Jim Nance

Infobox Pro Football player


Color=Red
fontcolor=white
Jersey=35
Caption=
DateOfBirth=December 30, 1942
Birthplace=Indiana, Pennsylvania, United States
Position=Fullback
College=Syracuse
AFLDraftedYear=1965
AFLDraftedRound=19 / 6th pick
Career Highlights=Y
Honors=1966 UPI, AP, TSN AFL MVP
Records=AFL Season Rushing
1,458 yd (14 gms)
Stats=Y
DatabaseFootball=NANCEJIM01
PFR=NancJi00.htm
years=1965-1969
1970
1971
1973
teams=AFL Boston Patriots
NFL Boston Patriots
NFL New England Patriots
NFL New York Jets
AFLAllStar=1966, 1967
HOF=

James Solomon "Jim" Nance (December 30 1942 - June 16 1992) was a fullback with the Boston Patriots during their days in the American Football League. Starting for three years at Syracuse University, he tied the school record for career touchdowns (13) and led the Orange (then the Orangemen) in rushing in 1964, scoring in ten straight games. In 1963 and 1965 Jim Nance was the NCAA heavyweight wrestling champion and received All-America honors.

Nance was a late-round draft choice of the Patriots in the 1965 AFL Draft, as well as a fourth-round choice of the Chicago Bears in the 1965 NFL Draft. Nance signed with the Patriots. Though his rookie season was unimpressive, he led the AFL in rushing the next two seasons. He went on to become the only AFL player ever to rush for more than 1,400 yards in a season. At 6'-1" and 243 pounds, Nance was a classic fullback who carried 299 times in 1966, for 11 touchdowns and 1,458 yards. That season, he rushed for 208 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-21 victory over the Oakland Raiders.

Jim only had 1 touchdown reception and 1 punt return. Jim caught a 10 yard touchdown pass from Babe Parilli in their 26-21 loss to the Denver Broncos on 09-03-67 and he returned a punt 16 yards in their 22-6 victory over the San Diego Chargers on 10-31-65. Jim did return 3 kickoffs for 40 yards with his longest kickoff return of 19 yards on 09-19-65.

Jim received the nickname "Odd Job" (James Bond Movie Character Reference) after Jim's dominating performance in the Boston Patriots 24-10 win over the Denver Broncos @ Bears Stadium on 09-18-66.

Jim had 6 successful 4th down runs including 1 for a TD during his career with the Boston Patriots. He had a successful 4th down run in games played @ the Oakland Coliseum, Fenway Park and Rice Stadium during the 1967 AFL Season. Jim bulled for a 1 yard gain, on 4th & 1, in the Patriots 24-0 shutout of the Houston Oilers @ Boston College Alumni Stadium on 11-02-69. Jim ran for a 1 yard run, on 4th & 1, in the Patriots 16-0 loss to the New York Giants @ Harvard Stadium on 10-18-70. Jim scored on a 1 yard run, on 4th & goal, in the Patriots 27-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills @ War Memorial Stadium on 11-28-71.

Jim was the AFC Offensive Player of the Week as he ran 35 times for 185 yards and 1 TD in the Patriots 23-0 shutout of the Buffalo Bills @ War Memorial Stadium on 09-24-67. Jim made the cover of Sports Illustrated Magazine because of his 65 yard touchdown run against the Buffalo Bills in the Patriots 14-3 victory in a game that billed as "The Game" of the Year in 1966.

Jim was the AFL Comeback Player of the Year in 1969.

Only Jim Nance and Curtis Martin have run for at least 100 yards in 5 consecutive regular season games for the Patriots.

Only Jim Nance and Corey Dillon have averaged more than 100 yards rushing per game in a regular season for the Patriots.

Jim owns the Patriots Team Record of the highest percentage (.571) of regular season games with at least 100 yards rushing as he had 8 games with at least 100 yards rushing during the 14 game season in 1966. {Curtis Martin and Corey Dillon are tied for 2nd (.5625) as they each ran for at least 100 yards in 9 regular season games for the Patriots.}

Jim holds the Patriots Team Record of the best average yards rushing per game (104 yards) in a regular season. {Corey Dillon averaged 102 yards rushing per game for the Patriots in 2004}

Jim is the only Running Back to run for at least 100 yards in consecutive regular season games 8 different times for the Patriots.

Jim is the only Patriot Running Back to league the NFL in yards rushing in consecutive seasons. Jim Nance led the AFL and the NFL with the most yards rushing in 1966 and 1967.

Jim Nance holds the Patriots Team Record with the most career regular season runs from scrimmage of at least 50 yards as he had 5 runs of 50 yards or more, including 3 for a TD, during his career with the Boston Patriots.

Nance was an American Football League All-Star in 1966, when he also received the league’s Most Valuable Player award, and an All-Star again in 1967 when he became the only AFL player to have two seasons in which he rushed for over 1,000 yards, this time for 1,216. He retired as the Patriots’ all-time leading rusher with 45 career touchdowns, a record he still holds.

In 1972 he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles but refused to play for them, temporarily retiring. He joined the New York Jets the following year.

In 1974, Nance played with the Houston Texans/Shreveport Steamer of the World Football League, rushing for 1240 yards. In 1975, he ran for 767 yards before the WFL folded. [http://www.hworth.net/wfl/index_wfl_summary.html]

Jim Nance is a member of The Pigskin Club of Washington, D.C. National Intercollegiate All-American Football Players Honor Roll.

ee also

*Other American Football League players

External links

* [http://www.pafootballnews.com/AllCenturyTeams.htm The Pennsylvania Football News All-Century Team]

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