Derrick Jensen (American football)

Derrick Jensen (April 27, 1956 – April 7, 2017) was an American football running back and tight end who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played eight seasons for the Oakland / Los Angeles Raiders. He played college football for the Texas–Arlington Mavericks and was selected by the Raiders in the third round of the 1978 NFL draft.

Following his playing career, he worked as a scout for the Seattle Seahawks for 22 season, beginning in 1991.

High school and college career
Jensen grew up in Osawatomie, Kansas. He attended Osawatomie High School, and led the Osawatomie Trojans to their second state championship in 1973. Osawatomie won its first state football championship in 1966 led by future Green Bay Packers quarterback Lynn Dickey. After graduating from high school, Jensen attended University of Texas at Arlington. Jensen was a two-time Southland Conference most valuable player playing for the Texas–Arlington Mavericks. He finished his career with 3,346 rushing yards, the first player in conference history to top 3,000 yards.

Professional career
Jensen was selected by the Oakland Raiders with the 57th overall pick in the third round of the 1978 NFL draft. He played in 106 games, starting in 21 throughout his career, including a streak of 105 straight. He served as the captain of the Raiders special teams for five seasons and contributed a blocked punt, which he recovered for the first touchdown, in the Raiders 38–9 win over the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XVIII. He was also part of the Raiders Super Bowl XV championship team. He finished his Raiders career with 780 yards on 224 carries, with five touchdowns. He added 44 receptions and three scores and returned an onside kick 33 yards for a touchdown against the New York Giants in 1980.

Executive career
After he retired from the NFL, Jensen served as a scout for the Seattle Seahawks for 22 season, from 1991 through 2012.

Personal life
Jensen's wife died as a result of a hit-and-run automobile accident on December 31, 2009. They had one son, Davis, who was 12 years old at the time of his mother's passing.

Death
Jensen was diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) in 2012. He died of complications from the disease on April 7, 2017, at his home in Panama City Beach, Florida.