| No. 78 | |||||||
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| Position: | Offensive tackle | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | May 27, 1954 Jackson, Mississippi, U.S. | ||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 277 lb (126 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Jackson (MS) Wingfield | ||||||
| College: | Jackson State (1972–1975) | ||||||
| NFL draft: | 1976 / round: 3 / pick: 86 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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| As a coach: | |||||||
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Jackie Ray Slater (born May 27, 1954), nicknamed "Big Bad Jackie", is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle for 20 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played his entire career with the Rams franchise: 19 seasons in Los Angeles, from 1976 to 1994, and one game in St. Louis in 1995. Slater holds the record amongst all offensive linemen who have played the most seasons with one franchise.
A graduate of Jackson State University, he was a teammate of Walter Payton. Drafted in the third round of the 1976 NFL draft, Slater seldom played his first few years before starting in 1979. Known as the most consistent member of one of the most potent offensive lines in NFL history, Slater was selected to seven Pro Bowls and broke a record for most seasons with one team. His jersey number was retired and he was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001.
Slater was most recently the offensive line coach at Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, California. His son, Matthew Slater, is a former special teams player for the New England Patriots.