James Ford (American football)

Last updated

James Ford
No. 28, 46
Position: Running back
Personal information
Born: (1949-09-11) September 11, 1949 (age 74)
Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school: Jacksonville (FL) Stanton
College: Texas Southern
NFL draft: 1971  / Round: 13 / Pick: 337
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics
Rushing attempts:104
Rushing yards:407
Rushing TDs:2
Player stats at PFR

James Leon Ford (born September 11, 1949) is a former American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the New Orleans Saints. He also was a member of the New York Stars and Charlotte Hornets in the World Football League (WFL). He played college football at Texas Southern University.

Contents

Early years

Ford attended Stanton College Preparatory School in Jacksonville, Florida, where he practiced football, basketball, track and swimming. [1]

He accepted a football scholarship from Texas Southern University, where he developed until late in his college career. As a senior in 1970, he registered 62 carries for 295 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Professional career

Ford was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the thirteenth round (337th overall) of the 1971 NFL draft. [2] He was waived on September 13.

On September 14, 1971, he was claimed off waivers by the New Orleans Saints. [3] He was named the starter at running back in the third game. He ranked third on the team in rushing with 379 yards, while playing in 9 games (7 starts) during the season, even though he suffered a season-ending knee injury in the ninth game.

In 1972, he rejoined the team in the ninth game of season because of the recovery of a follow-up knee surgery. He played in 5 games (1 start), mainly on special teams and had 28 rushing yards in the season finale against the Green Bay Packers.

On August 1, 1973, he was traded to the Houston Oilers in exchange for a sixth (#131-Jay Washington) and a tenth round draft choice (#235-Frosty Anderson). [4] He was released on September 11. [5]

Ford was also a member of the New York Stars/Charlotte Hornets of the World Football League from 1974 to 1975.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Football League</span> Former American football league (1974–1975)

The World Football League (WFL) was an American football league that played one full season in 1974 and most of its second in 1975. Although the league's proclaimed ambition was to bring American football onto a worldwide stage, the farthest the WFL reached was placing a team – the Hawaiians – in Honolulu, Hawaii. The league folded midway through its second season, in 1975. A new minor football league began play as the World Football League in 2008 after acquiring the rights to its trademarks and intellectual property; it folded in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earl Campbell</span> American football player (born 1955)

Earl Christian Campbell, nicknamed "the Tyler Rose", is an American former football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons, primarily with the Houston Oilers. Known for his aggressive, punishing running style and ability to break tackles, Campbell gained recognition as one of the best power running backs in NFL history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reggie Bush</span> American football player (born 1985)

Reginald Alfred Bush III is an American former football running back who was an on-air college football analyst for Fox Sports. He played college football for the USC Trojans, earning consensus All-American honors twice and winning the Heisman Trophy as the most outstanding player in the nation. Bush is widely regarded as one of the greatest college football players of all-time. He was selected by the New Orleans Saints second overall in the 2006 NFL draft. While with the Saints, Bush was named an All-Pro punt returner in 2008 and won Super Bowl XLIV in 2010 over the Indianapolis Colts. He also played for the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, and San Francisco 49ers before retiring from professional football in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Sims</span> American football player (born 1955)

Billy Ray Sims is an American former football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for five seasons from 1980 to 1984. Sims played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners, where he was a two-time consensus All-American, and won the Heisman Trophy in 1978. He was the first overall pick in the 1980 NFL Draft, selected by the Detroit Lions.

Brian John Dowling is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for the New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers. He also was a member of the Charlotte Hornets in the World Football League (WFL). He played college football at Yale University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Homer Jones (American football)</span> American football player (1941–2023)

Homer Carroll Jones was an American professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Giants (1964–1969) and Cleveland Browns (1970). During his career, he was known for his considerable size and speed. Jones is credited with having invented the "spike" touchdown celebration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamaal Charles</span> American football player (born 1986)

Jamaal RaShaad Jones Charles is an American former professional football player who was a running back for 11 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the Kansas City Chiefs. He played college football for the Texas Longhorns, where he won the 2006 Rose Bowl, and was selected by the Chiefs in the third round of the 2008 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mel Farr</span> American football player and businessman (1944–2015)

Melvin Farr was an American professional football player and businessman.

Margene Adkins is a former professional American football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints and New York Jets. He also was a member of the Ottawa Rough Riders in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the Chicago Winds in the World Football League (WFL). He played college football at Henderson County Junior College.

Isaac Thomas is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, and Buffalo Bills. He was drafted in the second round of the 1971 NFL Draft. He played college football at Bishop College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacquizz Rodgers</span> American football player (born 1990)

Jacquizz "Quizz" Rodgers is a former American football running back. He played college football at Oregon State, and was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Ingram II</span> American football player (born 1989)

Mark Valentino Ingram II is an American former football running back and current on-air personality for Fox Sports. He played 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, becoming the first Alabama player to win the Heisman Trophy after rushing for 1,658 yards in 2009 en route to winning the 2010 BCS National Championship Game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lance Dunbar</span> American football player (born 1990)

Lance Dunbar, Jr. is a former American football running back. He played college football at University of North Texas and was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rex Burkhead</span> American football player (born 1990)

Rex Burkhead is a former American football running back. He played college football at Nebraska and was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round of the 2013 NFL draft. After four seasons with the Bengals, Burkhead spent his next four seasons with the New England Patriots, where he appeared in consecutive Super Bowls and won Super Bowl LIII. Burkhead joined the Houston Texans in 2021, spending two seasons with them before retiring in 2024.

Kelvin Mack Edwards is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys. He also was a member of the Dallas Texans of the Arena Football League (AFL). He played college football at Liberty University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyler Murray</span> American football player (born 1997)

Kyler Cole Murray is an American football quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). Following one season of college football with the Texas A&M Aggies, Murray played for the Oklahoma Sooners, where he won the Heisman Trophy as a junior. Murray was selected first overall by the Cardinals in the 2019 NFL draft. He was also selected ninth overall by the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB) in the 2018 draft, making him the first player to be drafted in the first round of both sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alvin Kamara</span> American football player (born 1995)

Alvin Mentian Kamara is an American football running back for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Tennessee after transferring from Hutchinson Community College and was selected by the Saints in the third round of the 2017 NFL draft. He was named the NFL Rookie of the Year in 2017, was named a Pro Bowler in his first five NFL seasons, and is a two-time second-team All-Pro. In 2020, Kamara became the second player in NFL history to score six rushing touchdowns in a single game, tying Ernie Nevers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aaron Jones (running back)</span> American football player (born 1994)

Aaron LaRae Jones is an American football running back for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UTEP Miners and was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL draft. In seven seasons with the Packers, Jones led the league in rushing touchdowns in 2019, made the Pro Bowl in 2020, and ranks third in the team's all-time rushing yards list.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bijan Robinson</span> American football player (born 2002)

Bijan Robinson is an American football running back for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Texas, where he won the Doak Walker Award and was a unanimous All-American in 2022 before being selected by the Falcons eighth overall in the 2023 NFL draft.

Lewis Elman Jolley is an American former professional football player who was a running back for the Houston Oilers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels.

References

  1. ↑ "Jim Ford". profootballarchives.com. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  2. ↑ "1971 NFL Draft". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Transactions". The Tennessean. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Ford Finds Better Idea". The Times. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Oilers Cut To 40 Limit". The Galveston Daily News. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.