The Oregon Ducks start the 2024 season Aug. 31 at home against Idaho. The Oregonian/OregonLive will count down the days with mini-profiles of prominent former and current Ducks whose jersey numbers correspond with the days remaining until the opening kickoff.

Today, No. 67: Offensive lineman Jack Patera.

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Jack Patera

Bio: Out of Washington High School in Portland, Patera was one of Coach Len Casanova’s first recruits to Oregon. Patera became a four-year starter from 1951-54 and was inducted into the University of Oregon Athletics Hall of Fame in 2000. After playing in the NFL, Patera went on to become the first coach of the Seattle Seahawks. He died in 2018 at the age of 85.

Key achievements: Pateram earned All-Pacific Coast Conference honors in 1954. He competed in the 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 Oregon Athletics Hall of Fame in 2000.

NFL: The Baltimore Colts selected Patera in the fourth round (44th overall pick) of the 1955 NFL Draft. He played both linebacker and guard during his seven seasons with the Colts, Chicago Cardinals, and Dallas Cowboys. Patera then became an assistant defensive line coach in the NFL.

He helped develop the iconic “Fearsome Foursome” defensive line with the Los Angeles Rams (1963-67) and later the equally dominant “Purple People Eaters” that helped lead the Minnesota Vikings (1969-75) to three Super Bowls.

In 1976, Patera was hired as the head coach of the expansion Seattle Seahawks. In just his third season, Patera guided the Seahawks to a 9-7 record that earned him NFL coach of the year honors.

PRIOR COUNTDOWN POSTS

No. 68: Offensive lineman Shane Lemeiux.

No. 69: Offensive lineman Bo Thran.

No. 70: Fullback Bob Sanders.

No. 71: Offensive linemen Mark Lewis and Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu.

No. 72: Offensive lineman Adam Snyder.

No. 73: Offensive lineman Tyrell Crosby.

No. 74: Offensive linemen Kyle Long and Tom Drougas.

No. 75: Offensive tackle Jake Fisher.

No. 76: Offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr.

No. 77: Offensive lineman Carson York.

No. 78: Offensive linemen Alex Forsyth and Cameron Hunt.

No. 79: Mark Asper, offensive line

No. 80: Wide receivers Lavasier Tuinei, Greg Moser and Ray Palm

No. 81: Wide receiver Bob Newland

No. 82: Wide receiver Lew Barnes and tight end Blake Spence

No. 83: Tight end Ed Dickson and wide receiver Patrick Johnson

No. 84: Tight end Justin Peelle, linebacker Anthony Trucks, and Cam McCormick

No. 85: Pharaoh Brown, Tim Day and Matt Evensen.

No. 86: Wide receiver Paul Burleson.

No. 87: Wide receiver Greg Specht

No. 88: Wide receiver Dwayne Stanford and defensive lineman Brandon Bair

No. 89: This team ended a 25-year drought

No. 90: Tight end Josh Wilcox and defensive lineman Drayton Carlberg