Jim Nance
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| Jim Nance | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | December 30, 1942 |
| Place of birth |  Indiana, Pennsylvania |
| Position(s) | Fullback |
| College | Syracuse |
| Career Highlights | |
| Pro Bowls | AFL All-Star 1966, 1967 |
| Honors | 1966 UPI, AP, TSN AFL MVP |
| Records | AFL Season Rushing 1,458 yd (14 gms) |
| Stats | |
| Statistics | |
| Team(s) | |
| 1965-1969 1970 1971 1973 |
AFL Boston Patriots NFL Boston Patriots NFL New England Patriots NFL New York Jets |
James Solomon "Jim" Nance (December 30, 1942 - June 16, 1992) was a fullback with the Boston Patriots during their days in the American Football League. Starting for three years at Syracuse University, he tied the school record for career touchdowns (13) and led the Orange in rushing in 1964, scoring in ten straight games. In 1963 and 1965 Jim Nance was the NCAA heavyweight wrestling champion and received All-America honors.
Nance was a late-round draft choice of the Patriots in the 1965 AFL Draft, as well as a fourth-round choice of the Chicago Bears in the 1965 NFL Draft. Nance signed with the Patriots. Though his rookie season was unimpressive, he led the AFL in rushing the next two seasons. He went on to become the only AFL player ever to rush for more than 1,400 yards in a season. At 6'-1" and 243 pounds, Nance was a classic fullback who carried 299 times in 1966, for 11 touchdowns and 1,458 yards. That season, he rushed for 208 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-21 victory over the Oakland Raiders.
Nance was an American Football League All-Star in 1966, when he also received the league’s Most Valuable Player award, and an All-Star again in 1967 when he became the only AFL player to have two seasons in which he rushed for over 1,000 yards, this time for 1,216. He retired as the Patriots’ all-time leading rusher with 45 career touchdowns, a record he still holds.
In 1972 he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles but refused to play for them, temporarily retiring. He joined the New York Jets the following year.
In 1974, Nance played with the Houston Texans/Shreveport Steamer of the World Football League, rushing for 1240 yards. In 1975, he ran for 767 yards before the WFL folded.[1]
[edit] See also
Other American Football League players
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Larry Garron |
New England Patriots Starting Running Back 1965-1970 |
Succeeded by Carl Garrett |
| Preceded by Jack Kemp & Paul Lowe |
American Football League MVP 1966 |
Succeeded by Daryle Lamonica |
Categories: 1942 births | 1992 deaths | AFL Most Valuable Players | AFL All-Star players | American football running backs | Boston Patriots (AFL) players | Boston Patriots players | New England Patriots players | New York Jets players | World Football League players | People from Pennsylvania | Syracuse Orange football players
