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Today in Patriots History
Jack Rudolph
Jack Rudolph
In memory of Jack Rudolph, who would have turned 87 today
Born March 21, 1938 in St. Louis, Missouri; grew up in Atlanta
Died June 23, 2019 at the age of 81 in Valdosta, Georgia
Patriot linebacker, 1960-1965; uniform #80
Drafted by the Boston Patriots on December 2, 1959, from Georgia Tech
Pats résumé: 64 games (50 starts) at right linebacker; 14½ sacks, one safety, two interceptions; an original Boston Patriot
John Lawrence Rudolph was selected by the Patriots in the "Second Selections" of the 1960 American Football League Draft. The "First Selections" took place on November 22-23, 1959, and were territorial, based on the idea that potential fans for the new teams would be somewhat familiar those players. The second draft took place on December 2, and teams could select players from any college. Unlike today's draft, the original AFL draft was by position - in other words the eight teams chose all their quarterbacks, then running backs, etcetera. Jack Rudolph was one of the Pats two 'second round' selections at linebacker.
Jack Rudolph was also drafted by the Lions four weeks later, but signed with the Patriots instead. Except for time missed due to injury (including all of 1961 on IR), he was a Patriot starting linebacker from 1960-1965. In 1963, Rudolph helped the Patriots win the franchise's first ever playoff game, and earn a trip to the AFL Championship. Miami selected Rudolph as part of their expansion draft in 1966, and he finished his pro football career with the Dolphins.
Following his pro football career, Rudolph spent 31 years as a coach and teacher at Valdosta (Georgia) High School, serving 25 of those years as the defensive coordinator. Rudolph helped the school earn eleven state championships and five national titles.
He had some interesting comments about those days of playing pro football in the sixties..
Rudolph recalls early days of Super Bowl - Valdosta Daily Times
VALDOSTA — Forty years ago, the champions of the National Football League and the American Football League decided to play a little game against each other. The game would be […]
valdostadailytimes.com
“It’s really enjoyable to see the teams I was an original part of having so much success now-a-days,” said Rudolph.
The game was a lot different when Rudolph played. The AFL was the upstart league. It was more wide-open, with a lot more throwing, and a lot of play-making on defense. All of it was just to attract more fans to the stadiums.
According to Rudolph, in the 60’s, there were only about 14 players that were 300-plus pounds. Today there are over 375. There were no quarterbacks tipping the scales at 240 plus. Rudolph, at linebacker, would weigh about 218 pounds at the end of the year. The rosters consisted of 33-35 players, so the guys on defense would have to learn offense, just in case of injuries, and they would cover on kicks.
“It’s a whole different game now, with the size, speed, and strength,” laughed Rudolph. “I’m not sure a 60’s team could stay on the field with a team today.”
Looking at the troubles expansion teams have today, can you imagine how it was to play for two of them in the 60’s?
“It’s hard for people to understand how it was back then,” Rudolph said. “The Dolphins put 250 guys through training camp to evaluate talent. The practices were long and hard and on a make-up field. After a few weeks, everyone was getting real cut up. The doctors didn’t know what was going on until someone looked at the field. The field was dirt put over seashells.”
So what could a linebacker from that hard-nosed era possibly see in today’s football? Is there a player today that could stand out to someone who was game-planned around so much back then.
“Almost every team has someone you can look at and say ‘wow,’” said Rudolph. “The linebackers today are kind of a down defensive end and a big cornerback. It’s a more specialized position.” “Back then, if you were a really good linebacker, they put you on offense!”
After retiring from the AFL in 1967, Rudolph moved to Valdosta, his wife Marsha’s hometown, and became an assistant coach at Valdosta High School. Coaching under Wildcat legends Wright Bazemore and Nick Hyder, he became a Wildcat legend himself by coaching dominant defenses year after year, from 1967-98. During Rudolph’s time on the Valdosta sidelines, the Wildcats won 11 state championships and five national championships.
1965 Patriots Media Guide
Jack Rudolph LB 27 6:4 230 Georgia Tech
An original Patriot, Jack reported to camp this year in the best shape ever . . . Aggressive, effective, eager and strong are all epithets that describe one of Coach Dodd's best Ramblin' Wrecks . . . Drafted by the NFL Lions, Jack chose the Patriots and is glad of it . . . Jack had a great season in '60, was sidelined in '61 but made a strong comeback . . . He has been a feature at corner linebacker spot and will be for many years to come . . . A man many felt was destined for bachelorhood scorned the predictions last Spring as he wed a Georgia peach.
After his pro football career ended, Rudolph went on to become one of the nation’s premier high school football coaches.
Belue: Georgia Sports Hall of Fame needs reality check
The great Jim Brown is one step closer to getting in the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. Am I the only person wondering why? The NFL Hall of Fame running back was born on St. Simons Island and lived h…
www.savannahnow.com
Jack Rudolph has been overlooked for 10 years now. I’d vote Coach Rudolph in and ask the committee to apologize to the guy. He is the perfect example of a deserving honoree. Born and bred in Georgia. Competed in Georgia. Never left Georgia, except to play pro ball.
Jack was an outstanding football player at Georgia Tech. He played for the Boston Patriots and the Miami Dolphins. Upon retiring from the NFL, he joined the great Wright Bazemore’s staff at Valdosta High School and remained the defensive coordinator for 31 years. Coach Rudolph could have coached on any level. He elected to settle down in Valdosta, raise a family, and coach high school ball.
Coach Rudolph’s defenses helped lead the Valdosta High Wildcats to 11 state championships in 31 years. Half of his defenses allowed 7 points or less. In those 31 seasons, they allowed 8.3 points per game. Rudolph’s defenses shut out the opponent 119 times. Bazemore, Charlie Greene, Nick Hyder and Mike O’Brien got most of the credit, but this man was a major reason why Valdosta High has this outstanding national reputation.
He excelled in high school, college and the NFL. He invested 31 years in high school football. Coach Rudolph impacted hundreds of young lives along the way, myself included. I learned defense from Coach Rudolph, by listening to him coach during practice. I was far ahead of the curve when I arrived at Georgia as a freshman.
If it sounds like they take their high school football seriously in Valdosta you are correct. Rudolph ended up in his wife’s doghouse after his defense gave up only seven points in a loss to a crosstown rival.
Bragging Rights: The best high school football rivalries are long-running little civil wars. - Georgia Trend
Bragging Rights - Georgia Trend Magazine
Russ BryantBenedictine’s Mark Stroud Jack Rudolph was in the doghouse at home, which was appropriate since the dog was the only one in the family showing him any love. It was October 1977. Rudolph, defensive coordinator for the mighty Valdosta football team, had just watched his unit play one of...
www.georgiatrend.com
It was October 1977. Rudolph, defensive coordinator for the mighty Valdosta football team, had just watched his unit play one of its best games of the season. Unfortunately, hated crosstown rival Lowndes High School was a little better that Friday night, posting a 7-2 win over the visiting Wildcats.
“That was the first time Lowndes had ever beaten us,” Rudolph says. “It was a pretty big deal.”
Lowndes’ Vikings were coached by one of Rudolph’s best friends, Joe Wilson, the former Valdosta offensive coordinator who left head coach Nick Hyder’s staff the previous year to take the reins of the hated Vikings. It was like an act of treason to that segment of the community with Wildcat black and gold coursing through its bellicose veins.
In Valdosta, like everywhere else, the old rule applies – you can have a miserable season and go 1-9, but if that one victory is against your local rival, you have bragging rights for a year.
“That was always really important when I was playing and coaching,” says Rudolph, who grew up in Atlanta but married a Valdosta girl, Marsha, who was a cheerleader at Valdosta High and who stared righteous daggers at her husband that October night in 1977.
“We played hard but we got beat,” says Rudolph. “My oldest son, Russ, rode the bus with us that night. He refused to talk to me after the game. All he’d say was, ‘Why, Dad? Why?’ I told him, ‘Son, these things happen.’”
“When she [my wife] got home, she had a bad look on her face, asking me why we did this and that. The whole family was really upset with me,” Rudolph says. “My dog Blue jumped into my arms and licked my face, happy to see me when I got home. As the conversation with my wife went on, I said, ‘I wish there was one more person in this family who loved me as much as Blue does.’ So she said, ‘OK, we’ll get you another dog.’
“They take their football very seriously here. I’m an outsider. I’ve only lived here 47 years, so I guess I have a different perspective.”
Former Patriots LB Jack Rudolph passes away - Patriots.com
A three-year letter winner at Georgia tech, Rudolph was an original member of the Boston Patriots, where he played from 1960 through 1965. He finished his pro football career as an original member of the Miami Dolphins in 1966. He played in 64 games with the Patriots and 11 with the Dolphins.
Rudolph was drafted by the Detroit Lions of the NFL, but chose to play for the Patriots after joining the team as a second-round selection in 1960.
Following his playing career, he spent 31 years as a coach and teacher at Valdosta High School (Ga.), serving 25 of those years as the defensive coordinator.
John Lawrence Rudolph (Jack) Obituary | 1937 - 2019 | Valdosta Daily Times
View John Lawrence Rudolph (Jack)'s complete obituary, share memories, and explore 38 tribute posts from the community.
obituaries.valdostadailytimes.com
Born in St. Louis Missouri in 1937, Jack moved at an early age to Atlanta, Georgia where he spent his childhood and college days. Growing up in the shadow of Georgia Tech's Historic Grant Field, Jack was privileged to spend his middle school years selling programs and peanuts in the stands on games days. He attended Grady High School and was a standout student-athlete in football basketball, and track earning a football scholarship to The Georgia Institute of Technology.
While at Georgia Tech, he was a three time letter winner from 1957-1959. After graduating, he went on to play in the American Football League and was a member of the original Boston Patriot football team from1960-65 and an original member of the Miami Dolphins in 1966.
In 1965, Jack married Marsha Lou Harris and they settled in Valdosta, Georgia. Jack spent 31 years as a coach and teacher at Valdosta High School. As a defensive coordinator for 25 of those years, his defenses recorded 111 shut-outs and held opponents to an average of 8.3 points per game. He was a part of Valdosta Wildcat teams that won 11 state and 5 national championships. He attributed this success to an excellent staff, exceptional players, and game changing fans.
Jack was arguably the greatest High School Defensive Coordinator of all time in the state of Georgia. He was honored to be inducted into the Valdosta/Lowndes County Sports Hall of Fame. He was known for his intimidating presence and football IQ. Although his players feared him, they knew that he loved them and had their best interest in mind and they played for him with passion. More important than the wins was the influence he had on hundreds of young people throughout his life.
On a side note, Jack's son Coleman Rudolph also went to Georgia Tech, and was a DE selected in the second round of the 1993 draft. He played in the NFL for four seasons with the Jets and Giants.
