Jim Thaxton
{{Short description|American football player (born 1949)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Jim Thaxton
| image =
| number = 86, 84, 87
| position = Tight end / Wide receiver
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1949|1|11}}
| birth_place = Brownsville, Tennessee, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lbs = 240
| high_school = George Washington Carver (Memphis)
| college = Tennessee State (1969–1972)
| draftyear = 1973
| draftround = 4
| draftpick = 84
| pastteams =
- San Diego Chargers ({{NFL Year|1973}}–{{NFL Year|1974}})
- Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|1974}})
- Oakland Raiders ({{NFL Year|1975}})*
- New Orleans Saints ({{NFL Year|1976}}–{{NFL Year|1977}})
- St. Louis Cardinals ({{NFL Year|1978}})
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 = 35
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 = 544
| statlabel3 = Receiving TDs
| statvalue3 = 5
| pfr = T/ThaxJi00
}}
James Ivory Thaxton (born January 11, 1949) is an American former professional football tight end who played five seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the San Diego Chargers, Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints and St. Louis Cardinals. He was selected by the Chargers in the fourth round of the 1973 NFL draft. He played college football at Tennessee State University.
Early life and college
James Ivory Thaxton was born on January 11, 1949, in Brownsville, Tennessee.{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/t/thax00400.html | title=Jim Thaxton | publisher=profootballarchives.com | accessdate=6 December 2024}} He attended George Washington Carver High School in Memphis, Tennessee.
Thaxton was a member of the Tennessee State Tigers football team from 1969 to 1972 and a three-year letterman from 1970 to 1972. He was named an All-American by the Pittsburgh Courier in both 1971 and 1972. He was also named an All-American by Black Mutual in 1972.{{cite web | url=https://tsutigers.com/sports/2020/11/24/tsu-football-all-americans.aspx | title=TSU Football All-Americans | publisher=tsutigers.com | accessdate=6 December 2024}}
Professional career
Thaxton was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the fourth round, with the 84th overall pick, of the 1973 NFL draft. He played in ten games, starting three, for the Chargers during his rookie year in 1973, catching seven passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns.{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/ThaxJi00.htm | title=Jim Thaxton | publisher=pro-football-reference.com | accessdate=6 December 2024}} He appeared in two games for the Chargers in 1974 but did not record any statistics.
On September 24, 1974, Thaxton was traded to the Cleveland Browns for a 1975 sixth round draft pick.{{cite web | url=https://www.prosportstransactions.com/football/Search/SearchResults.php?Player=Jim+Thaxton&Team=&BeginDate=&EndDate=&PlayerMovementChkBx=yes&submit=Search | title=Search Results | publisher=prosportstransactions.com | accessdate=6 December 2024}} He proceeded to play in 12 games, starting four, for the Browns during the 1974 season, catching four passes for 71 yards while also making one interception and one fumble recovery.
On May 14, 1975, Thaxton was traded to the Oakland Raiders for an undisclosed draft pick. He was released by the Raiders on August 19, 1975.
Thaxton signed with the New Orleans Saints in 1976. He played in 11 games, starting one, for the Saints during the 1976 NFL season, recording seven receptions for 112 yards and one touchdown and eight kick returns for 185 yards. He appeared in all 14 games, starting six, in 1977 catching 14 passes for 211 yards and a touchdown.
One August 27, 1978, Thaxton was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for a 1979 seventh round draft pick.{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/transactions/t/thax00400.html | title=Jim Thaxton NFL Transactions | publisher=profootballarchives.com | accessdate=6 December 2024}} He played in five games for the Cardinals in 1978, totaling three receptions for 31 yards and one touchdown.
References
{{reflist}}
{{San Diego Chargers 1973 draft navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thaxton, Jim}}
Category:Players of American football from Tennessee
Category:American football tight ends
Category:Tennessee State Tigers football players
Category:San Diego Chargers players
Category:Cleveland Browns players
Category:Oakland Raiders players
Category:New Orleans Saints players
Category:St. Louis Cardinals (football) players
Category:People from Brownsville, Tennessee
Category:George Washington Carver High School (Memphis, Tennessee) alumni