Top 17 Quotes & Sayings by Jack Tatum

Explore popular quotes and sayings by an American footballer Jack Tatum.

Last updated on April 14, 2025.

John David Tatum was an American football safety. He played 10 seasons, from 1971 through 1980, with the Oakland Raiders and Houston Oilers in the National Football League (NFL). He was popularly known as "the Assassin" because of his playing style. Tatum was voted to three consecutive Pro Bowls (1973–1975) and was a member of one Super Bowl-winning team in his nine seasons with the Raiders. He is also known for a hit he made against New England Patriots wide receiver Darryl Stingley in a 1978 preseason game, that paralyzed Stingley from the chest down.

American - Footballer | November 18, 1948 - July 27, 2010

Source: Wikipedia

People quickly forget that people are people.

Jack Tatum

I make the music that I make because that's what naturally comes to me.

Jack Tatum

I like Ministry, but I'm probably never going to make a song that sounds like Ministry.

Jack Tatum

I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault.

Jack Tatum

I still write poetry from time to time, but my whole life is so music-oriented at this point that it's hard for me to even think about having other hobbies.

Jack Tatum

I didn't try and say anything terribly meaningful. I'm definitely not a social commentator at all.

Jack Tatum

The fact that I fell into this seemed more like a stroke of good fortune than hard work. Not to say that I didn't work hard, but it wasn't like, "I'm going to be a musician."

Jack Tatum

If I had to go into a battle and I needed someone loyal and courageous to cover my blindside, I know damn well Woody would be my man. I know, too, that God hasn't created a more generous, compassionate, or more understanding man than Woody Hayes.

Jack Tatum

It was like an exponential weed. And people treated me as if I was an established musician. I wasn't.

Jack Tatum

I don't place too much importance on words. It's always the last thing I do because I'm definitely more interested in mood.

Jack Tatum

I was just working on music and reading. It was relaxing. I would just stay up so late for no reason because I was bored.

Jack Tatum

I did a lot of writing when I was in college, and that's what I thought I wanted to do; saying that I wanted to be a writer seemed more reasonable than saying I wanted to be a musician.

Jack Tatum

My idea of a good hit is when the victim wakes up on the sidelines with train whistles blowing in his head... I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault.

Jack Tatum

It always felt like I had to be a realist.

Jack Tatum

Since I didn't spend a great amount of time on writing the lyrics, some people would argue that they're too vague or simplistic, but I think it's kind of good. I wouldn't say they're all stream of consciousness, but they're not necessarily overwrought.

Jack Tatum

I was a very private person. All of a sudden, to see myself all over the internet and be like, "Oh god, do I want people to even hear this stuff?"

Jack Tatum