Jack Pardee was a second-round pick out of Texas A&M in 1957 and became a fixture at linebacker for the Rams over the next 13 seasons. One of Bear Bryant’s Junction Boys, he brought the toughness of that brutal camp into the NFL. He played left outside linebacker for most of his time in Los Angeles and started the large majority of the 169 games he appeared in. Pardee was a sure tackler who could set the edge against the run and drop into coverage when needed. He finished with 17 interceptions as a Ram, a solid total for a linebacker of that era.

The strongest individual season arrived in 1963. He earned First-Team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl selection while the Rams were still building. That year he recorded two interceptions and showed the range and instincts that made him reliable on the weak side. He stayed productive through the early 1960s and into the George Allen years. In 1967, he had six interceptions and returned two for touchdowns. Those moments stood out on a defense that already featured the Fearsome Foursome up front.

In 1965, he sat out the entire season while being treated for melanoma in his arm. He returned in 1966 and played five more seasons in Los Angeles, though the individual awards did not return. By the end of the decade, he was still starting, but the big individual recognition was behind him. The Rams traded him to Washington after the 1970 season.

Pardee left Los Angeles for Washington after more than a decade as a durable starter who had earned one Pro Bowl and one First-Team All-Pro nod. The early and middle years brought the strongest production and the individual honors. The later stretch was steadier and less decorated. He finished his Rams career with 17 interceptions and a reputation for toughness that fit the team’s defensive identity. After football, he coached in the NFL, including five seasons with the Houston Oilers, and was named Coach of the Year in 1979.