College Iowa Weight 220 lb (100 kg) | Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) Position(s) Tight end Name Jim Gibbons | |
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Date of birth (1936-09-26) September 26, 1936 (age 79) | ||
Place of birth Chicago, Illinois, USA | ||
James Edwin Gibbons (September 26, 1936 – August 20, 2016) was an American professional football tight end for the NFL's Detroit Lions (1958–68).
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Early life
Gibbons was born in Chicago, Illinois. He attended the University of Iowa, where he played football with "Mad Duck" Alex Karras.
Professional career
Gibbons and Karras went to Detroit as part of the Lions' 1958 NFL Draft. Drafted in the sixth round by the Cleveland Browns, the 6'3", 220-pound tight end was traded immediately to the Lions. Gibbons became one of the Lions' best offensive stars during the next decade. He earned Pro Bowl honors three-times during his career, after the 1960, 1961 and 1964 seasons. He had a career year in 1964, earning Lion MVP honors, catching 45 passes for 605 yards and 8 touchdowns.
As of 2009, Gibbons ranks seventh on the Lions' all-time reception list with 287 receptions, 3,561 yards and 20 touchdowns. Selected to three Pro Bowls, Gibbons's career highlight may have come during the legendary 1960 game versus the Baltimore Colts in Baltimore. He scored on a 65-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Earl Morrall as time expired. It was the game's third lead change in the last 15 seconds of play and gave the Lions a 20–15 victory.
He died on August 20, 2016 at the age of 79.