Jim Kearney (American football)
{{Short description|American football player (1943–2024)}}
{{for|the Australian rules football player|Jim Kearney (Australian footballer)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Jim Kearney
| image =
| position = Safety
| number = 46
| birth_date = {{birth date|1943|1|21}}
| birth_place = Wharton, Texas, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2024|8|6|1943|1|21}}
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lbs = 206
| draftyear = 1965
| draftround = 11
| draftpick = 151
| college = Prairie View A&M
| teams =
- Detroit Lions (1965–1966)
- Kansas City Chiefs (1967–1975)
- New Orleans Saints (1976)
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 142
| statlabel2 = Interceptions
| statvalue2 = 23
| statlabel3 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue3 = 9
| highlights =
- Super Bowl champion (IV)
| pfr =
}}
James Lee Kearney (January 21, 1943 – August 6, 2024) was an American professional football player who was a safety for 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) and American Football League (AFL) from 1965 to 1976. He played college football as a quarterback for the Prairie View A&M Panthers, where one of his wide receivers was future Kansas City Chiefs teammate Otis Taylor. He was selected in the 11th round of the 1965 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions.{{cite web|title=Jim Kearney|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KearJi20.htm|publisher=Pro Football Reference|access-date=2016-01-15}} He then played for the Chiefs from 1967 through 1975 and for the New Orleans Saints in 1976. He started in Super Bowl IV for the Kansas City Chiefs.{{cite AV media|title=Super Bowl IV|publisher=CBS|date=January 11, 1970}} In 1972, he tied an NFL record by returning four interceptions for touchdowns. He also led the league with 192 yards on interception returns. He wore jersey number 46 while with the Chiefs. In retirement, he took up golf and coached little league football in the Kansas City area. Jim taught science for many years at Washington High School in Kansas City, Kansas. He died on August 6, 2024, at the age of 81.{{cite news |last1=Ediger |first1=Jon |title=Chiefs mourn the passing of Super Bowl IV champion Jim Kearney |url=https://chiefswire.usatoday.com/2024/08/06/chiefs-mourn-passing-super-bowl-iv-champion-jim-kearney/ |access-date=7 August 2024 |publisher=Chiefswire |date=6 August 2024}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{sports links}}
See also
Other American Football League players
{{Lions1965DraftPicks}}
{{Super Bowl IV}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kearney, Jim}}
Category:People from Wharton, Texas
Category:American football safeties
Category:Prairie View A&M Panthers football players
Category:Detroit Lions players
Category:Kansas City Chiefs players
Category:New Orleans Saints players
Category:Players of American football from Texas
Category:American Football League players
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