Jim Lankas
{{Short description|American football player (1918–1978)}}
{{good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Jim Lankas
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| number = 16, 3, 43, 23
| position = Fullback
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1918|08|26|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Stratton, Nebraska, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1978|08|09|1918|08|26|mf=y}}
| death_place = Edison, Kansas, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lb = 220
| high_school = Atwood
(Atwood, Kansas)
Holy Cross Abbey
(Cañon City, Colorado)
| college = Saint Mary's (1938–1940)
| pastteams =
- Paterson Panthers (1941)
- Jersey City Giants (1941)
- Newark Bears (1941)
- Brooklyn Dodgers ({{NFL Year|1942}})*
- Philadelphia Eagles / Steagles ({{NFL Year|1942|1943}})
- Green Bay Packers ({{NFL Year|1943}})
| pfr = LankJi20
}}
James Jarrett Lankas (August 26, 1918 – August 9, 1978) was an American professional football fullback. He played college football for the St. Mary's Gaels and later for three seasons professionally. He played for the Paterson Panthers, Jersey City Giants and Newark Bears of the American Association (AA), and for the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He was also a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Early life
Lankas was born on August 26, 1918, in Stratton, Nebraska, and was of Czechslovakian and Polish descent.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LankJi20.htm|title = Jim Lankas Stats|website = Pro Football Reference|access-date=April 23, 2025}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-mccook-daily-gazette/170970983/|newspaper=The McCook Daily Gazette|via=Newspapers.com|date=April 9, 1937|page=1|title=Youthful Fight Sensation Also Student Leader}} {{Open access}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-stratton-news/170971121/|newspaper=The Stratton News|via=Newspapers.com|date=April 15, 1937|page=1|title=Lankas Makes A Hit With McCook Fans}} {{Open access}} He attended Atwood High School in Kansas and then Holy Cross Abbey in Cañon City, Colorado.{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/l/lank00200.html|website=Pro Football Archives|access-date=April 23, 2025|title=Jim Lankas Stats}} He played football as a fullback and was known as "Jarring Jim".{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-stratton-news/170971599/|newspaper=The Stratton News|via=Newspapers.com|date=December 9, 1937|page=1|title=Lankas "Runs Wild" In Home-Coming Day Clash}} {{Open access}}
A triple-threat man, Lankas was an all-section selection at Atwood and was among the state's leading scorers in 1936 with 122 points. As a senior at Abbey in 1937, he scored 126 points and his coach said that Lankas "is the best all-around back I had ever coached." He finished his high school football career having appeared in 51 games, scoring 531 points in those games for an average of 10.4 points per game. He recorded over 7,000 scrimmage yards. While in high school, Lankas also competed as a boxer, being considered the top heavyweight in southwestern Nebraska, according to The Stratton News.
College career
After high school, Lankas enrolled at Saint Mary's College of California on a four-year football scholarship in 1938, being regarded as "the greatest prospect ever to enter the school", according to the Times-Standard.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-standard/170973103/|newspaper=Times-Standard|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 22, 1938|page=9|title=Humboldt-St. Mary's Frosh Clash Sunday}} {{Open access}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-citizen-patriot/170973236/|newspaper=The Citizen-Patriot|via=Newspapers.com|date=August 25, 1938|page=4|title=Jim Lankas Receives A Four Year Scholarship}} {{Open access}} He played for St. Mary's freshman football team that year and was considered the fastest member of the team.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-citizen-patriot/171001836/|newspaper=The Citizen-Patriot|via=Newspapers.com|date=December 1, 1938|page=1|title=Jim Lankas Making Good At St. Mary's College}} {{Open access}} One newspaper described him as "all muscle and very fast", as well as being "mean, very mean, very mean, when he tackles and blocks." He missed part of the season after suffering a knee injury.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/salinas-morning-post/171002169/|newspaper=Salinas Morning Post|via=Newspapers.com|date=July 2, 1939|page=7|title=Another Fiese}} {{Open access}} He then made the varsity team as a sophomore in 1939, playing as the third-string fullback.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner/171002270/|newspaper=The San Francisco Examiner|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 17, 1939|page=51|title=Gael Reserves Show Class in Practice}} {{Open access}} He played his last season for St. Mary's in 1940 and played alongside his brother, George, a fullback.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner/171002270/|newspaper=The San Francisco Examiner|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 12, 1940|page=19|title=Gaels Start Practice Today}} {{Open access}} He was used as a halfback during the 1940 season.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-call/171002813/|newspaper=The Morning Call|via=Newspapers.com|date=August 20, 1941|page=17|title=Panthers Sign Jim Lankas, Former St. Mary's Halfback}} {{Open access}}
Professional career
Lankas turned professional in 1941, signing with the Paterson Panthers of the American Association (AA), turning down an offer from the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He appeared in four games, one as a starter, before being released in October 1941; he then joined the Jersey City Giants.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bayonne-times/171003286/|newspaper=The Bayonne Times|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 18, 1941|page=11|title=Jerseys Seek Stronger Grip on Lead–Packers Ready for Grid Test}} {{Open access}} After appearing in two games, scoring one extra point, Lankas was released by the Giants, and then signed to the Newark Bears.{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/transactions/l/lank00200.html|website=Pro Football Archives|access-date=April 24, 2025|title=Jim Lankas Transactions}} He played two games for the Bears that same season.
In 1942, Lankas signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers of the NFL.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record/171003721/|newspaper=The Record|via=Newspapers.com|date=August 20, 1942|page=14|title=Eliason, Lankas Join Grid Flock}} {{Open access}} He did not appear in any games for the Dodgers and was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in November 1942.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer/171003850/|newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer|via=Newspapers.com|date=November 8, 1942|page=36|title=Rookies Hold Eagles' Fate Against Giants Today}} {{Open access}} He appeared in two games as a backup, recording no statistics for the Eagles. He returned to the Eagles, which became the Steagles, in 1943, and was described as their top fullback prospect by The Philadelphia Inquirer.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer/171004076/|newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 6, 1943|page=21|title=Jim Lankas Runs Wild for Eagles}} {{Open access}} However, he appeared in no games and was purchased by the Green Bay Packers in October 1943.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/kenosha-news/171004176/|newspaper=Kenosha News|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 15, 1943|page=8|title=Redskins Taper Off for Bays in Milwaukee Drill|agency=United Press}} {{Open access}} He played three NFL games for the Packers and ran twice for two yards. He also played in their 62–14 exhibition win over the New London Diesels and scored a touchdown and an extra point.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette/171004356/|newspaper=Green Bay Press-Gazette|via=Newspapers.com|date=November 29, 1943|page=13|title=Everybody Scores When Packers Trim Diesel Gridders, 62-14}} {{Open access}} He concluded his NFL career having appeared in five games, none as a starter.
After his stint with the Packers, Lankas began wrestling in Wichita, Kansas.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wichita-beacon/171004520/|newspaper=The Wichita Beacon|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 29, 1944|page=12|title=Sign Jim Lankas To Wrestle Here}} {{Open access}} According to The Wichita Beacon, he started wrestling there after "a wrestler failed to show up ... and he entered the ring as a sub". He continued wrestling and began competing as a professional boxer in Wichita in 1947.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-globe-democrat/171004670/|newspaper=St. Louis Globe-Democrat|via=Newspapers.com|date=April 3, 1946|page=17|title=Don Eagle Will Meet Bozic in Return Match Tonight}} {{Open access}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wichita-eagle/171004732/|newspaper=The Wichita Eagle|via=Newspapers.com|date=March 27, 1947|page=8|title=Lankas Wins Quickly}} {{Open access}} He purchased a farm in Rawlins County, Kansas, in 1948, and retired from wrestling and boxing.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-citizen-patriot/171004868/|newspaper=The Citizen-Patriot|via=Newspapers.com|title=30 Rounds Of Boxing At Stratton Tuesday|date=March 4, 1948|page=1}} {{Open access}}
Later life and death
Lankas later served as a boxing referee and promoter.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-stratton-news/171004963/|newspaper=The Stratton News|via=Newspapers.com|date=January 15, 1948|page=1|title=Big Time Wrestling Coming To Stratton!}} {{Open access}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/red-willow-county-reporter/171005118/|newspaper=Red Willow County Reporter|via=Newspapers.com|date=April 29, 1948|page=1|title=Boxing Show McCook Rated Huge Success}} {{Open access}} He was a Democratic Party candidate for Rawlins County sheriff in 1948 and later owned a cafe in Trenton, Nebraska.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/mcdonald-standard/171005262/|newspaper=Mcdonald Standard|via=Newspapers.com|date=June 10, 1948|page=1|title=Jim Lankas Enters Race for Sheriff}} {{Open access}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-hitchcock-county-news/171005346/|newspaper=The Hitchcock County News|via=Newspapers.com|date=July 14, 1955|page=1|title=Lankas Shamrock Cafe Owner}} {{Open access}} He died on August 9, 1978, in Edison, Kansas, at the age of 59.