Jack Ham

Jack Raphael Ham Jr. (born December 23, 1948) is an American former professional football player who played linebacker in the National Football League. Born and raised in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Ham attended Bishop McCort High School before completing a post-graduate season at Massanutten Military Academy in Woodstock, Virginia.

He played college football at Pennsylvania State University, where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Over his three years as a starting linebacker, the Nittany Lions posted records of 11–0, 11–0, and 7–3. In his senior year of 1970, Ham served as co-captain, recording 91 tackles and four interceptions.

Ham spent his entire professional career as an outside linebacker with the Pittsburgh Steelers, playing from 1971 to 1982.

He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1990. In mid-2019, the newsletter of the Penn State Alumni Association rated Ham first among the 100 greatest athletes in University history, a ranking that considered all sports and all previous football players.