Jack Lambert (American football)

Jack Lambert
Position(s): Linebacker	Jersey #(s): 58
Born: July 8 1952 (1952-07-08) (age 55) Mantua, Ohio
Career Information
Year(s): 1974-1984
NFL Draft: 1974 / Round: 2 / Pick: 46
College: Kent State
Professional Teams
Pittsburgh Steelers (1974-1984)
Career Stats
Sacks	23.5
Interceptions	28
INT yards	243
Stats at NFL.com
Career Highlights and Awards
Pro Bowl (x9) (1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983) NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team NFL 1980s All-Decade Team NFL 1970s All-Decade Team 1974 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year 1976 NFL Defensive Player of the Year 20/20 Club
Pro Football Hall of Fame

John Harold "Jack" Lambert (July 8, 1952, Mantua, Ohio, United States) is a former NFL linebacker in American football. He played football for Kent State, winning two All-Mid-American Conference linebacker honors. He won four Super Bowls in his 11 year career with the Pittsburgh Steelers and established himself as one of the best middle linebackers in the history of the NFL.

Playing career

He was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round of the 1974 NFL Draft He made famous the number 58. In the 1974 draft, many pro football coaches and scouts thought Lambert was too small to play linebacker in the NFL (Lambert played quarterback at Crestwood HS before switching to linebacker at Kent State) Through most of his pro career, he was reported to be 6'4" 220-Lbs, but measured 6'3 1/2" 204 lbs when he first reported to the Steelers as a rookie. However, he displayed strength at warding off blockers and great intelligence at diagnosing offenses.

The Steelers took a chance in the 2nd round on Lambert, and he rewarded them early when he replaced injured Pro Bowl middle linebacker Henry Davis, and never looked back. Lambert went on to earn the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award as a central figure on a great Steeler defense that went on to win their first Super Bowl Super Bowl IX over the Minnesota Vikings 16-6. The Super Bowl became a regular event for Pittsburgh as they won four titles in a six year span, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, a feat previously unheard of.

Lambert was known for his high intensity level. Although not as large as many of his predecessors, such as fellow Hall-of Famers Dick Butkus or Ray Nitschke who played in the 240 to 250 lb range, Lambert had their old-school mentality and prided himself on his ability to hit hard and intimidate the opposition. He was the "fire" that lit the fuse on the great Steeler defenses of the 1970's and early 80's. By the time of his retirement, he was widely recognized as one of the two or three greatest middle-linebackers in the history of the game, and over twenty years later, he still is spoken of in legendary terms. He had 28 career interceptions, over 1400 career tackles, and 23-1/2 sacks according the Pittsburgh Steelers records. [1] He played with the Steelers for 11 years, and started at middle linebacker for all eleven years. In his second season, the Steelers again won the Super Bowl and Lambert was named All-NFL and to the Pro Bowl. Lambert's upper, four front teeth were missing as a result of playing basketball in high school. Although Lambert had a removable partial denture he wore in public, he didn't wear it during games. As a result,he became known by opponents and media alike as "Count Dracula in cleats". When rules were changed to open up the offenses and protect quarterbacks, Lambert publicly stated that "perhaps the league should let them wear skirts".

Although Lambert was involved in many great plays in many games, the signature moment of his career came in Super Bowl X against the Dallas Cowboys. Pittsburgh kicker Roy Gerela was hurt on the opening kick-off and suffered a horrible day (he missed 3 field goals) as a result. The Steelers were not playing good ball and were behind midway through the game, when Gerela missed a short field goal. As the dejected Steelers prepared to walk from the field after the miss, Cowboy safety, Cliff Harris, began to taunt Gerela, happily tapping him on the head. Lambert reacted instinctively, violently throwing Harris to the ground before being restrained by his teammates. He was penalized and nearly ejected from the game. But, the point was made, "Nobody intimidates our players. We are the intimidators." The fuse was lit, and the fired up Steelers woke from their slumber to win their second Vince Lombardi Trophy.

In 1976, Lambert assumed the role as leader of the Steelers after defensive tackle "Mean Joe" Greene missed several games due to a chronic back injury. The Steelers 1976 defense is often considered the greatest defense of all time, finishing #1 in nearly every statistical catagory. See [2]. After quarterback Terry Bradshaw and numerous other starters, including Greene, went down with injuries, the Steelers struggled to a record of 1-4. At a players only meeting, Lambert made it clear that "the only way we are going to the playoffs to defend our title, is to win them all from here out." And the Steelers defense led by Jack Lambert took over. In a nine-game span, the Steelers defense allowed only two touchdowns. They shut out opponents five times. Their opponents were held to an average of just 3 points per game in that stretch. The Steelers won all of their remaining regular season games and finished at 10-4. The defense gave up only 138 points for the entire season. Eight of the eleven defensive starters on the Steelers made the Pro Bowl that year, and ten of the eleven starters made the Pro Bowl at some point in their careers (all except DT Ernie Holmes, and he led the team in sacks that year).

Jack Lambert was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year following in the footsteps of his teammates Joe Greene (1972 and 1974) and Mel Blount (1975). The Steelers crushed the Baltimore Colts in the opening round of the playoffs 41-14, but suffered injuries to both starting runningbacks, Franco Harris and Rocky Bleir. Without the threat of a running game, they lost to the Oakland Raiders in the AFC Championship game. Lambert noted that had it not been for the injuries, that 1976 team was the best Steeler team ever, even without the Super Bowl Trophy.

In a nine-year span, Jack Lambert was named to nine straight Pro Bowls and was NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1976. He led the Steelers' "Steel Curtain" defense to four Super Bowls Championships.

Lambert played until 1984 when a severe, recurring toe injury sidelined him, after which he retired. He played in and won four Super Bowls, was selected to nine Pro Bowls, was a All-Pro 8 times, and was widely considered the best middle linebacker of his time, and one of the best - ever. Lambert was an integral part of the famed "Steel Curtain" defense, which included defensive Pro Football Hall of Famers: Jack Ham, Mean Joe Greene, Mel Blount, and Hall of Fame finalist L.C. Greenwood. Offensive Hall of Famers from that team include: Terry Bradshaw, Mike Webster, Franco Harris, John Stallworth, and Lynn Swann, as well as Coach Chuck Noll.

Honors

In 2004, the Fox Sports Net series The Sports List named Lambert as the toughest football player of all time. While Lambert's number 58 is one of many jersey numbers "unofficially retired" by the team (the Steelers don't retire jersey numbers), his jersey number has perhaps gotten the biggest attention out of all such jersey numbers. When Lambert retired, he reportedly told the equipment manager that he was to never issue number 58 again (knowing well-aware of the team's policy not to retire numbers) or he was going to go after him. This likely stemmed from former teammate & fellow Hall of Famer Jack Ham's number 59 being briefly reissued the year before to Todd Seabaugh, who played so poorly that he was stripped of the number midseason.

External links

• Pro Football Hall of Fame: Member profile
• Lambert58.com, Jack's official memorabilia company [3]