Jack Youngblood

Herbert Jackson Youngblood, whom more commonly goes by Jack Youngblood, was an outstanding football player both in college and throughout his time in the National Football League. Youngblood is most remembered as a defensive end for both the Florida Gators and the Los Angeles Rams. He grew up in Jacksonville, Florida in the 1950’s and early ‘60’s and started off his football years as an offensive lineman and linebacker. Being named to Florida’s All-Time High school football team by Sports Illustrated in 1989, it was no surprise that Youngblood excelled tremendously at the University of Florida and ultimately debuted professionally. Youngblood was the 20th overall pick in the 1971 NFL Draft by the Rams. Throughout his thirteen-year career, he received an uncountable amount of awards and recognitions. Some of these included the Rams MVP in 1975, ’76, and ’79, the NFL Defensive Lineman of the Year in 1975, a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and a five-time First-team All-Pro selection. Upon retirement in 1981, Youngblood ultimately retired his number 85 for the St. Louis Rams and was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame, Florida-Georgia Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He pursued a career in broadcasting, acting, business and writing after his professional football career and also responsible for Jack Youngblood Center for NeuroEnhancement in Orlando, Florida in 2014 in an honorable effort to better treat the symptoms of traumatic brain trauma.