Jim Kanicki

James Henry Kanicki (born December 17, 1941) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants. He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans and was selected in the second round of the 1963 NFL draft. Kanicki was also selected in the seventh round of the 1963 AFL draft by the Buffalo Bills.

Kanicki was born on December 17, 1941, in Bay City, Michigan. He attended Bay City Central High School where he was an All-state football player. He excelled on both the offensive and defensive lines. Kanicki was twice named a Class A All-State center (1957-58).

Kanicki also played basketball and threw the shot put in high school. In 1975, he was inducted in the Bay City Central High School Alumni Hall of Fame; and in 1993, he was inducted in the Bay County Sports Hall of Fame.

Kanicki attended Michigan State University, where he was a star football player. He played center and defensive tackle on the football team (1960-62), wearing No. 69. He played under head coach Duffy Daugherty. One of Kanicki's offensive linemates during his college career was All-American and future NFL All Pro Ed Budde (1960-62).

He was selected to play in the Blue-Gray Game in December 1962, and the Senior Bowl in January of 1963. Kanicki was the star of the Blue-Gray Game, recovering two fumbles, blocking a punt, while also kicking a 40-yard field goal and an extra point. He also played in the 1963 Chicago College All-Star game, when the college players defeated the Packers in what Vince Lombardi called his most embarrassing loss as a coach.

The Cleveland Browns selected Kanicki in the second round of the 1963 NFL draft, 23rd overall. The Buffalo Bills selected Kanicki in the 7th round of the 1963 AFL draft, 52nd overall. He chose to play for Cleveland, though he had initially signed with the Bills. The Bills contract was declared invalid since Kanicki was not 21 when he signed it. As a rookie in 1963, Kanicki played in 13 games, but started in only one game, as a backup to Pro Bowl tackle Bob Gain and Frank Parker.

Kanicki started nine games in 1964 at right defensive tackle, replacing Parker. He improved under the tutelage of fellow defensive tackle Dick Modzelewski, a 12-year veteran who had come to Cleveland that year from the New York Giants, and replaced Gain at left tackle (after Gain broke his leg). Kanicki had looked terrible in his early games, but improved significantly under Modzelewski's guidance throughout the year.

Kanicki played an important part in the Browns 1964 NFL championship victory over the Baltimore Colts. He would be facing Colts future hall of fame offensive guard Jim Parker, and it was anticipated that this matchup would strongly favor the Colts. Instead, Kanicki and Modzelewski provided a strong inside rush against the Colts, that forced Colts hall of fame quarterback Johnny Unitas into hurrying his passes. Colts hall of fame coach Don Shula said that the Browns entire defensive line, Kanicki, Modzelewski, Bill Glass and Paul Wiggin, dominated the Colts that day. Kanicki had .5 quarterback sacks in the game, and Glass 1.5.