Lake Las Vegas’ Mack to enter Hall

Spencer Patterson

Friday, Aug. 6, 1999 | 9:28 a.m.

He may be entering the Football Hall of Fame with Lawrence Taylor and Eric Dickerson -- two of the flashiest players in NFL history -- but make no mistake: Tom Mack was the consummate blue-collar worker during his 13 professional seasons.

Holding down the seldom-spotlighted position of left guard, Mack anchored the Los Angeles Rams' offensive line from 1966, his rookie season, until 1978, when he retired from football.

He is perhaps best known for his ironman streak of 184 consecutive games played -- a string that began in his very first NFL contest and stretched until the final game of his pro career.

Mack Attack

Highlights of the career of Tom Mack, who will enter the Football Hall of Fame on Saturday:

Never missed a game in 13 seasons

Played in 184 consecutive games for the Los Angeles Rams

Three-time NFL Pro Bowl selection

Eight-time AFC-NFC Pro Bowl selection

Second overall NFL draft pick out of Michigan, 1966

Mack's mark still stands as the third-best in Rams' history, behind only Jack Youngblood and Merlin Olsen.

On Saturday in Canton, Ohio, the Lake Las Vegas resident will join Dickerson, Taylor, Ozzie Newsome and Billy Shaw in the Hall of Fame's Class of 1999. ESPN2 will broadcast the induction ceremonies live, beginning at 10 a.m.

"I'm overwhelmed," Mack, an Ohio native, said after learning he'd garnered the necessary votes. "It's like going home again."

After earning All-American honors at Michigan, Mack came to Los Angeles as the Rams' No. 1 draft choice in 1966.

He broke into the starting lineup by his fifth game, and made his first trip to the Pro Bowl following his second season of pro football.

Pro Bowl invitations would become regular occurrences for Mack, who played 11 times in the prestigious event -- the third-most in NFL history at the time of his retirement.

Mack's individual accomplishments also translated into success for the Rams, with Los Angeles compiling a 129-48-7 record during his 13 seasons. His club won its division eight times, played in four NFC title games and put together winning records during 12 of his 13 seasons.

After failing to collect enough votes to enter the Hall during each of the past 15 years, Mack's long wait finally came to an end this year -- his final chance to go in as a modern-day player.

"I thought last year was the last year I was eligible," Mack said. "This is a wonderful surprise."

Mack, 56, is employed by Bechtel Nevada, a local Department of Energy engineering contractor.