Jim Schwantz

Last updated

Jim Schwantz
No. 65, 52, 59
Position: Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1970-01-23) January 23, 1970 (age 54)
Arlington Heights, Illinois, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:240 lb (109 kg)
Career information
High school: Fremd (Palatine, Illinois)
College: Purdue
Undrafted: 1992
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Tackles:46
Fumble recoveries:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

James William Schwantz (born January 23, 1970) is an American politician and former football player who is the mayor of Palatine, Illinois. He played as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, and San Francisco 49ers. He played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers.

Contents

Early years

Schwantz attended William Fremd High School, where he was a two-way player in football. He received All-state, All-conference and the coaches top defensive player in Northwest Chicago honors as a senior. [1]

He had a .501 batting average as a sophomore on the baseball team and also started on the basketball team.

College career

Schwantz accepted a football scholarship from Purdue University. He started 5 games as a freshman and was a regular starter as a sophomore at outside linebacker, registering 10 sacks (second in the conference). He had 16 tackles against the University of Notre Dame.

He suffered a broken foot during the summer, sidelining him until the start of his junior season and contributing to him having an off year, finishing with 83 tackles. [2]

As a senior, he was switched to middle linebacker, registering 143 tackles (led the team), 102 solo (led the team), 12 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and one interception (returned for a 66-yard touchdown). He had 18 tackles against the University of California. He was selected Big 10 defensive player of the week, for the 19 tackles and the 66-yard interception return for a touchdown he had against Northwestern University. He also was named to the Dean's List. [3]

At the time, he ended his college eligibility with 363 career tackles (sixth in school history), 18 career sacks (school record), 11 sacks in a season (school record) and 43 career tackles for loss (second in school history).

Professional career

Chicago Bears (first stint)

Schwantz was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Chicago Bears after the 1992 NFL draft. He was waived in August and signed to the practice squad. On December 25, he was promoted to the active roster to play in the season finale against the Dallas Cowboys, where he made one special teams tackle.

On August 30, 1993, he was released after preseason and signed to the practice squad. [4] On August 28, 1994, he was traded to the defending Super Bowl champions the Dallas Cowboys, in exchange for a sixth round draft choice (#201-Hayward Clay). [5]

Dallas Cowboys

In 1994, the Dallas Cowboys traded for Schwantz because they were thin at the linebacker position and because he knew their defensive system, having been coached by Dave Wannstedt, who was the team's defensive coordinator before moving on to the Chicago Bears. He was declared inactive for the first 9 games. He finished with 4 defensive tackles, 5 special teams tackles and was a part of the Super Bowl XXX winning team.

In 1995, he continued his development, registering 23 special teams tackles (third on the team), 15 defensive tackles and one pass defensed.

In 1996, he set the franchise's single season record with 32 tackles on special teams (the NFL started keeping the stat in 1990) and was named to the Pro Bowl as a special teams player. [6]

In 1997, he was declared a restricted free agent at the end of the season and although he was seen as a valuable player, the Cowboys had serious salary cap problems and could only tender him a qualifying offer at his original undrafted signing. On April 14, the San Francisco 49ers signed him to a four-year offer sheet for $2 million that included a $600,000 signing bonus, that the Cowboys chose not to match and did not receive any compensation. [7]

San Francisco 49ers

In 1997, he registered 18 special teams tackles with the San Francisco 49ers. He was cut on August 25, 1998, after the team decided to keep two younger linebackers (Anthony Peterson and Winfred Tubbs). [8]

Chicago Bears (second stint)

On August 29, 1998, he was signed by the Chicago Bears as a free agent, to improve the special teams units. [9] [10] He was released on August 18, 1999. [11]

Schwantz played in 78 career games (no starts) and was credited with 39 defensive tackles, amounting to half a tackle per game.

Mayor of Palatine

On February 25, 2008, Schwantz declared his intention to run for mayor of the Village of Palatine, Illinois

On April 7, 2009, he secured 42% of the vote, defeating 20-year incumbent Rita Mullins, who ended up placing a distant third in a four-way mayoral race. Schwantz was sworn into office as Mayor of Palatine on May 4, 2009. [12] He has been re-elected three times, running unopposed in 2013, 2017 and 2021, and his current term expires in 2025. [13] [14]

Personal life

Schwantz is a contributor to the WBBM 780AM Chicago Bears broadcast team along with former players Jay Hilgenberg and Tom Thayer. He is the only one of the three who was not on the 1985 Bears team that won Super Bowl XX.

Related Research Articles

Darren Ray Woodson is an American former professional football player who spent his entire career as a safety for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL) from 1992 to 2003. He played college football for the Arizona State Sun Devils, and was selected by the Cowboys in the second round of the 1992 NFL draft with the 37th overall pick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julius Peppers</span> American football player (born 1980)

Julius Frazier Peppers is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end and linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels, where he was recognized as a unanimous All-American, and was selected by the Carolina Panthers second overall in the 2002 NFL draft, and also played for the Chicago Bears from 2010 through 2013 and the Green Bay Packers from 2014 to 2016. After rejoining the Panthers for the 2017 season, he retired after the 2018 NFL season.

Charles Lewis Haley is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end and linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys (1992–1996).

Robert Vinson Smith, is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the East Carolina Pirates. Smith played in the NFL for the Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints. He won Super Bowl XXVII with Dallas over the Buffalo Bills.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Zgonina</span> American football player and coach (born 1970)

Jeffrey Marc Zgonina is an American football coach and former player who currently serves as the defensive line coach for the Dallas Cowboys. He played as a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for 17 seasons. He played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers and was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the seventh round of the 1993 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ken Norton Jr.</span> American football player and coach (born 1966)

Kenneth Howard Norton Jr. is an American professional football coach and former player who is the linebackers coach for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UCLA Bruins and was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 1988 NFL draft.

Broderick Lee Thomas is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, earning unanimous All-American honors in 1988.

Dixon Voldean Edwards, III is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings. He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans.

John Alfred Roper is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football for the Texas A&M Aggies, earning consensus All-American honors in 1987. Roper was selected in the second round of the 1989 NFL draft. He was on the Cowboys' Super Bowl XXVIII championship team that beat the Buffalo Bills.

Dwayne Anthony Missouri is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for the Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers. He also was a member of the Berlin Thunder in the NFL Europe League (NFLEL) Colorado Crush and the Philadelphia Soul, Utah Blaze in the Arena Football League (AFL). He played college football at Northwestern University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malcolm Smith (American football)</span> American football player (born 1989)

Malcolm Xavier Smith is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the USC Trojans. He was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round of the 2011 NFL draft. Smith was named the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XLVIII after the Seahawks defeated the Denver Broncos.

Thaddeus Gibson is a former American football defensive end. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL draft. He played college football at Ohio State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aldon Smith</span> American football player (born 1989)

Aldon Jacarus Smith is an American former professional football player in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Missouri Tigers, and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers with the seventh overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft. Smith was a first-team All-Pro and a Pro Bowl selection as an outside linebacker with the 49ers in 2012. He also played defensive end for the Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyler Clutts</span> American football player (born 1984)

Tyler Clutts is a former American football fullback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears, Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Fresno State University.

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

Marvin Mychal-Christopher Kendricks is an American former professional football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football for the California Golden Bears, he was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 2012 NFL draft. Kendricks won Super Bowl LII with the Eagles. In September 2018, he pleaded guilty to insider trading and was released by the Cleveland Browns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyle Wilber</span> American football player and coach (born 1989)

Kyle Wilber is a former American football linebacker and coach who is the special teams quality control coach for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL draft. He played college football at Wake Forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leonard Floyd</span> American football player (born 1992)

Leonard Cornilus Floyd is an American professional football defensive end for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs and was selected by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Thomas (linebacker)</span> American football player (born 1991)

Joe Lewis Thomas Jr. is an American football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football at South Carolina State, and was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haason Reddick</span> American football player (born 1994)

Haason Samir Reddick is an American professional football linebacker for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Temple, and was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft. He also played for the Carolina Panthers and Philadelphia Eagles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Eberflus</span> American football player and coach (born 1970)

Matthew Charles Eberflus was an American professional football coach who is the former head coach for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the defensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts from 2018 to 2021. He previously worked as the linebacker coach for the Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys, and has coached at Toledo and Missouri.

References

  1. ↑ "Football" . Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Speed should help UW vs. Boilermakers" . Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Ex-fremd Star Just Wants Shot At NFL". January 5, 1992. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Transactions". The New York Times. August 31, 1993. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Bears Keep 7 Backs". August 29, 1994. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Pro Bowl Teams" . Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  7. ↑ "NEWSWIRE". Los Angeles Times . April 15, 1997. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Release of Schwantz may leave sizable hole on special teams" . Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Special Teams Boosted By Milburn, Schwantz". August 30, 1998. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  10. ↑ "New Look For Bears' Special Teams". September 4, 1998. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Transactions". The New York Times. August 19, 1999. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Ex-Chicago Bear, now mayor, Jim Schwantz looks to call the right plays for Palatine". May 27, 2009. Archived from the original on September 29, 2015. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Mayor - Jim Schwantz" . Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Mayor - Jim Schwantz" . Retrieved July 19, 2023.
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.