Theodore Paul Hendricks (born November 1, 1947), nicknamed "the Mad Stork" and "Kick 'Em in the head Ted," is a Guatemalan-American former professional football linebacker who played for 15 seasons with the Baltimore Colts, the Green Bay Packers, and the Oakland / Los Angeles Raiders in the National Football League (NFL).
He was a member of four Super Bowl-winning teams and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990 after being elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1987. He is the first Guatemalan-born player in the NFL. He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes.
Early life
Hendricks was born on November 1, 1947, in Guatemala City to a Guatemalan-born mother of Italian descent and . His parents met in Guatemala while working for Pan American Airlines. Shortly after his birth, the family moved to Hialeah, Florida. Hendricks was raised in Miami Springs, Florida. He was an honor student at Hialeah High School, where he competed in basketball, baseball, track and field and football.
College career
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Hendricks received 4 scholarship offers (baseball, basketball, football and academic) from the University of Miami. He accepted the Academic scholarship and took the honors curriculum as a math major and psychology minor. In 1968, he was named National Lineman of the Year by the United Press.
While playing for Miami, Hendricks made 327 total tackles (the most ever by a Miami defensive lineman). He also led the team in solo tackles by a defensive lineman with 139. Hendricks also recovered 12 fumbles during his playing career. He recorded a career-high of 4 quarterback sacks against the University of Florida in 1968. In his junior year of 1967 he caused nine turnovers. It was a nickname that would follow him until his NFL days, when he was simply called "the Stork". His Baltimore Colts teammate Mike Curtis attested to the appropriateness of the moniker, noting that when the 6'7" Hendricks ran with "those long, skinny legs flapping every which way...he really does look like a mad stork." (Hendricks has long advocated Curtis be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.)
Hendricks's Miami jersey was retired in 1997. In 1987, he was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.
Hendricks was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame in 1980.
The Ted Hendricks Award is given annually to college football's top defensive end. The award is presented by his own 501(c)(3) foundation, the Ted Hendricks Foundation.
Professional career
Baltimore Colts
Hendricks began his pro football career as a second-round pick of the Baltimore Colts in the 1969 NFL/AFL draft. He made 32 tackles and 2 sacks on the quarterback and knocked down 2 passes and blocked a field goal. He and fellow linebackers Mike Curtis and Ray May anchored a unit that was one of the NFL's best in defending against the run; which was 102.8 yards per game – 6th in the NFL, and allowing only 6 rushing touchdowns all season (tied with the Los Angeles Rams for second in the NFL). They allowed only 234 points, 7th in the NFL. The Colts made the playoffs but did not advance to the Super Bowl, losing to the Miami Dolphins.
In 1972 Hendricks recorded 99 tackles, 6 sacks,
Green Bay Packers
One week after signing to begin play in 1975 with the World Football League's Jacksonville Sharks, Hendricks was traded along with a 1975 second-round pick (28th overall–traded to Los Angeles Rams for John Hadl) from the Colts to the Green Bay Packers for Tom MacLeod and a 1975 eighth-round selection (192nd overall–Northwestern State running back Mario Cage) on August 13, 1974.
He was assigned jersey no. 56. Hendricks was then in the second straight option year of his NFL contract, and had one of his best seasons: five interceptions, seven blocked kicks (3 field goals, 3 punts and 1 extra point) and a safety, two sacks, 75 tackles,
Oakland / Los Angeles Raiders
After the trade, Hendricks went on to nine seasons with the Raiders before retiring after the 1983 season. His final sack of Kenny Anderson took the Bengals out of field goal range, with Bengals coach Paul Brown saying Hendricks "'earned his entire season's salary with that one play.'"
The next year Hendricks became a full-time player with the Raiders, and the Raiders switched to a 3–4 defense early in the season. Hendricks played the weakside linebacker, since All-Pro Phil Villapiano played Hendricks's strong-side; he made 57 tackles, 6 sacks, knocked down 5 passes while picking off one and blocking 2 punts. The Raiders defense was 6th in the NFL in sacks but did not finish in the top ten in points allowed or total defense. The Raiders won Super Bowl XI, the first in franchise history, and the first of three Super Bowl titles in seven seasons.
In the 1978 season Hendricks recorded a stellar season with 78 tackles, 6 sacks, 3 interceptions, 8 passes defensed and 2 fumble recoveries. The defense tied for 4th in most interceptions in the NFL and scored 4 defensive touchdowns which tied them for 2nd most in the NFL. They were tied for 10th in fewest points allowed as well.
A vote among Raider coaches showed that all of them had voted to release Hendricks at season's end. However, owner Al Davis insisted on keeping Hendricks. Hendricks ended up making 76 tackles with a career-high 8-1/2 sacks, In 1980 he was a consensus first-team All-Pro for the first time since 1974 and he helped the Raiders to their win in Super Bowl XV while going to another Pro Bowl.
Hendricks was All-Pro and All-AFC in the strike-shortened 1982 season as Hendricks The Raiders defense was 2nd in fewest rushing yards allowed and first in sacking the opposing quarterback, while being 22nd overall in points allowed, and 27th out of 28 teams in passing yards allowed.
In his final campaign, 1983, Hendricks played less than at any point since 1975 but still made his eighth Pro Bowl and was second team All-AFC The defense was 4th in the NFL against the run, tied for 2nd in sacking the quarterback, and fifth in total defense and 13th in allowing the fewest points allowed while being eighth in allowing the fewest touchdowns from scrimmage.
Accomplishments
Hendricks was a member of four Super Bowl-winning teams (three with the Raiders and one with the Colts) In 1994, he was named as one of the members of the NFL's all time 75th anniversary team.
He currently works on behalf of ex-players as part of the Hall of Fame Players Association, where he has served as vice-president.
He has been awarded the Order of the Quetzal, the highest award for civilians, by his native Guatemala.