Raiders linebacker, Super Bowl hero dies at 64

Former Raiders linebacker Jack Squirek, whose interception return for a touchdown in Super Bowl XVIII is considered one of the greatest plays in NFL history, died Friday. He was 64.

A Raiders spokesman confirmed Squirek’s death. He had been dealing with an illness over the past few months.

An Ohio native and a standout linebacker at Illinois, Squirek was drafted by the Raiders in the second round of the 1982 NFL draft.

Squirek played four seasons with the Raiders and one more with the Dolphins from 1982 and 1986. He appeared in 55 games, including eight starts, but despite his limited playing time, he made a play that is talked about to this day.

The Raiders led Washington 14-3 in the second quarter of Super Bowl XVIII on Jan. 22, 1984, in Tampa, Florida. Washington faced first down from its 12-yard line with 12 seconds left until halftime.

Squirek was a reserve linebacker, and right before he took the field, defensive coordinator Charlie Sumner told him that if Washington lined up in a specific formation to make sure he covered running back Joe Washington.

Just as Sumner surmised, Washington lined up in that formation. And just as he was instructed, Squirek locked in on the running back Washington and kept his eye on him as Washington began moving at the snap of the ball. A helpful nudge of Washington from Raiders defensive lineman Lyle Alzado tripped Washington up a bit, and Squirek made his move just as quarterback Joe Theismann lofted the ball in Washington’s direction.

He easily snatched the ball out of the air and strolled into the end zone for a touchdown. In the blink of an eye, the Raiders were up 21-3 on their way to a 38-9 win.

It was the only touchdown of Squirek’s career.

As Squirek told Fox Sports 1340AM in 2021: “Lyle pushed him off track when he was going for a screen pass. I made a break on the ball, and everything happened so quick. I saw the ball and made a nice break and caught it and was in the end zone within seconds.”

Squirek’s heroic play made the cover of Sports Illustrated and remains one of the most iconic photos and SI covers of all time.

“It’s something I’ll never forget,” Squirek told Fox Sports 1340AM. “When you win a Super Bowl together, your team is almost like a family. We have reunions every year with the Raiders, so we get to see everybody. It’s always special not only winning a Super Bowl but knowing that you contributed like that. I feel blessed that I went to a team that had great players.”

The Raiders honored Squirek on social media.

“The thoughts and deepest condolences of the Raider Nation are with the Squirek family at this time,” the team said in a statement.