Jimmy Harris (defensive back)
Jimmy Harris (defensive back)
Main page

Jimmy Harris (defensive back)

logo
Community Hub0 subscribers
What are your thoughts?
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Jimmy Harris (defensive back)

James Bedford Harris (November 12, 1934 – August 9, 2011) was an American football defensive back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, and Dallas Cowboys. He also was a member of the Dallas Texans in the American Football League (AFL). He played college football at the University of Oklahoma.

Harris, who was born in Terrell, Texas and attended Terrell High School, where he led the football team to state championship in 1953. Although he originally committed to Texas A&M University, to play for head coach Bear Bryant, head coach Bud Wilkinson convinced him to come to the University of Oklahoma, after getting him a job as a roughneck in the Oklahoma oil fields.

He played college football at the University of Oklahoma, where he was the starting quarterback during much of the Oklahoma Sooners' famed 47-game winning streak.

Harris went undefeated after becoming quarterback during the 1954 season, after starter Gene Calame suffered a right collar bone injury. He also was undefeated during the 1955 and 1956 seasons, leading the Sooners to national championships in both years.

He won all of his 25 starts, finishing with 39 completions out of 80 attempts for 745 yards, 10 passing touchdowns, 254 rushing attempts for 1,237 yards and 11 touchdowns.

In 2013, he was inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame.

Harris was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round (50th overall) of the 1957 NFL draft. As a rookie, he was converted into a defensive back. On May 26, 1958, he was traded along with offensive tackle Buck Lansford and a number one draft choice (#2-Dick Bass), to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for quarterback Norm Van Brocklin.

In 1958, he appeared in 12 games, tallying 4 interceptions. In 1960, he was traded to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a 1962 fifth round draft choice (#60-Jim Smith).

See all
User Avatar
No comments yet.