Jack Patera
| Date of birth | August 1, 1933 |
|---|---|
| Place of birth | Bismarck, North Dakota |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) |
Guard Linebacker |
| College | Oregon |
| NFL draft | 1955 / Round: 4 / Pick: 44 |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1955–1957 | Baltimore Colts |
| 1958–1959 | Chicago Cardinals |
| 1960–1961 | Dallas Cowboys |
| Career stats | |
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John Arlen "Jack" Patera (born August 1, 1933) is a former American football player and coach in the National Football League. He played for the Baltimore Colts, Chicago Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys. He was an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Rams, New York Giants and the Minnesota Vikings. Patera was the first head coach of the Seattle Seahawks. His career head coaching record is 35-59-0, all with the Seahawks.
Patera attended Washington High School in Portland, Oregon. Upon graduation he enrolled at the University of Oregon, where he played college football for the Ducks from 1951–1954, earning All-Pacific Coast Conference honors as a tackle in his senior year. Other honors included his selection to play in the 1955 East–West Shrine Game, the Hula Bowl, and the College All-Star Game. Patera was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1982 and the University of Oregon Hall of Fame in 2000.
Patera's NFL playing career started when he was drafted in the fourth round of the 1955 NFL draft by the Baltimore Colts. Although he was initially drafted as an offensive guard, he was soon switched to the defense as a linebacker and played at that position for three seasons under head coach Weeb Ewbank. In 1958, he was traded to the Chicago Cardinals and played there for two seasons under head coach Frank Ivy. In 1960, he was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1960 NFL Expansion Draft. Under head coach Tom Landry, he was designated as the starting middle linebacker in the Cowboys 4-3 defensive scheme. Unfortunately Patera's playing career ended early when he suffered a knee injury in the fourth game of the 1960 season. Patera returned in 1961, but played in only two games and retired at the end of the season.
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