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By Jon Paul Hoornstra
Contributing Sports Writer
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Jackie Cline, a defensive lineman who helped Alabama win a national championship before spending parts of eight professional seasons in the USFL, NFL and CFL, died July 25. He was 66.
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Cline was born March 13, 1960, in Kansas City, Kansas, and grew up in McCalla, Alabama, where he became one of the state's top high school football recruits at McAdory High School.
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Cline signed with Alabama during the final years of Hall of Fame head coach Paul "Bear" Bryant's tenure, joining a program that would soon claim the 1979 national championship. Although a freshman on that title-winning team, Cline developed into one of the Crimson Tide's most dependable defensive linemen over the next four seasons.
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By his senior year in 1982, Cline had earned second-team All-Southeastern Conference honors. His combination of size and versatility allowed him to play multiple positions along the defensive front, qualities that would define his professional career.
After going undrafted in 1983, Cline signed with the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League. The Stallions became one of the league's flagship franchises, winning championships in 1984 and 1985. Cline was part of both title teams before the USFL suspended operations following the 1985 season.
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The collapse of the league forced many players to pursue NFL opportunities. Cline spent time with the Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns before breaking into the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1987 amid a 24-day players strike. His stay in Pittsburgh lasted one game before he joined the Miami Dolphins later that season.
It was in Miami that Cline found the longest stretch of his NFL career. Playing under Hall of Fame coach Don Shula, he became a valuable reserve capable of filling multiple roles on the defensive line. Coaches relied on him at both defensive end and nose tackle, often asking him to step into the lineup when injuries struck.
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In 1988, Cline started nine games and recorded a career-high four sacks while appearing in 14 contests. The following season, he continued to serve as one of Miami's primary backup linemen, and also saw action on special teams.
Cline finished his NFL career with the Detroit Lions in 1990 after additional offseason stops with the Atlanta Falcons and a brief return to Miami. Across four NFL seasons, he appeared in 42 games, made 11 starts and recorded six sacks.
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Dylan Cline, Jackie's son, played college football at Jacksonville State and tried out for the Arizona Cardinals.
In a 1989 interview with the Orlando Sentinel, Cline made it clear he was content to play football without the glare of stardom.
“It’s better to be underrated than overrated," he said. "If you’re underrated, you’re doing the best you possibly can with the ability you’ve got.”
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