Linebacker Jack Ham always in position

Steelers Film Room Throwback Thursday

This week we pop in the VCR to check out how great Jack Ham was back with the 70's and 80's Steelers.

While the legendary Steel Curtain defense was led by the defensive line and Hall of Fame defensive tackle Joe Greene, the players at the second level of the defense, the linebackers, built their own legends throughout the 1970's with big hits, huge plays and timely turnovers.


While the star of the linebackers was always Jack Lambert, Jack Ham was equally recognized for being an elite outside linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ham was drafted in 1971 and started all but one game of his rookie season. He would go on to become one many reliable players for the defense in the 1970's and one of the greatest linebackers of all time. Ham was always in position, filling his role on a play and recognizing what the offense was trying to accomplish.


We take a look at some vintage Ham plays that remind us of just how great a player he was on the gridiron........

read more @ http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com...ain-highlights

Dobre Shunka

If there was a dictionary definition of "football IQ," there should be a picture of Jack Ham beside it.

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Originally Posted by fansince'76

If there was a dictionary definition of "football IQ," there should be a picture of Jack Ham beside it.

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total agree

best cover linebacker ever

I think Jack Ham was the greatest linebacker on those great 70's teams. He was often overshadowed by Jack Lambert and his aggressive, brash style....but to me, Jack Ham was the greatest Steelers linebacker ever, and one of the best linebackers of all-time.

Jack Ham was always in the right position to make plays. He almost never missed a tackle. He could cover as well as anyone in his era. He understood where everyone was on the field, and could diagnose plays, anticipate, and react as well as anyone that ever played the game.

He would come up with a pick at just the right time or close down the run. It wasn't just hustle, he was prepared to play the game the way it was intended and he out smarted many opponents.

Ham was a technician. Lambert was Fire and Ham was Ice. They were the greatest OLB and MLB combination ever.

Ham could pass rush, played the run, and could cover. 32 INT's.

His coaches and teammates always marveled at how well Ham always graded out when the film was broken down after a game. Technically he played the game as well or better as anyone ever at his position.

Andy Russell tells a story about how he and Ham are discussing some business venture on the sidelines when all of a sudden the offense turns the ball over. So the Steelers defense takes the field and Ham makes a brilliant interception the very next play. So the defense returns to the sideline and Ham resumes his prior conversation with Russell as if it was never interrupted. :chuckle:

......and of course he graduated from LBU.......Linebacker University.......(PSU)