Jim Thrower

Jim Thrower
No. 49, 21
PositionDefensive back
Personal information
Born (1947-11-06) November 6, 1947 (age 77)
Camden, Arkansas, U.S.
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
CollegeTexas A&M–Commerce
NFL draft1970: undrafted
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Games46
Kick rtn yards353
Stats at Pro Football Reference

James Frederick Thrower (born November 6, 1947) is an American former professional football defensive back. In 2022 he was inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame.[1]

Thrower was born in Camden, Arkansas, in 1947. He attended Lincoln High School and played college football at Texas A&M–Commerce.[2] He also excelled at track and field and basketball, and was inducted into the university's athletic hall of fame.[1]

Thrower played professional football as a defensive back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1970 to 1972.[2][3][4] He was fired by the Eagles in November 1972.[5]

He next played for the Detroit Lions during the 1973 and 1974 seasons.[2] While with the Lions, he was a backup to cornerback Lem Barney and also served as captain of the special team unit. He was also a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.[6] During the 1975, was placed on the injured reserve list. The Detroit Free Press called him the captain of the injured reserve list.[7]

In three years in the NFL, Thrower appeared in a total of 46 NFL games, four of them as a starter.[2]

After retiring from football, Thrower worked for the Stroh Brewery Co. and later Michigan Consolidated Gas Co. He was also a leading fundraiser for the NAACP.[8]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Ketty Lester, James Thrower among Arkansas Black Hall of Fame inductees". Magnolia Reporter - Magnolia, Arkansas News. September 9, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d "Jim Thrower". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  3. ^ Bill Shefski (October 18, 1972). "No Prevent Defense For Thrower's Boos". Philadelphia Daily News. p. 60 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Gordon Forbes (December 8, 1970). "Eagles Try Jim Thrower Where Others Have Failed". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 25 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Bill Shefski (November 3, 1972). "Eagles Fire Thrower Just As Tipster Warned". Philadelphia Daily News. p. 82 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Richard L. Dancz (June 5, 1975). "Thrower Is A Lion . . . Detroit Variety". The Ludington Daily News. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Jack Saylor (November 21, 1975). "Injured Lions Have Their Own Captain". Detroit Free Press. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Susan Watson (August 21, 1985). "Former star athlete still seeks big play". Detroit Free Press. p. A3 – via Newspapers.com.