Jim Norton (safety)

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Jim Norton

| image = Jim Norton 1961.jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = Norton in 1961.

| number = 43

| position = Safety
Punter

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1938|10|20}}

| birth_place = Glendale, California, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2007|6|12|1938|10|20}}

| death_place = Garland, Texas, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 3

| weight_lb = 190

| high_school = Fullerton Union
(Fullerton, California)

| college = Idaho

| draftyear = 1960

| draftround = 7

| draftpick = 75

| afldraftyear = 1960

| afldraftround = First selections

| afldraftpick =

| pastteams =

Houston Oilers (1960–1968)

| highlights =

| statleague = AFL

| statlabel1 = Interceptions

| statvalue1 = 45

| statlabel2 = Interception yards

| statvalue2 = 592

| statlabel3 = Fumble recoveries

| statvalue3 = 3

| statlabel4 = Defensive touchdowns

| statvalue4 = 1

| statlabel5 = Punts

| statvalue5 = 522

| statlabel6 = Punting yards

| statvalue6 = 21,961

| statlabel7 = Punting average

| statvalue7 = 42.1

| statlabel8 = Longest punt

| statvalue8 = 79

| pfr = N/NortJi00

}}

James Charles Norton (October 20, 1938 – June 12, 2007) was an American professional football safety and punter who played for the Houston Oilers of the American Football League (AFL). An original member of the Oilers franchise, he played in their first nine seasons from 1960 to 1968. Norton was an AFL All-Star for three seasons and holds the league's record for career interceptions. His jersey No. 43 was the first of eight retired by the Oilers/Titans franchise.{{cite news|url=http://www.chron.com/sports/texans/article/Original-Oiler-Jim-Norton-passes-away-at-68-1841839.php |title=Original Oiler Jim Norton passes away at 68 |last=Manfull |first=Megan |newspaper=Houston Chronicle |date=June 19, 2007|access-date=October 28, 2013}}

Early years

Born and raised in Southern California, Norton graduated from Fullerton Union High School in 1956 and played college football for head coach Skip Stahley at Idaho, alongside future pros Jerry Kramer, Wayne Walker, and Jim Prestel in the Pacific Coast Conference. Nicknamed "Flamingo," Norton played defensive back and tight end, and also punted and returned kicks for the Vandals.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9b1YAAAAIBAJ&pg=4755%2C2878999 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |last=Missildine |first=Harry |title=Idaho grads get their kicks |date=December 24, 1962 |page=8}} Selected in the seventh round of in the 1960 NFL draft (75th overall) by the Detroit Lions{{cite web|url=http://www.profootballhof.com/history/release.jsp?release_id=1450 |publisher=Pro Football Hall of Fame |title=1960 Draft |access-date=October 28, 2013}} and the Dallas Texans in the AFL's inaugural draft in 1960, he signed as an original Houston Oiler.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2907923 |publisher=ESPN |title=Jim Norton dies; jersey one of six retired by Oilers |agency=Associated Press |date=June 18, 2007 |access-date=October 28, 2013}}

Professional career

Although Norton intercepted only one pass in his rookie season in 1960, he went on to become the AFL's all-time interception leader.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nllMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5647%2C5950456|newspaper=Rome News-Tribune |location=(Georgia) |agency=UPI photo |title=Norton hangs up jersey |date=April 16, 1969 |page=13 }} In 1961, his first starting season, he snared nine passes and punted with a 40.7-yard average. In a tight defensive duel in the AFL Championship Game, his four booming punts helped Houston defeat the San Diego Chargers, 10–3, claiming their second AFL championship in as many seasons.

While nursing a slim half-game lead in the Eastern Division in Week 12 of the 1962 AFL season, Norton personally tormented Denver Broncos quarterback Frank Tripucka. He stopped three Bronco drives with interceptions as the Oilers stole a 34–17 victory and a berth in their third straight AFL Championship Game. That thriller for the 1962 AFL crown was the league's longest game, a double-overtime contest won by the Dallas Texans, 20–17.

As a defensive back, Norton was a steady tackler with a nose for the football.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=e5k_AAAAIBAJ&pg=1577%2C2111894 |newspaper=Victoria Advocate |location=(Texas)|last=Bishop |first=Jim |title=Houston Oilers: the magic never faded |date=June 22, 2007 |page=B1 }} His play earned him All-AFL honors for 1961, '62, '63, and '67, when he scored the only touchdown of his career, returning an interception 56 yards. His number 43 was the first retired by the Oilers, acknowledging his club-record 45 career interceptions, which he returned for 592 yards and a touchdown, and 519 punts. The Oilers/Titans later retired the numbers of Elvin Bethea, Earl Campbell, Mike Munchak, Bruce Matthews, Warren Moon, Steve McNair, and Eddie George.

References

=Additional sources=

{{cite book |last=Miller |first=Jeff |title=Going Long: The Wild Ten-Year Saga of the Renegade American Football League In the Words of Those Who Lived It |year=2003 |publisher=McGraw-Hill |isbn=0-07-141849-0}}
{{cite book |last=Gruver |first=Ed |title=The American Football League: A Year-By-Year History, 1960–1969 |year=1997 |publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc |location=Jefferson, North Carolina |isbn=0-7864-0399-3}}

External links

[https://admin.xosn.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17100&ATCLID=1456261 Idaho Vandals Athletics Hall of Fame profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317172754/https://admin.xosn.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17100&ATCLID=1456261 |date=March 17, 2012 }}
{{Footballstats |nfl=2522270 |cfl= |afl= |espn= |cbs= |yahoo= |fox= |si= |pfr=NortJi00 |dbf=NORTOJIM01 |rotoworld=}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20160621140830/http://www.titansonline.com/team/history/titans-oilers_hall_of_fame.html Tennessee Titans] – Titans/Oilers Hall of Fame
{{Find a Grave|19956726}}
[https://www.footballcardgallery.com/player/nortji00/jim-norton-football-cards/ Gallery of Jim Norton football cards]