Role American football player Positions Fullback Name Jim Finn Spouse Rosa Blasi (m. 2004–2008) | Receptions: 60 Weight 111 kg College: Pennsylvania Height 1.83 m | |
 | ||
Date of birth: (1976-12-09) December 9, 1976 (age 39) High school: Oradell (NJ) Bergen Catholic NFL draft: 1999 / Round: 7 / Pick: 253 Education University of Pennsylvania | ||
Place of birth: Teaneck, New Jersey | ||
James Finn Jr. (born December 9, 1976) is a former American football fullback. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the seventh round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Pennsylvania.
Contents
High school career
Finn was born in Teaneck, New Jersey and grew up in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, and attended Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell, New Jersey where he starred in both football and wrestling. An All-State pick in both sports, he was the 189-pound class state champion and posted a 33-2 record as a senior. Because no Division I-A recruiters were seeking him, Finn sought a Division I-AA program and committed with the University of Pennsylvania.
College career
Finn was a four-year letterman while playing college football at the University of Pennsylvania, where he accumulated 2,277 rushing yards, which ranks as the fourth-highest total in school history. He also scored 180 points for fifth on the all-time list. He was an All-Ivy League player as a senior and junior. In his senior season, Finn set school records for yards, rushing attempts, and rushing touchdowns.
Penn first experimented with having Finn play both offense and defense on October 18, 1997, against Columbia. In that game, Finn ran for 138 yards on 24 carries including one touchdown for 15 yards but fumbled on Columbia's 3-yard line on a 50-yard run. With the 24-7 win, Penn beat Columbia for the first time since 1994.
In addition to being named an All-Ivy Team member, Finn was named Player of the Year. He also holds school records for most rushing attempts, rushing yards, and touchdowns in a game. Before being converted permanently into a fullback, Finn briefly played as a safety, even starting a few games as a sophomore. While at Penn, Finn became a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. Finn also attended the Wharton School at Penn and graduated with a degree in finance in 1999.
Playing history
Finn was drafted with the final pick (nicknamed Mr. Irrelevant) of the seventh round in the 1999 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, but was waived, and spent time on their practice squad. Finn signed with the Indianapolis Colts in early 2000, where he accumulated 44 yards in six rushing attempts and 10 receptions over three seasons. However, the Colts' offense specialized more with two tight ends rather than a fullback. In the spring of 2003, Finn signed with the New York Giants. In his Giants career, Finn had seven rushing yards from three attempts. He has seen more action as a receiver out of the backfield, with 325 receiving yards and 42 receptions in his tenure with New York.
In 2005, Finn played in all 16 regular season games with 13 starts including the NFC Wild Card Playoff against the Carolina Panthers. His blocks for Tiki Barber helped Barber rush for a franchise-record 1,860 yards. Finn was primarily a blocking fullback for the Giants.
Finn led the way for Barber's 203 yards performance against the Oakland Raiders. Also in 2005, in Washington D.C. he once again opened holes for Barber in the star back's second 200+ yard performance. Barber had a third 200+ yard performance when he ran for 220 yards against the Kansas City Chiefs. Finn's season ended with 13 receptions for 98 yards, including the NFC Wild Card Game.
Finn missed the entire 2007 season (in which the Giants won Super Bowl XLII) after being placed on injured reserve. After the season, Finn was cut due to nagging injuries and the emergence of Madison Hedgecock whom the Giants signed to a multi-year contract extension.
Finn and Brandon Stokley are the only two players in NFL history to have caught a pass from both Eli and Peyton Manning. Finn and Stokley were actually teammates on the 1999 Kelly Blue Grey All-Star football game played in Montgomery, Alabama on Christmas Day for seniors entering the 1999 NFL Draft.
Personal life
He is the son of James and Jane Finn. Finn married actress Rosa Blasi on February 14, 2004, in Maui. They had one child and divorced in 2008.
Finn is a resident in Los Angeles County, CA. He has also lived in Fair Lawn, New Jersey.
Finn was a named plaintiff in one of the lawsuits filed by former NFL players against the league, alleging that the NFL had failed to warn its players about the risk of long term damage from repeated concussions incurred from playing football.