Hubbry Logo
Jim FinnJim FinnMain
Open search
Jim Finn
Community hub
Jim Finn
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Jim Finn
Jim Finn
Jim Finn
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

James Finn Jr. (born December 9, 1976) is an American former professional football player who was a fullback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Penn Quakers and was selected by the Chicago Bears as the final pick of the 1999 NFL draft.

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Finn was born in Teaneck, New Jersey and grew up in Fair Lawn, New Jersey.[1] He attended Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell, New Jersey, where he was involved in both football and wrestling.[2] An All-State pick in both sports, he was the 189-pound class state champion and posted a 33–2 record as a senior.[3] Because no Division I-A recruiters were seeking him, Finn sought a Division I-AA program and committed with the University of Pennsylvania.[4][5]

College career

[edit]

Finn was a four-year letterman while playing college football at the University of Pennsylvania, where he accumulated 2,277 rushing yards, which ranks as the fourth-highest total in school history. He also scored 180 points for fifth on the all-time list. He was an All-Ivy League player as a senior and junior. In his senior season, Finn set school records for yards, rushing attempts, and rushing touchdowns.[6]

Penn first experimented with having Finn play both offense and defense on October 18, 1997, against Columbia. In that game, Finn ran for 138 yards on 24 carries including one touchdown for 15 yards but fumbled on Columbia's 3-yard line on a 50-yard run. With the 24–7 win, Penn beat Columbia for the first time since 1994.[7]

In addition to being named an All-Ivy Team member, Finn was named Player of the Year. He also holds school records for most rushing attempts, rushing yards, and touchdowns in a game. Before being converted permanently into a fullback, Finn briefly played as a safety, even starting a few games as a sophomore. While at Penn, Finn became a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. Finn also attended the Wharton School at Penn and graduated with a degree in finance in 1999.[8][9]

Professional career

[edit]

Pre-draft

[edit]
Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 10 in
(1.78 m)		 228 lb
(103 kg)		 4.62 s 1.63 s 2.68 s 4.21 s 7.18 s 31.5 in
(0.80 m)		 9 ft 0 in
(2.74 m)		 24 reps
All values from NFL Combine.[10]

Playing history

[edit]

Finn was selected as the final pick of the 1999 NFL draft (nicknamed Mr. Irrelevant) by the Chicago Bears.[11] He was waived and spent time on their practice squad. Finn signed with the Indianapolis Colts in early 2000 where he ran for 44 yards in six rushing attempts and 10 receptions over three seasons.[3] In 2003, Finn signed with the New York Giants.[3] In his Giants career, Finn had 21 rushing yards from five attempts. He saw more action as a receiver out of the backfield, with 325 receiving yards and 42 receptions.

In 2005, Finn played in all 16 regular season games with 13 starts including the NFC National Football League playoffs wild card game against the Carolina Panthers. His blocks for Tiki Barber helped Barber rush for a franchise-record 1,860 yards. Finn was primarily a blocking fullback for the Giants.[12]

Finn missed the entire 2007 New York Giants season after being placed on injured reserve. That year, he became a Super Bowl champion when the Giants won Super Bowl XLII. After the season, Finn was cut due to nagging injuries and the emergence of Madison Hedgecock.[13][14][15]

Finn and Brandon Stokley are the only players in NFL history to have caught an offensive pass from both Eli Manning and Peyton Manning.

Personal life

[edit]

He is the son of James and Jane Finn. Finn married actress Rosa Blasi on February 14, 2004, in Maui, Hawaii. They had one daughter Kaia[16] (September 20, 2006) and divorced in 2008.[17][18]

Finn is a resident in Los Angeles County, California. He has also lived in Fair Lawn, New Jersey.[9]

Finn was a named plaintiff in one of the lawsuits filed by former NFL players against the league, alleging that the NFL had failed to warn its players about the risk of long term damage from repeated concussions incurred from playing football.[19]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Jim Finn

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Jim Finn (born 1968) is an American experimental filmmaker and educator specializing in utopian comedies and trompe l'oeil mockumentaries that blend humor, absurdity, and examinations of revolutionary ideologies. Born in to a family of Midwestern Catholic salespeople, Finn's works often construct alternate universes through meticulous, simulations of political and cultural artifacts. Finn's most prominent achievement is his Communist Trilogy—comprising (2006), La Trinchera Luminosa del Presidente Gonzalo (2007), and (2010)—which resides in the permanent collection of the in New York. These films satirize communist regimes and philosophies, from East German space programs to Peruvian Maoist insurgencies and North Korean ideology, employing mock-documentary styles with musical elements and choreographed sequences. His broader includes recent features like The Apocalyptic Is the Mother of All (2023), which reinterprets Pauline theology via cultural ephemera, and The Annotated Field Guide of (2020), alongside shorter works screened at international festivals such as , , BAFICI, Edinburgh, and the . In addition to filmmaking, Finn holds a BA in from the (1990) and an MFA in from (2008), and serves as a professor in the Film/Video Department at . His contributions have earned awards including the Cinema St. Louis Award in 2018 and Best Narrative Feature at the Chicago Underground Film Festival in 2008 for The Idea. Finn's oeuvre privileges empirical reconstruction of ideological artifacts over , fostering viewer engagement through ironic detachment and visual invention.

Early Life and Background

Family and Upbringing

James Finn Jr. was born on December 9, 1976, in . He grew up in , a suburb near the (now ). Finn's parents were Jim and Jane Finn. From childhood, he developed an early passion for football, frequently attending professional games with his father and aspiring to play at that level; at age seven, after watching players, he told his father, "I can do that," receiving the encouraging response, "I know." His mother, Jane, died during Finn's high school years, after which he resided with his sister, who maintained her own family household. This period shaped his transition to greater independence amid family changes, though specific details on additional siblings remain undocumented in available records.

High School Athletic Career

Jim Finn attended in , participating in both football and wrestling during his prep career, graduating in the class of 1995. In football, Finn played as a two-way star and running back for the Crusaders, accumulating 2,305 rushing yards over his high school tenure, a mark that ranks among the program's historical leaders. He earned All-Bergen County recognition as a senior and contributed significantly to the team's success, including carrying them to a New Jersey state championship. Despite these accomplishments, Finn was overlooked by recruiters from major college football programs, leading him to the Ivy League. Finn also excelled in wrestling at Bergen Catholic, becoming a two-time New Jersey state medalist and achieving notable rankings within the program's history.

College Football Career

Recruitment and University of Pennsylvania

Finn attended in , where he excelled as a in football and a wrestler, earning All-State honors in both sports and winning state wrestling championships as a sophomore and junior. At 6 feet tall, he received no Division I-A scholarship offers due to perceptions of limited size and speed, but his strong academic record led to admission at the , an institution without athletic scholarships. A key influence was his high school teammate , a future player who had committed to Penn for football and baseball; DeRosa convinced Finn that the school's athletic program and education aligned with his NFL aspirations despite the lack of financial aid. Finn enrolled at Penn in 1995 and quickly secured the starting fullback position as a freshman, transitioning from defensive back early in his career. Over four seasons with the Penn Quakers (1995–1998), he amassed 2,227 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns, ranking fourth in program history for career rushing at the time. His senior year in 1998 was standout, with 1,450 rushing yards—a single-season school record—17 touchdowns, two-time All-Ivy League selection, and Ivy League Player of the Year honors, culminating in a 6–1 Ivy championship. Finn's versatility included experiments with two-way play, such as in a 1997 game against Columbia where he rushed for 138 yards on 24 carries while contributing defensively. These performances established him as a record-breaker, holding or sharing six Penn marks upon graduation.

On-Field Performance and Records

During his four-year tenure as a fullback for the from 1995 to 1998, Jim Finn amassed 2,227 rushing yards, placing fourth in program history at the time. He earned four varsity letters and contributed significantly to Penn's success, including back-to-back titles in 1997 and 1998. Finn's senior season in 1998 marked his pinnacle, where he set the Penn single-season rushing record with 1,450 yards on 323 carries, averaging 4.5 yards per attempt, and scored 17 rushing touchdowns—a school mark for the Red and Blue. These efforts helped Penn secure the championship with a 35-21 victory over Cornell on November 14, 1998, in which Finn established the new single-season yardage benchmark. Earlier in 1997, as the featured back, he rushed for at least 454 yards on 74 carries through initial games, including three touchdowns in a key matchup. Overall, Finn shattered six Penn records and ranked among the leaders in nine statistical categories, holding the school mark for career rushing attempts while excelling despite the fullback position typically limiting carries in higher divisions. His production underscored a workhorse role adapted to Ivy League competition, where he frequently handled lead blocking alongside rushing duties.

Professional NFL Career

Draft Selection as "Mr. Irrelevant"

Jim Finn was chosen by the as the 253rd and final overall pick in the , held on April 17–18, 1999, in , earning him the annual "" moniker for the last selection in the seven-round event. The Bears selected him as a fullback out of the , where he had compiled 2,227 career rushing yards—fourth in school history—along with All- honors and Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year awards in his junior and senior seasons. Finn's late-round status stemmed from the Ivy League's non-FBS conference affiliation, which typically garners less scouting emphasis compared to major programs, compounded by the fullback position's diminishing perceived value in an era prioritizing skill-position players and passing offenses. At 6 feet 0 inches and 242 pounds, Finn's combine-measurable profile included a 4.72-second and 24 repetitions, metrics adequate for a lead blocker but unremarkable for higher draft priority. The Bears, holding the pick after trading down in the round, viewed him as a potential special teams contributor and short-yardage option, though his college production—holding Penn records for single-game rushing attempts, yards, and touchdowns—suggested untapped durability. The "Mr. Irrelevant" label, coined since 1976 to honor the draft's overlooked finisher, brought Finn immediate publicity, including invitations to events like the Irrelevant Week festivities in , though his professional trajectory ultimately defied the tag through persistence across multiple teams.

Chicago Bears Stint

Finn was selected by the in the seventh round (253rd overall pick) of the , marking him as that year's "Mr. Irrelevant," the nickname given to the draft's final selection. As a fullback from the , he entered training camp competing for a roster spot amid a crowded backfield. The Bears waived Finn on August 30, 1999, during preseason roster cuts, releasing 14 players a day ahead of the deadline to reduce the roster to 73; he was the first of the team's 13 draft picks to be let go. Despite the release, the Bears signed him to their shortly thereafter, where he remained for about one month into the regular season. Finn did not secure a promotion to the active roster and recorded no regular-season statistics or appearances during his brief association with the team.

St. Louis Rams Period

Jim Finn did not play for the during his NFL career, with no records of him signing, being on the roster, or appearing in games for the team. Following his release from the after the 1999 preseason, Finn joined the , where he appeared in 43 games from 2000 to 2002, primarily contributing on special teams and as a blocking fullback with limited offensive statistics: 10 receptions for 44 yards and no rushing attempts or touchdowns. He faced the once during that span, in a 2001 matchup while with the Colts. In 2003, Finn signed with the as a , marking the next phase of his professional tenure.

New York Giants Contribution and Super Bowl Appearance

Finn joined the as a on March 13, 2003, following his release from the . Primarily utilized as a fullback, Finn appeared in 63 regular-season games over four seasons (2003–2006), starting 42 of them. His rushing output was minimal, totaling 5 carries for 21 yards (4.2 average), reflecting his role in blocking rather than carrying the ball. In the passing game, he recorded 50 receptions for 379 yards (7.6 yards per catch) with no touchdowns, often serving as a check-down option for quarterback and providing lead blocks for running back . Finn's blocking was instrumental during Barber's prolific rushing campaigns in 2004 and 2005, when led the with 1,860 yards each season, setting a franchise record for single-season rushing. As the primary fullback, Finn opened lanes through consistent lead blocking, contributing to the Giants' ground attack that averaged over 140 rushing yards per game in those years. His tenure coincided with the team's transition under head coach , where Finn's reliability in short-yardage situations and special teams added depth, though injuries limited his participation in 2006 to 11 starts. Despite not playing in the 2007 regular season or playoffs due to injuries, Finn remained on the Giants' roster and is recognized as a Super Bowl XLII champion for the team's 17–14 upset victory over the New England Patriots on February 3, 2008. This appearance marked the Giants' third Super Bowl title, with Finn earning a championship ring as part of the organization, though he did not suit up for the game.

Post-Football Involvement

Retirement and Transition

Finn retired from the following the 2007 season after eight professional years, having last appeared in games during the 2006 campaign. Chronic injuries, especially to his right , precipitated the end of his career; in June 2007, he underwent for the third time on that joint, compounded by severe , and was placed on injured reserve for the full season. The physical demands of his fullback position, which emphasized blocking over rushing or receiving—evidenced by his career totals of just 423 receiving yards and minimal carries—accelerated wear on his body in later years. This marked Finn's shift from active player to , stepping away from amid a landscape where fullbacks like him were increasingly phased out in favor of spread offenses and specialized roles.

Role in NFL Concussion Litigation

Jim Finn was a named in Finn et al. v. , a filed on December 5, 2011, in the U.S. Court for the . The action, initiated by Finn and 11 other former players including and , alleged that the knowingly concealed the neurological risks of repeated from players during their careers. Claims included , , fraudulent concealment, negligent misrepresentation, and , seeking compensatory and . In the complaint, Finn detailed sustaining his first documented in 2002 while playing for the and a second in 2005 with the , asserting that the provided no meaningful post-injury guidance on potential long-term cognitive or neurological harm. The suit further contended that teams routinely administered Toradol, an NSAID painkiller, to players including Finn before games without disclosing its capacity to mask symptoms and heighten risks of subsequent trauma. Finn's case was consolidated into the broader multidistrict litigation, In re National Football League Players' Concussion Injury Litigation, where he appeared as a plaintiff alongside others. This litigation pressured the NFL toward resolution, culminating in a preliminary $765 million class-action settlement approved in 2013, offering medical monitoring, compensation for diagnosed conditions like dementia and chronic traumatic encephalopathy, and baseline testing for retired players. Finn qualified as a beneficiary under the agreement as a former player with reported concussions.

Personal Life and Controversies

Family and Relationships

Jim Finn married actress on February 14, 2004, in , . The couple had one child together, daughter Kaia Jane Finn, born prematurely on September 20, 2006, weighing 7 pounds 3 ounces and measuring 20 inches long. Their marriage ended in in 2008, amid allegations by Blasi of Finn's . Prior to his marriage, Finn had been with Nichole Van Croft in 1998. Little public information exists regarding Finn's parents or siblings, as he was born and raised in , with limited details on his early family background disclosed in available records.

Divorce Proceedings and Public Allegations

Finn married actress in 2004, and the couple divorced in 2008 after four years of ; they share custody of a daughter born in 2007. In April 2011, Blasi detailed allegations against Finn in her memoir and a RadarOnline interview, claiming he engaged in with prostitutes, abused prescription drugs, and gambled heavily during their , including wagers on games while still an active player. She stated she had been aware of his gambling and prescription drug use throughout their relationship but described the extent as more severe than initially realized. The claims, made three years after the finalized, lacked independent corroboration in and were not tied to formal legal findings from the proceedings, which centered on asset division and rather than criminal charges. Finn did not publicly respond to the specific accusations at the time.

References

  1. https://www.pratt.edu/people/jim-finn/
  2. https://jimfinn.org/about.html
  3. https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/2006/jim-finn
  4. https://thepenngazette.com/being-jim-finn/
  5. https://medium.com/@Kendra_Melinda/jim-finn-finding-his-way-home-17922d5d00ad
  6. https://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/06/sports/pro-football-for-giants-finn-there-s-no-place-like-home.html
  7. https://www.metrowestdailynews.com/story/sports/2007/03/18/whatever-happened-to-jim-finn/41362718007/
  8. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FinnJi00.htm
  9. https://njsportsheroes.com/jimfinnfb.html
  10. https://bergencatholicathletics.org/news/2025/8/22/top-10-individual-feats.aspx
  11. https://www.northjersey.com/story/sports/high-school/football/2022/09/22/bergen-catholic-nj-football-see-our-all-time-team/69500143007/
  12. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/11/sports/football/giants-finn-is-the-anonymous-blocking-back.html
  13. https://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/19/sports/football-a-jets-fan-tries-to-become-a-giant.html
  14. https://www.jerseywrestling.com/profile.php?name=Jim%2BFinn&team=Bergen%2BCatholic
  15. http://www.ivy50.com/story.aspx?sid=11/16/2006
  16. https://mrirrelevant.org/news/the-story-of-penn-alum-jim-finn-from-mr-irrelevant-to-super-bowl-champ
  17. https://pennathletics.com/news/2016/6/27/5771b017e4b0028e72361741_131492845997488329
  18. https://americanfootballdatabase.fandom.com/wiki/Jim_Finn
  19. https://pennathletics.com/news/2005/3/24/5771b017e4b0028e72361741_131492845997488329.aspx
  20. https://www.thedp.com/article/1998/11/finntastic_end_to_ivy_title_run_in_ithaca
  21. https://www.thedp.com/article/1997/11/with_three_tds_finn_again_carried_penn_on_his_shoulders
  22. https://mrirrelevant.org/jim-finn
  23. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35674661/history-mr-irrelevant-nfl-draft-every-final-pick-1976
  24. https://www.nfl.com/photos/a-look-back-at-mr-irrelevant-09000d5d82a4fcda
  25. https://www.chicagotribune.com/1999/08/30/bears-cut-14-players-a-day-early/
  26. https://www.nfl.com/players/jim-finn/stats/career
  27. https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/jim-finn-vs-rams
  28. https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/2006/jim-finn
  29. https://www.si.com/nfl/giants/big-blue-plus/ny-giants-all-quarter-century-team-the-best-53-man-roster-since-2000
  30. https://jimfinnnfl.wordpress.com/about/
  31. https://bigblueinteractive.com/2007/06/14/news-and-notes-6142007-723-am/
  32. https://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/new-jersey/njdce/2:2011cv07067/267683/1
  33. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/group-of-12-former-nfl-players-brings-fresh-lawsuit-against-league-for-covering-up-concussion-risks-during-their-playing-careers-135043833.html
  34. https://www.law.com/thelegalintelligencer/almID/1202534693085/
  35. https://www.thedp.com/blog/buzz/2012/01/ex-giant-and-quaker-jim-finn-suing-nfl-over-head-injury-drug
  36. https://www.law.com/dailybusinessreview/almID/1202534724875/
  37. https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/8413414/in-re-national-football-league-players-concussion-injury-litigation/
  38. https://www.scribd.com/doc/164292387/NFL-Players-Concussion-Settlement
  39. https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nfl/colts/2013/08/29/nfl-reaches-concussion-settlement-with-former-players-including-about-136-former-colts/2727629/
  40. https://people.com/parents/rosa_blasi_welc/
  41. https://www.whosdatedwho.com/dating/jim-finn-and-rosa-blasi
  42. https://www.whosdatedwho.com/dating/jim-finn
  43. https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2011/04/exclusive-interview-actress-rosa-blasi-accuses-her-nfl-star-ex-husband-jim-finn/
  44. https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/rosa-blasi-marries-todd-william-113000464.html
  45. https://www.inquirer.com/philly/entertainment/20110412_Tattle__Jock_takes_a_hit_in_ex-wife_s_book.html
  46. https://corner.bigblueinteractive.com/index.php?mode=2&thread=402258
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.