Place of birth Greenville, MS Name Jimmy Patton College Mississippi | Position(s) Defensive back Place of death Villa Rica, GA | |
Date of birth (1933-09-29)September 29, 1933 Date of death December 22, 1972(1972-12-22) (aged 39) | ||
James Russell Patton (born September 29, 1933 – December 22, 1972) was an American football defensive back in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Giants. He was a five-time Pro Bowl selection and five-time first-team All-Pro. Patton played college football at the University of Mississippi and was drafted in the eighth round of the 1955 NFL Draft. The Professional Football Researchers Association named Patton to the "PRFA Hall of Very Good" class of 2010.
On December 22, 1972, Patton was killed in an automobile accident near Villa Rica, Georgia. He was driving alone in his car when he was struck by an oncoming vehicle while attempted to pass another car. He was driving to Virginia to see his sister who was dying of cancer as reported by his sons.