Jack Youngblood was born January 26, 1950 in Jacksonville, Florida and is a former American football defensive end who played for 14 years for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League. He was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001.

After retiring from the NFL in 1985 he was a member of the front office for the Rams until 1991. In 1992, he joined the staff of the Sacramento Surge and then the administration of the Sacramento Gold Miners in 1993. He was a vice-president, then president of the Orlando Predators from 1994 until 1999. From 1999 through 2002 he served as the National Football League liaison for the Arena Football League. In 1992, he joined the staff of the Sacramento Surge and then the administration of the Sacramento Gold Miners in 1993. He was a vice-president, then president of the Orlando Predators from 1994 until 1999. From 1999 through 2002 he served as the National Football League liaison for the Arena Football League.

He is perhaps most famous for playing the entire 1979-80 playoffs, including Super Bowl XIV, with a fractured left fibula. He also played in the 1980 Pro Bowl with the injured leg, a week after the Super Bowl. In the playoffs, Youngblood sacked Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach near the sideline in the waning moments of the divisional playoff game versus the Cowboys. Playing with the fractured leg was noted by Sports Illustrated in their Top 10 list of athletes playing in pain. For that and other achievements Jack was dubbed the ”John Wayne of football” by Jim Hanifan and echoed by Hall of Fame coach John Madden.