Jacob "Jack" Squirek

JACK SQUIREK, JR, age 64. Beloved husband of 36 years to Penny (nee Lilly). Loving and devoted father of Jacob III (Elizabeth) and Cassandra McGovern (Brian). Cherished grandfather of Maeve McGovern and Jacob Stephen Squirek IV, who will be born later this year. Dearest son of Jack S. (deceased) and Carol (nee Pinard). Dear brother of David (LuAnn), Timothy, Mary Alice Hudak and George. Also survived by nieces, nephews, cousins and many dear friends. Jack is an alumni of Cuyahoga Heights High School, class of 1977, Massanutten Military Academy, class of 1978 and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, class of 1982. In 1982, Jack was a 2nd round draft pick to the Oakland Raiders, where he played for several memorable years. His legendary interception in Super Bowl XVIII against the Washington Redskins remains etched in football history, contributing to the Raiders' triumphant 38–9 Super Bowl 18 World Championship. Funeral Services Saturday January 13, 2024 Cuyahoga Valley Church, 5055 E. Wallings Road (Broadview Heights) at 11:00 AM. (EVERYONE MEET AT CHURCH). Interment Holy Cross Cemetery. The family will receive friends FRIDAY EVENING 3 – 7 PM at the A. RIPEPI & SONS FUNERAL HOME, 18149 BAGLEY ROAD, MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS (WEST OF I-71).

The Associated Press Jack Squirek, who died at age 64, celebrates his defensive TD in the Raiders’ 38-9 win over the Redskins in Super Bowl XVIII.

By Vincent Bonsignore - Las Vegas Review-Journal

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 on 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 to 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 January 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 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 quickly. 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.

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