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5. Jack Ham

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5. Jack Ham

A 1971 Second Round Pick from Penn State, Jack Ham brought a speed dynamic to the Linebacking corps of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Ham became a starter at Left Linebacker as a rookie, and in 1973, he began an eight-year streak as a Pro Bowler.  The former Penn State Nittany Lion was a nuanced player who was equally great at pass-rushing and playing in the back as well as any Safety.  Ham was one of the most explosive players, and if he was ever caught out of position, he had the blazing speed to rectify it.

A six-time First Team All-Pro (1974-79), Ham was a huge part of the Steelers' success in the 1970s, capturing four Super Bowl Rings.  Ham also had four years where he was in the top ten in Approximate Value.

Ham played until 1982 and had 25 "unofficial" Sacks along with 32 Interceptions.  The Pro Football Hall of Fame elected him in 1988, and he was inducted as part of the inaugural Steelers Hall of Honor in 2017.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Linebacker
  • Acquired: Selected in the 2nd Round, 34th Overall in the NFL Draft 1/28/71.
  • Departed:

    Retired after the 1982 Season.

  • Games Played: 162
  • Notable Statistics:

    160 Games Started
    32 Interceptions
    218 Interception Return Yards
    1 Interception Return Touchdown
    21 Fumble Recoveries
    19 Fumble Recovery Yards
    1 Fumble Recovery Touchdown
    25.5 Quarterback Sacks*
    151 Approximate Value

    16 Playoff Games
    5 Interceptions
    25 Interception Return Yards
    3 Fumble Recoveries
    0 Fumble Recovery Yards
    3.0 Quarterback Saints

    * Sacks were not a stat until 1982 but were unofficially calculated by Pro Football Reference from 1960 to 1981.

  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    Super Bowl Champion (IX, X, XIII & XIV)
    First Team All-Pro (1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978 & 1979)
    Pro Bowl (1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979 & 1980)

Last modified on Sunday, 18 September 2022 19:56

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