Matuszak Dirtiest Player In 1970's?(Broncos At Raiders)

John Matuszak stakes his claim as one of the dirtiest players in the 1970's. The Broncos and Raiders play an exciting game that includes plenty of hard hitting by the defenses.

[Malibu]

Love 'em or hate 'em the Raiders were a cast of remarkable characters that made life miserable for opposing players and laughed while doing it and while their style of play led us to our watered down version we have today, the 1970's Oakland Raiders certainly were a team that completely embraced and lived up to their name.
And that's what makes them Legend!
John Matusak "The Toos" was crazy as a loon when he was drinking or whatever else he took. When John Matusak was sober he was the humblist nicest person on this planet.

[Artamusgordon]

I never thought of Matuzak as a dirty player, the 15 yarder in this game was a mere love-tap considering Raider standards. Although, he did have a bit of a temper & was a crazy psychopath, but a dirty player? Nahh!

[gianlucad]

There was no such thing as dirty back then, Matuszak was the man..

[scotthovland]

John Matuzak went to my high school in Oak Creek Wisconsin years ahead of me and would return to speak to us from time to time as a mentor and couldn't have been nicer every time I met him. Would let everyone try on his huge Super Bowl ring. He also held many basketball records back then and was one heck of a slam dunker!

[tommythomason]

The whole Oakland team was a collection of bad dudes. Alzado, here with the Broncos, but later with the Raiders, was also hell on wheels. He fit right in with Oakland.
Gradishar was a super middle linebacker. All of Denver's linebacking corps was great - Tom Jackson (#57) and Bob Swenson (#51).

[sly]

if the RAIDERS do it they call it dirty football. if any other team does it in the nfl its called a GREAT play.

[leogetz]

Good lord, the amount of great names on both teams, those orange crush uniforms, and that introduction music!!

[boski]

Tom Jackson. The man who made me a Bronco fan. His Week 11 Pick 6 of Bert Jones, in 1977, cemented my fate as a Broncos fan, even though I grew up in Southern California and have no ties to Denver whatsoever.

[kathleendossett]

Like the narration. Oh how I miss these names, records, etc. Watched these in the company of fellows I was stationed w/ after tour of Nam. Best therapy on earth!Thanks the the memories!

[Fresh-twev]

Thank you for the Randy Gradishar praise. He was a fabulous player at Ohio State and probably would be enshrined in Canton if the East Coast sports media had been covering him. He got lost in Denver a small media market.

[stevereber]

A little late comment but If your a John Matusak Fan and lover of Hillarious Classic Movies Be sure to Watch a Movie called Caveman back around 1980. Starring Ringo Starr and John Matusak. Matusak was Brilliant in his Role. My personal favorite Comedy movie of all time. It's impossible to describe it the setting is Caveman era Dinosaurs etc. It's Slaptick, Cleverly written, acting is great by many. A number of scenes that are classic . Must See movie. Oh they don't speak English thru the whole movie . Only Caveman Talk and by the end of the movie you'll have a few new words Lol.

[matthewpredmore]

Nice clip of two good teams at the time. That Denver linebacking core was tough, with Gradishar and Jackson being very quick to the ball. The 70’s Raiders were always a challenge, to be sure. Those were my grade/ high school years so I followed sports much more than I did as an adult. If it was on tv at night I would watch it.
I can’t remember the last time I watched a sporting event, but I don’t really watch tv so there’s that. Must be getting old. 👴

[sirlordsoul]

Additional highlights:
1:46 Tom Jackson gives the fans in his favorite city a two-finger salute.
12:16 Rick Upchurch giving the Italian salute (Bras d'honneur)?

[mmp]

When Monday Night Football meant something, now it means nothing, just one of many games a week. The NFL used to be so much better, it really sucks now. The most important consideration is how much more $$$$ the NFL can line their greedy pockets with.

[Southpaw]

This was the Sunday Night Prime Time game that had a pre-game protest. The protest was against Al Davis for talking about moving the team to L.A..

[alonzomadero]

I’m 63 years old and I’ve been a Raiders fan since the mid-late Sixties. I have never considered The Tooz a dirty player. Upchurch should definitely be in the Hall of Fame!

[curtekstrom]

Today's Wussified NFL players could not handle to 70's style games.

[davidwormell]

Yes, Van Eeghan was a real workhorse.

[kevincostello]

This is hands down the NO. 1 football channel, period!!!!

[winstonp.prescott]

Man I remember when these guys played..wow! I'm so glad I grew up in a football family!