LA Rams’ rafters: Why are those jersey numbers retired?

OT Slater

The LA Rams had some outstanding offensive linemen as well, and the retired jersey number 78 belongs to offensive tackle Jackie Slater, arguably one of the greatest offensive linemen of all time.

In 2001, Slater was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. When fellow all of Fame inductee and teammate Jack Youngblood heard the news he aptly described Slater’s style of play as,

"“Jackie Slater didn’t want to just beat you, he wanted to dominate you. That’s what made him the player that he was.”"

He played 20 seasons and earned seven Pro Bowls, 259 games played, five first or second-team All-Pro nods, and seven first or second-team All-NFC awards

At his Hall of Fame enshrinement speech, Slater said:

"“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 there on a mission and I chose to keep my world as small as I could. I was consumed by work.” – Jackie Slater Hall of Fam Acceptance Speech"

Drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the third round of the 1976 NFL Draft, Slater is tied for third place 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.