This article will be permanently flagged as inappropriate and made unaccessible to everyone. Are you certain this article is inappropriate? Excessive Violence Sexual Content Political / Social
Email Address:
Article Id: WHEBN0009801309 Reproduction Date:
John Wilbur James, Jr. (born January 21, 1949) is an American former college and professional football player who was a punter in the National Football League (NFL) for thirteen seasons during the 1970s and 1980s. James played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he played professionally for the Atlanta Falcons, the Detroit Lions and the Houston Oilers of the NFL.
James was born in Panama City, Florida in 1949.[1] He attended Gainesville High School in Gainesville, Florida,[2] where he played for the Gainesville Purple Hurricanes high school football team. James has three older sisters.
James attended the University of Florida in Gainesville, where he was a walk-on punter for the Florida Gators football team under coaches Ray Graves and Doug Dickey from 1969 to 1971.[3] He was the Gators' starting punter in 1970 and 1971, and kicked fifty-seven punts for an average distance of 40.3 yards during his senior year in 1971.[3] James graduated from Florida with a bachelor's degree in 1971, and was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great" in 1978.[4]
James played in the NFL from 1972 to 1984 for three teams: the Atlanta Falcons (ten years), the Detroit Lions (three games) and the Houston Oilers (three years).[5] He reached the peak of his profession, being selected three times for the Pro Bowl,[2] an NFL all-star game pitting the best players from the American Football Conference (AFC) against the best of the National Football Conference (NFC). James finished his thirteen-season NFL career with a total of 1,083 punts for 43,992 yards and an average distance of 40.6 yards.[5]
James is the father of four children, Helen Storey, Scott James, Matthew James, and Susanna James and grandfather of five. He has held the position of executive director of Gator Boosters, Inc. at the University of Florida since 1986, and oversees the booster fund-raising operation to fund athletic scholarships for Gator athletes.[6]
University of Texas at Austin, State University System of Florida, Texas A&M University, Florida State University, Vanderbilt University
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, College Football Playoff, Canada, American football, College baseball
National Football League, Atlanta, San Diego Chargers, New York Giants, Matt Ryan
Michigan, National Football League, Super Bowl, St. Louis Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers
National Football League, Tennessee, American Football League, Memphis, Tennessee, Miami Dolphins
Washington Redskins, Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos
University of Florida, Florida Gators women's gymnastics, Windsor, Ontario, Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame, Perry McGriff
United States, University of Florida, Florida Gators swimming and diving, 1982 World Aquatics Championships, Swimming (sport)
University of Florida, Florida Gators football, Southeastern Conference, American football positions, End (American football)
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States, Accounting, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania