Ted Hendricks
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Theodore (Ted) Paul Hendricks (Born: November 1 1947 in Guatemala City, Guatemala) was an American football linebacker for the 1969 to 1973 Baltimore Colts (now Indianapolis Colts), 1974 Green Bay Packers and the 1975 to 1983 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders.
Hendricks played his college football at the University of Miami. He played defensive end for Miami during the 1966 through 1968 seasons. The 6’7”, 220 pound (100 kg) Hendricks was one of the greatest defensive players in the history of college football. Hendricks was a three time All-American and he finished fifth in the 1968 Heisman Trophy voting.
While playing for UM, Hendricks made 327 total tackles (#1 among all UM defensive linemen.) He also led UM with the most solo tackles by a defensive lineman with 139. Hendricks also recovered 12 fumbles.
Eccentric as they come: Born in Guatemala, where his father was employed at the time, Hendricks was a physics major at UM and was well-known for relaxing by doing math problems. He took the hardest classes off the field and took on the hardest assignments on it.
It was at UM that the tall, thin Hendricks gained the nickname “The Mad Stork.” It was a nickname that would follow him through his professional career. Hendricks UM jersey was retired in 1997. Ted Hendricks was also elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.
Ted Hendricks began his 15-season pro football career as the second-round pick of the Baltimore Colts in the 1969 AFL-NFL Draft. He was initially listed as a defensive end, which is why he had the unusual number (for a linebacker) of 83. After coach Don Shula converted him to linebacker, he entered the starting lineup halfway through his rookie 1969-70 season. He played a key role in the Colt's 1970-71 Super Bowl winning season, and was chosen to his first of four All-Pro selections in 1971. Surprisingly, after five seasons the Colts traded Ted to the Green Bay Packers.
After Hendricks was traded to the Packers, he signed a 'future contract' with the naescent World Football League. Hendricks was then in the option year of his NFL contract, and had one of his greatest seasons-five interceptions, seven blocked kicks and a safety, again earning All-Pro honors. With the WFL bankrupt, owner Al Davis of the Raiders sent two first round draft choices to the Packers for the rights to Hendricks, signing him as a limited free agent. He went on to play nine seasons with the Raiders before retiring after the 1983 season.
In his first year on the Raider team, coach John Madden used him sparingly-partially as a result of a feud he had with Al Davis; however he eventually had him starting by the end of the 1975-6 season. The next year, with Hendricks as a full time player, he helped the Raiders win Super Bowl XI, the first in franchise history.
By the end of the 1979 season, it appeared that "Kick 'em in the Head Ted"'s (his Raider nickname) career was over- a vote among Raider coaches showed that all of them had voted to release Hendricks at season's end. However, Al Davis insisted on keeping Hendricks..and it turns out he was right! Hendricks responded with three straight Pro Bowl appearances, including All-Pro honors in 1980-81,and 1981-82 as helped the Raiders to their Cinderella win in Super Bowl XV.
Some critics said he was too tall. Others said he was too light. Everybody agreed that the 6-7, 220 pound (100 kg) body Ted Hendricks brought to the field was a little unorthodox for pro football. However, the Mad Stork spent 15 seasons making big plays and defying critics as one of the top outside linebackers in the game's history.
Although he looked skinny, he was really a well-muscled physical specimen who combined surprising speed with agility. He used his long arms to keep blockers off of his body. His height was a major passing-lane obstacle for quarterbacks and his long arms pulled down errant passes (26 career interceptions as a pro) with amazing grace and also made him the most feared kick-blocker of his era -25 blocked field goals or PATs, the unofficial NFL record.
Hendricks also recovered 16 opponent's fumbles and registered four safeties. Hendricks also scored touchdowns on an interception, a fumble return, and a blocked punt.
Hendricks was a member of four Super Bowl winners (three with the Raiders, one with the Colts) and was a Pro Bowl selection eight times, at least once with each of his teams.
The seemingly indestructible Hendricks played in 215 straight regular-season games. He also participated in eight Pro Bowl games, seven AFC championships and four Super Bowls (V with the Colts, XI, XV and XVIII with the Raiders). Ted was named All-Pro as a Colt in 1971, as a Packer in 1974, and as a Raider in 1980 and 1982. He also earned second-team All-Pro accolades five other times.
Hendricks was at his best over nine seasons with the Raiders. The Raiders gave him the freedom to roam the line, blitz on impulse, read the play and react. Nobody could key on him. Hendricks could disrupt the other team's offense like few others.
Hendricks last game was the Raiders' win in Super Bowl XVIII. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990, his second year of eligibility. He currently works on behalf of ex-players as part of the Hall of Fame Player's Association. He also was named as one of the members of the NFL's all time 75th anniversary team in 1994.
External links
- Pro Football Hall of Fame: [Member profile]
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