Darryl Stingley

 ( 1951 Births ) 

Although controversial, the hit was not against NFL rules at the time since it was not helmet-to-helmet contact (it was a shoulder-to-helmet contact). No penalty was called on the play. Today, however, the NFL has banned all blows to the head or neck of a defenseless player and has disallowed players to launch themselves in tackling defenseless players.

The incident became a symbol of violence in football. Stingley reportedly described it as a "freak accident." Because Stingley was a young player at the height of his career, his injuries attracted significant public attention. Partly in response to Stingley's injuries, the NFL changed its rules and conventions to curtail aggressive plays. Stingley told the Chicago Tribune that he approved of more restrictive officiating, saying "It has opened the game up to allow receivers to get downfield. And it has made the game more exciting."

The Raiders coach, John Madden, and many of his teammates extended their sympathies to Stingley. Madden's postgame rush to the hospital was the beginning of a close friendship. New England Patriots, National Football League – CBSSports.com During his visit, Madden found himself the lone visitor in the hospital. No one from the Patriots was there until Madden called their team and the team's charter plane, in takeoff mode, finally returned to the gate. A Madden in Full, Pat Toomay, Special to Page 2, ESPN. " . . . During one visit, Madden discovered a malfunction in Stingley's ventilator. In summoning a nurse to fix the problem, Madden might have saved Stingley's life. . . " Raiders offensive guard Gene Upshaw also befriended Stingley and later was instrumental in securing benefits for disabled players through the NFL Players' Association.

A settlement was reached with the NFL, with the Patriots agreeing to pay for all of Stingley's medical expenses for the rest of his life as well as his and his children's education.

Even though Stingley said he forgave Tatum, the pair never reconciled. Tatum reached out to Stingley several times, including while promoting his own autobiography. HBO invited both men to appear on the 25th anniversary of the incident but Stingley refused after he learned of the title of Tatum's 1996 biography, Final Confessions of NFL Assassin Jack Tatum, the third with that term in its title.Following They Call Me Assassin (1980) and They Still Call Me Assassin (1989) Stingley worried Tatum's efforts to contact him were profit-motivated. However, in a 1992 article in Jet, Stingley said that while he had forgiven Tatum a long time ago, Tatum had opportunities to contact him any time after the injury but did not make an effort.

Stingley later served as executive director of player personnel for the Patriots. Stingley co-authored a 1983 memoir, Happy to Be Alive, with Mark Mulvoy.