CARDS: Topps 1970, Upper Deck College Legends 2011 ACQUIRED: TTM 2020, C/o Home SENT: 11/25/20 RECEIVED: 12/3/20 (8 days)
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Lee Roy Jordan was a star linebacker and center at the University of Alabama from 1960-’62.
6th overall pick by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1963 NFL Draft, and the 11th overall pick by the Boston Patriots in the AFL Draft.
Signed with Cowboys where they immediately started him at weakside linebacker.
In 1965 took over the middle linebacking roles full time.
Had a team record 21 tackles against Eagles in 1971.
That same year, intercepted Ken Anderson THREE times during the first quarter of a game, returning one for a TD.
Over career tallied 32 picks, returning 3 for TDs, including a career high 6 in 1973 and ’75.
Retired as the franchise’s all time leading solo tackler (743, since surpassed).
Started a franchise record 154 consecutive starts.
Retired after the 1976 season.
ACCOLADES:
College Football Hall of Fame
Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor
2nd Team All Pro 1969, ’73
Pro Bowl 1967-’69, ’73-’74
Alabama Sports Hall of Fame
PFRA Hall of Very Good
Cowboys Silver Season All-Time Team
NFC Defensive Player of the Year 1973
NOTES:
Lee Roy Jordan was an excellent player, who despite his size, excelled at the pro level with desire and hunger for the game. Jordan studied film relentlessly and also ran Tom Landry‘s Flex defense. He’s absolutely another player that should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
EPITAPH:
8/30/25- Lee Roy Jordan passed away at the age of 84 today. In the days leading up to this date, Jordan’s family had been sending back mail to fans indicating that he was too sick to sign. At the time of his passing, he was Alabama’s oldest living All-American.
Tim Couch played QB for the Kentucky Wildcats from 1996-’98.
In ’97 he led the FBS in Attempts (547), Completions (363), Completion percentage (66.4%), yards (3,884), and yards per game (353.1).
He’d have an equally impressive ’98 leading the conference or FBS in Attempts, Completions, completion percentage, yards, TD, yards per game, and QB rating- setting numerous conference and school records.
Was the first overall pick of the 1999 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns- who were restarting after the team moved to Baltimore a few years prior.
Couch had a rough outing with the ‘expansion’ Browns- but there were high points, including leading the team to the playoffs in 2002.
A broken leg opened the door for Kelly Holcomb and from there he battled Kelly for the remainder of his playing career.
His best statistical season came in 2001, starting all 16 games under center, Tim threw for 3,040 yards and completed 272 of 454 passes with 17 TDs.
After the 2003 season where he started just 8 games, Couch signed with the Packers in ’04, but failed to make the team due to a torn rotator cuff.
He attempted to make a comeback with various tryouts with teams, over the next few years, and sat out a year rehabbing his injured shoulder.
Signed with the Jaguars in 2007, but was released from the team before the regular season, effectively ending his comeback.
Couch has remained close to the game he loves, and moved into analyst and color work for FOX Sports.
He also spent time calling preseason games in 2018 for the Browns.
ACCOLADES:
College Football Hall of Fame
PFWA All-Rookie Team
NOTES:
I was able to slip into a small window when Tim was signing and get these two autographed. At some point as I was updating the encyclopedia and setting up future posts, I published this as a blank. I saw a success on him after many years recently and it got me thinking about what I had on Tim, so after digging in the database I found the empty file.
Tim played wounded throughout a good portion of his career and his body paid for it on the field. One wonders if his career would’ve turned out differently if he had been drafted by a team that had a decent offensive line.
Dan Hampton played DT at the University of Arkansas from 1975-’78.
Over college career tabbed 237 total tackles, 32 tackles for loss and recovered 6 fumbles.
Selected in the first round (4th overall) of the 1979 Draft by the Chicago Bears.
In 1980 had 11.5 sacks, 73 total tackles, and 2 forced fumbles.
During the 1981 season, sacked the Saints a career game high 3 times.
Despite constant double teams, managed 11.5 sacks, 54 total tackles, and 3 fumble recoveries in ’84.
Had a sack and a fumble recovery in the Bears Super Bowl XX win.
Tied a career high with 3 sacks against the Packers in ’86.
Started both end and tackle over career and saw nose action in nickel situations in the 4-6 defense.
Played in 12 seasons, and started more games than any other Bear at the time (151)- but suffered 10 knee surgeries.
Retired after the 1990 season.
ACCOLADES:
Razorbacks All-Decade Team 1970s
University of Arkansas All Century Team
College Football Hall of Fame
Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
University of Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame
PFWA All-Rookie Team
PFW Defensive Player of the Year 1982
SWC Player of the Year 1978
100 Greatest Bears Player of All-Time
All Pro 1984
Second Team AP 1982, ’85, ’86, ’88
Pro Bowl 1980, ’82, ’94, ’85
NFL 1980s All Decade Team
NOTES:
Along with Sid Luckman, Dan is the only Bear to have played in 3 decades (70s-90s). He appears in both Tecmo Bowl and Tecmo Super Bowl as a member of the Chicago Bears.
After striking out on Dan twice before, I luckily had reloaded in time to get him on these two cards.
TAC
SAC
FUM
INT
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
653
82.0
10
0
0
-.-
0
-.-
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
