Jackie Slater

Tackle

Jackie Slater

20 seasons
7 Pro Bowls
259 games played
5 first- or second-team All-Pro
7 first- or second-team All-NFC
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20

seasons

7

Pro Bowls

259

games played

5

first- or second-team All-Pro

7

first- or second-team All-NFC
View full stats

"My overall goal was to become the best offensive tackle in the history of the game…and that’s what I focused on…I isolated myself completely, I was out here on a mission and I chose to keep my world as small as I could. I was consumed by work.”

Read Jackie Slater's Bio

(Jackson State)...6'4'', 277...Jackie Ray Slater. . .Rams’ third-round draft pick, 1976. . . Played 20 seasons, 259 games. . .Retired tied for third most seasons played. . .Games played were most ever by offensive lineman at time of retirement . . . Blocked for seven different 1,000-yard rushers. . .Named first- or second- team All-Pro five times. . . First- or second- team All-NFC seven times. . . Named to seven Pro Bowls. . .Born May 27, 1954, in Jackson, Mississippi.

BIO
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Jackie Slater St. Louis Rams

"My overall goal was to become the best offensive tackle in the history of the game…and that’s what I focused on…I isolated myself completely, I was out here on a mission and I chose to keep my world as small as I could. I was consumed by work.”

Jackie Slater, a veteran of twenty National Football League seasons, was like the Energizer Battery bunny that “just kept going and going and going.” Drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the third round of the 1976 NFL Draft, Slater is tied for third all time for the most seasons played in the history of the league. His 259 regular-season games played were the most ever by an offensive lineman when he retired, and his 20 seasons with one team was an NFL record.

Although used primarily as a backup and special teams player during his first three seasons, Slater became a starter in 1979 and was a part of an offensive line that surrendered just 29 sacks and helped the Rams’ offense finish second in the NFL in total yards gained with 6,006.

The 6-4, 277-pound tackle went on to become the mainstay of the Rams’ offensive line. Slater was a first- or second-team all-pro selection following five different seasons and a first- or second-team All-NFC choice, seven times. A popular player known for his work ethic and leadership skills, Slater earned seven Pro Bowl berths. His first selection followed the 1983 season, and then was chosen in consecutive years from 1985 through 1990.

Twenty-four different quarterbacks and 37 different running backs played behind Slater during his long career. A powerful drive blocker, Slater blocked for seven different 1,000-yard rushers, including Lawrence McCutcheon, Wendell Tyler, Eric Dickerson, Charles White, Greg Bell, Cleveland Gary, and Jerome Bettis. He also blocked in 107 games in which a runner gained 100 yards or more. Slater was also a quality pass blocker.

Twenty-seven times Rams quarterbacks threw for 300 yards or more in a game with Jackie in the lineup. In 1983, he and the Rams offensive line demonstrated their versatility when they allowed a league-low 23 sacks while also paving the way for Dickerson’s rookie rushing record of 1,808 yards.

A veteran of 18 playoff games, including Super Bowl XIV, Slater was a model of consistent superlative play and was widely regarded as one of the game’s premier linemen.

STATS
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Jackie Slater's Stats

 
Games Played
Year
Team
G
1976 Los Angeles
14
1977 Los Angeles
14
1978 Los Angeles
16
1979 Los Angeles
16
1980 Los Angeles
15
1981 Los Angeles
11
1982 L.A. Rams
9
1983 L.A. Rams
16
1984 L.A. Rams
7
1985 L.A. Rams
16
1986 L.A. Rams
16
1987 L.A. Rams
12
1988 L.A. Rams
16
1989 L.A. Rams
16
1990 L.A. Rams
15
1991 L.A. Rams
13
1992 L.A. Rams
16
1993 L.A. Rams
8
1994 L.A. Rams
12
1995 St. Louis
1
Career Total
259



CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES
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Jackie Slater's Championship Games

Championship Games

1976 NFC – Minnesota Vikings 24, Los Angeles Rams 13
Slater played but did not start.

1978 NFC – Dallas Cowboys 28, Los Angeles Rams 0
Slater played but did not start.

1979 NFC – Los Angeles Rams 9, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 0
Slater started at right offensive tackle for the Rams.

1985 NFC – Chicago Bears 24, Los Angeles Rams 0
Slater started at right offensive tackle for the Rams.

1989 NFC – San Francisco 49ers 30, Los Angeles Rams 3
Slater started at right offensive tackle for the Rams.

Super Bowls

Super Bowl XIV – Pittsburgh Steelers 31, Los Angeles Rams 19
Slater started at right offensive tackle for the Rams.



CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
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Jackie Slater's Career Highlights

All-League Teams

All-Pro: 1987 (NEA) • 1988 (PW) • 1989 (NEA)

All-Pro Second Team: 1983 (AP, NEA) • 1986 (AP, NEA) • 1987 (AP) • 1989 (AP)

All-NFC: 1983 (UPI) • 1986 (UPI, PW) • 1987 (UPI, PW) • 1988 (PW) • 1989 (PW) • 1990 (PW)

All-NFC Second Team: 1985 (UPI) • 1988 (UPI) • 1989 (UPI) • 1990 (UPI)

Pro Bowls

(7) – 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991

In the NFL Record Book

(at the time of his retirement in 1995)

• (1st) Most Seasons Played, Same Club –- 20

• (Tied for 3rd) Most Seasons Played – 20

Team Records

Rams' Records held by Slater

(at the time of his retirement in 1995)

• (1st) Most Seasons Played – 20
• (1st) Most Games Played, Career – 259
• (1st) Most Postseason Games Played, Career – 18

Year-by-Year Team Records
Year Team W L T Division Finish
1976 Los Angeles Rams 10 3 1 (1st)
1977 Los Angeles Rams 10 4 0 (1st)
1978 Los Angeles Rams 12 4 0 (1st)
1979 Los Angeles Rams 9 7 0 (1st)
1980 Los Angeles Rams 11 5 0 (2nd)
1981 Los Angeles Rams 6 10 0 (3rd)
1982 Los Angeles Rams 2 7 0 (14th*)
1983 Los Angeles Rams 9 7 0 (2nd)
1984 Los Angeles Rams 10 6 0 (2nd)
1985 Los Angeles Rams 11 5 0 (1st)
1986 Los Angeles Rams 10 6 0 (2nd)
1987 Los Angeles Rams 6 9 0 (3rd)
1988 Los Angeles Rams 10 6 0 (2nd)
1989 Los Angeles Rams 11 5 0 (2nd)
1990 Los Angeles Rams 5 11 0 (3rd)
1991 Los Angeles Rams 3 13 0 (4th)
1992 Los Angeles Rams 6 10 0 (4th)
1993 Los Angeles Rams 5 11 0 (4th)
1994 Los Angeles Rams 4 12 0 (4th)
1995 Los Angeles Rams 7 9 0 (3rd)


* NFC regular season finish in strike-shortened season.
(Division Finish in Parentheses)

 

CAREER CAPSULE
Jackie Slater
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Jackie Slater's Career Capsule

Full Name: Jackie Ray Slater

Birthdate: May 27, 1954

Birthplace: Jackson, Mississippi

High School: Jim Hill (Jackson, MS); Wingfield (Jackson, MS)

Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame: January 27, 2001

Enshrined into Pro Football Hall of Fame: August 4, 2001

Presenter: John Robinson, Former Rams' Head Coach

Other Members of Class of 2001: Nick Buoniconti, Marv Levy, Mike Munchak, Lynn Swann, Ron Yary, Jack Youngblood

Pro Career: 20 seasons, 259 games

Drafted: 3rd round (86th overall) by Los Angeles Rams

Uniform: 78