eyelid was the only injury he sustained . After initially pleading innocent , the assailant later pled guilty and received a one - year suspended sentence . The book was favorably reviewed by Publishers Weekly as “ an unusual sports book ″ . Football administration . After his retirement , Youngblood worked in player relations and marketing for the Rams from 1985 – 90 and served as the Rams ' color analyst for the Rams Radio Network from 1986 - 1991 . Youngblood moved to the World League of American Football as the Director of Marketing for the Sacramento Surge in 1991 ( although he remained as Rams color announcer for the 1991 season ) , during which time the Surge won the 1992 World Bowl . He moved to the Sacramento Gold Miners of the Canadian Football League in 1993 . He also served as a color analyst for the both the Surge and the Gold Miners radio networks and hosted a sports radio talk show at KHTK - AM 1140 in Sacramento , California , when that station became a sports format station in 1994 . In 1995 , he returned to his native Florida as Vice President and General Manager , then later as President , of the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League . One of his major projects with the Predators was taking the team a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ stock exchange . In 1998 , Youngblood ' s final year with the team , the club won its first Arena League championship , defeating the favored Tampa Bay Storm . In 1999 he began to work for the AFL office as a liaison to the National Football League and served as a special consultant to the Arena Football League and arenafootball2 . Business . Youngblood was a division president of Dave Liles Ethanol Fuels , which produces a fuel additive that purports to boost octane , clean fuel systems , and help the environment by reducing engine emissions and being completely biodegradable . He also owns and maintains a farm in his native North Florida , in which he currently raises pine trees and where he raised cattle until 2002 . During his NFL career Youngblood partnered with L . A . Rams teammate Larry Brooks to open " The Wild Bunch " in 1980 , a western clothing store that featured high - end western wear , including cowboy boots , cowboy hats , silver belt buckles , jeans , and all else country . Additionally , while still active with the Rams Youngblood worked with BankAmericard , in a public relations capacity . He also owned and operated the South Coast Club in Huntington Beach , California , during his career . Additionally , some of the sponsorships and advertising ventures Youngblood was involved with were a Miller Lite TV commercial in 1985 and Honda Power machines in 1985 . He also had print ads for Pro Tron Weights , regional ad , 1984 , Dan Post Handcrafted Boots , national print - ad 1986 , Cal - Gym , national print - ad , 1986 , and was a national spokesman for Protatonin in 2001 . In the mid - 1980s he also modeled Munsingwear briefs in a series of magazine and billboard ads . In the mid - 1970s Jack did television commercials and print - ads for In - N - Out Burger , a California - based fast food chain . Continuing popularity . During his career Youngblood gained a loyal following which seems to continue through today . In July , 2006 , a game - used Jack Youngblood jersey sold for $ 6565 in an online auction . Fox News ' Mike Straka listed Youngblood as having one of the NFL ' s “ Great names ″ . In 2007 " Sports Illustrated " named Youngblood the greatest professional athlete to wear the uniform number 85 . Youngblood was also given the same honor in the 2004 book " Right on the Numbers " by Nino Frostino , and the " Best Athletes by the Number " blog . One of Youngblood ' s biggest fans , David G . Lewber , died on June 28 , 2007 . Mr . Lewber was buried in his autographed Jack Youngblood jersey a week later on July 3 , 2007 . In October , 2011 , D . W . Cooper released " Because It Was Sunday " a biography about Youngblood ' s playing career . Awards and honors . Collegiate . Youngblood was an All - America selection in 1970 , as well as being the SEC Lineman of the Year , All - SEC , and a finalist for the Outland Trophy . After his college career , Youngblood played in the Senior Bowl and recorded four sacks . He was named the Outstanding Lineman of the Game and in 1989 he was voted into the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame . Additionally he was voted a member of the 50th Anniversary Senior Bowl All - Time Team in 1999 . For his achievements he was selected to the All - Time SEC team in 1983 . He was also voted to the All - SEC Quarter - Century Team ( 1950 – 74 ) as well as being voted to the 25 - year All - SEC teams which spanned from the 1961 through the 1985 seasons . He was also voted best Defensive end in SEC for the years 1960 - 85 . Additionally , he was voted to the SEC All - Decade team for the 1970s . In 1995 , Youngblood was voted one of the SEC Football Legends and was presented at the SEC championship game in Atlanta , Georgia . Youngblood , who is regarded by some as the best defensive end in Gators history , was named to the All - time Florida Gators team in 1983 , and in 1999 he was voted to the Florida Gator All - Century Team . In 2006 he was named to the 100 - year Anniversary Gator Team . In 1975 , Youngblood was voted to the Florida Sports Hall of Fame which features great athletes who played college or professional athletics and have a Florida connection . In 2001 , he was elected to the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame . Five years later , in 2006 , Youngblood was among the first four Gator legends to be inducted into the Florida Football Ring of Honor , alongside Steve Spurrier , Danny Wuerffel , and Emmitt Smith . In 1992 , Youngblood was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame . He was also selected to the FWAA 1969 - 1994 All - America Team with players like Lawrence Taylor , Jerry Rice , John Elway , Tony Dorsett , Ronnie Lott , and Jack Tatum . In 1999 , he was named to the " Sports Illustrated " NCAA Football All - Century Team as one of only six defensive ends named to the squad . He was named by one SEC publication as the Top All - Time SEC Defensive of All - Time . Youngblood was also named by the " Birmingham News " as one of the Top 10 defensive lineman in SEC history , ranking with SEC greats as Reggie White , Doug Atkins , and Bill Stanfill . In addition , he is one of the three the top defensive lineman in history of the SEC , making the 75th Anniversary All - SEC Team in 2007 as determined by votes of SEC fans . National Football League . Youngblood was elected to NFL All - Pro teams five times ( 1974 , 1975 , 1976 , 1978 , 1979 ) during his 14 years with the Rams and was an All - NFC selection seven times ( 1974 – 80 ) . In addition , Youngblood was a second - team All - Pro in 1973 , 1977 , and 1980 and was second - team All - NFC in 1973 and 1984 . He was also named to seven Pro Bowls and was a first alternate to the game in 1984 , his final season . Youngblood was also on the 1984 All - Madden team and was chosen by John Madden as the player who most exemplified the All - Madden team . Youngblood is also a member of the Los Angeles Rams ' 50th Anniversary Team ( 1985 ) , and the Rams All - Century Team chosen after the 1999 season . In October 2001 he was honored in the St . Louis Rams Ring of Fame , along with Jackie Slater . Youngblood was voted the Rams ' Outstanding Defensive Linemen by the Rams ' Alumni nine times ( 1973 , 1975 – 76 , 1978 – 81 , and 1983 – 84 ) . Youngblood , in 1987 , was voted to the Orange County ( California ) Sports Hall of Fame along with Pat McCormick , Ann Meyers and Cap Sheue . Four years earlier Youngblood was recognized as the 1983 Orange County Sportsman of the Year by the Orange County Youth Sports Foundation . Other notable honorees have been Jim Nantz , Peter Ueberroth , John McKay , Bill Walsh , and Pete Carroll . Youngblood played in 201 consecutive games , a Rams team record ; he only missed one game in his 14 - year NFL career . He was also the Rams ' defensive captain from 1977 through 1984 and was voted the recipient Dan Reeves award three times , which is awarded to the team ' s most valuable player . He had 151 . 5 career sacks and led the Rams in sacks nine times despite playing first in assistant coach Ray Malavasi ' s stop - the - run - first defensive scheme and then in his final two seasons in defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmer ' s 3 - 4 two - gap scheme which limited some pass rush opportunities to make sure the opponent ' s running game was handled . His highest single - season sack total was 18 in 1979 . He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001 along with Ron Yary , Lynn Swann , Jackie Slater , Mike Munchak , Marv Levy , and Nick Buoniconti and inducted in August in Canton , Ohio . Youngblood echoed his post - retirement sentiments in his Hall of Fame acceptance speech by stating , “ I didn ' t sack the quarterback every time I rushed the passer . I didn ' t make every tackle for a loss . I guess — no one could . But , it wasn ' t because I didn ' t have the passion to , the desire to . I hope that showed ” . Youngblood ' s style of play and perceived ability to play hurt brought many notations in NFL lore . In 1996 NFL Films named him to their list of the 100 Toughest Players of All - Time and in 2006 NFL writer Neil Reynolds featured Youngblood in his 2006 book " Pain Gang , " in which Reynolds names Youngblood as one of the 50 Toughest players of All - Time . In addition , " Blitz " magazine , " The Sporting News " , " Football Digest " , and " Sport " magazine have singled Youngblood out as one of the toughest and one of the hardest hitting players of all - time . He was named by " Yahoo ! " writer Charles Robinson as the best - ever player taken in the 20th slot of the 1st round of the NFL draft calling Youngblood “ the essence of today ' s defensive end — — a mixture of strength , toughness and speed that few ends boasted in the 1970s . ” In 2000 , " Sports Illustrated " ranked Youngblood as # 4 in its list of the greatest pass rushers of all - time , behind only Deacon Jones , Reggie White and Lawrence Taylor . During his career , Jack won the respect of both teammates and opponents . Dan Dierdorf , a Hall of Fame tackle , said that Youngblood was “ by far the toughest opponent I faced in my career ” , a thought echoed by Viking Hall of Fame tackle Ron Yary who said , “ There wasn ' t anybody who was tougher to block than Jack ” . Other NFL greats such as Hall of Fame tackles Bob Brown and Rayfield Wright , rank Jack among the top players they faced . Opposing quarterbacks also ranked Youngblood highly , with two of them , Fran Tarkenton and Roger Staubach , stating that Jack was the top defensive lineman they faced in their careers . Hall of Fame defensive tackle Merlin Olsen paid Youngblood the highest compliment by stating that Jack was the “ perfect defensive end ″ . Running backs also entered the chorus , “ I remember bouncing off Jack Youngblood and it was just like a pillar of strength over there on the defense , ” Rocky Bleier recalled . “ Jack played hurt , he played tough , and he was a great opponent . ” To all the praise , Youngblood responded , “ I don ' t consider myself tough , I consider myself a " nut " for some of the things I did ” . Youngblood concluded , “ I wasn ’ t the biggest guy , I certainly wasn ’ t the strongest and I wasn ’ t the fastest either . But I think one of my biggest assets was that I had an undeniable determination to be the best that has ever put his hand on the ground , I had a genuine desire to be great . ” Charitable activities . While at the University of Florida , Youngblood was involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes while also speaking to youth groups and raising funds for needy children — one such event was a 57 - mile bicycle ride he organized which intended to send disadvantaged youth to a summer camp . Youngblood was involved in the 1974 NFL - USO tour to Vietnam and Southeast Asia . In 1977 , Youngblood was the chairman of the Los Angeles - area " Right to Read " program and active in the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation . The same year , he was the United Way spokesman for the Rams and was the club ' s Man of the Year nominee in 1975 and 1983 . In 1986 He participated the Hands Across America , an event to end hunger in the United States . Other NFL stars including Walter Payton and Tony Dorsett were also in the nation - wide hand - holding line . In his final 13 years ( 1979 – 1991 ) in Los Angeles , Youngblood sponsored a celebrity golf tournament for the John Tracy Clinic for Deaf Children , and was active with programs at the Children ' s Hospital for Orange County . He was named the Orange County " Sportsman of the Year " by the hospital in 1987 . Since 2001 , Youngblood has been the St . Louis Rams ' host for the " Taste of the NFL " charity event , a dinner held annually at the Super Bowl to raise funds for Feeding America - The Nation ' s Foodbank Network . In April , 2007 , Youngblood was inducted into the National Football League Alumni Association ’ s prestigious Order of the Leather Helmet , which is the highest award for the NFL Alumni given to those “ who make a lasting impression on the game ” . Throughout his NFL career and after Youngblood has been a skilled public speaker being sought after by corporate , athletic , and Christian groups due to his activity and success in those arenas . He also attends hunting , fishing and golf outings when associated with a good cause . He also is active in the Orlando chapter of Young Life , a nationwide organization whose goals include attempting to mentor young men and women in the Christian faith . Jack ' s wife , Barbara Youngblood , serves on the Executive Committee for Young Life for the Orlando Chapter . Youngblood serves on the Honorary Advisory Board of the St . Louis Rams along with notables like Bill Cosby , August A . Busch III , Jonathan Winters , Dick Gephardt , Jackie Joyner - Kersee , and Stan Musial , Maxine Waters , Dr . Toby Freedman , et al . Former members of the Rams Advisory Board , created in 1981 , include , Lord David Westbury , former Ram and Evangelist Rosey Grier , Maureen Reagan , Henry Mancini , Bob Hope , Danny Thomas , Jane Upton Bell , former President Gerald Ford among others . Youngblood is also involved in helping former NFL players in need by supporting the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund ( GGAF ) . The Gridiron Greats sponsors golf tournaments , autograph signings , memorabilia auctions , clay pigeon shoots and dinners to raise funds for retired players .