Nostalgia: Whatever Happened To … Hacksaw Reynolds?

Jack “Hacksaw” Reynolds may not be as well-known to younger Niner fans as he should be, but that doesn’t mean his name shouldn’t be on every short list of crazy athlete stories.

Reynolds was an outstanding linebacker with the Niners during the early 80s. After spending the majority of his career with the Los Angeles Rams (remember when LA had football teams?), he brought his tough-nosed defense to the Bay, winning two Super Bowl rings (XVI, XIX).

Of course, Reynolds is probably best-known for his nickname, or rather, the way he earned that nickname: while in college at the fabled University of Tennessee, he sawed a car (some say a Chevy, some say a Porsche) in half after a 38-0 loss to rival Mississippi:

“I cut through the entire frame and drive shaft, all the way through the car. I started on Sunday and finished Monday afternoon. It took me eight hours total time,” said Reynolds, describing the efforts. He had purchased a cheap hacksaw and 13 blades, breaking all of them by the time he was done. After finishing the work, he got a witness and went to bed. The next day, when he brought more of his friends to see his handiwork, the car was gone, with nothing but the 13 broken blades left behind.

See, if only today’s football players could find the proper outlets for their aggression, like Hacksaw did. We wouldn’t have to read about Michael Vick’s dogkilling enterprises, Pacman Jones’ rainmaking exercises, Antonio Bryant’s drunken speed racing or Rae Carruth’s, um, murder.

Hacksaw, we salute you. One of the best nicknames out there…

Jack Reynolds [Wikipedia]

Jack of All Cleats [Fun Trivia]