The Eagles Almost Drafted Steelers Legend Jack Ham
at a recent appearance on The Steven Jones Show, veteran Philadelphia reporter Ray Didinger revealed that, while a scout for the Philadelphia Eagles was smitten with Jack Ham at the 1971 NFL Draft, the team’s hierarchy decided he was too little and passed on him.
After being drafted by the Steelers in the second round out of Penn State, Ham went on to enjoy a Hall of Fame career with Pittsburgh and participated in four Super Bowl victories.
Didinger told Jones, “I remember the Eagles had a scout that really loved Jack Ham,” according to Steelers Depot’s Alex Kozora. After scouting him at Penn State, he fell in love with him and was pleading with the coaches to accept Jack Ham as soon as he was released. And he was overlooked by the Eagles.
In 1970, Joe Paterno’s Nittany Lions had Ham as a unanimous All-American and captain of the team. The Eagles’ decision-makers disregarded Ham’s 6-foot-1, 225-pound frame despite his stellar achievements.
And the scout was really enraged. Didinger stated, “He entered the room with the reporters and us in it and was furious. Throughout the season, he had been telling us how much he adored Jack Ham. “I was pounding on the table in there for Jack Ham,” he added. And they declined to accept him. He’s too little, they claimed. That man will make a fantastic player.
Since Ham lacked Jack Lambert’s signature Count Dracula appearance and was less of a vocalist, he might not have received the same level of recognition. But in the 1970s, he made an equal contribution to the Steelers’ dynasty. In the opinion of some, Ham was the superior linebacker between the two.
The 33rd Team named Ham and Lambert among the top 11 linebackers of all time last July. Ham was placed eighth, and Lambert was ranked seventh. Ray Lewis, Lawrence Taylor, Dick Butkus, Junior Seau, Ted Hendricks, Mike Singletary, and Mike Singletary were the linebackers ranked ahead of Lambert and Ham.
Because there are just 11 seats available, it is hard to leave out two players of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ dynasty, who won four Super Bowls in a six-year span. Elliott Kalb of the 33rd Team commented, “That team’s middle linebacker will be listed ahead of Jack Ham, but that’s not to belittle Ham’s contributions.”
“Without Ham in the 1974 AFC Championship Game, Pittsburgh loses to the Raiders 12-2. Oakland started the fourth quarter ahead 10-3. The game-winning touchdown for the Steelers was set up by Ham’s second interception of Ken Stabler, which was recovered to the Raiders’ 9-yard line.
In the Steelers’ 4-3 defense, Ham was a craftsman at left outside linebacker who seldom ever missed a tackle. His 53 turnovers (32 interceptions and 21 fumble recoveries) by the end of his career set a record for the most by any linebacker in NFL history. In addition, he played in a position where he did not frequently rush the quarterback and had 25 sacks when they were an unofficial stat.
Tony Dungy famously remarked, “I have never seen anyone play the outside linebacker position better than Jack Ham.” “Athleticsis, technique, awareness, and fundamentals were all very good. He was the whole thing