My father played in the NFL before it made anyone rich

My father, Tom Mack, was an offensive lineman for the Los Angeles Rams from 1966 through 1978. He played in 184 consecutive games over 13 seasons, served as team captain, and was named to 11 Pro Bowls; he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999. Still, to me he is simply Dad—he walks his dog, attends church, and shops at Walmart, and people often do not recognize him as one of the game's greats.

Growing up in the 1970s came with small perks: greeting him after games at the Los Angeles Coliseum, collecting autographs from teammates like Merlin Olsen and Jack Youngblood, and once stepping onto the field with him for the 1979 Pro Bowl, his final game. He also appeared on television in local commercials and guest-starred on the series "Six Million Dollar Man." It wasn’t glamorous behind the scenes.

His career took place before massive salaries and cable TV, so he and many teammates worked other jobs in the offseason.

United States, Los Angeles

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