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.
Billy Kilmer played at UCLA from 1958-’60 where he played RB and QB.
In 1960, he led the conference with 163 rushes for 803 yards and 8 TDs, while also throwing for 1086 yards and 8 TDs.
Billy finished his college career with 307 carries for 1386 yards and 12 TDs, to go along with 1881 yards passing on 109/255 passes, and 15 TDs to 13 interceptions.
In 1961, Billy was the 11th selection of the San Fransisco 49ers, and a 5th round pick of the Chargers- but opted to sign with SF.
He’d run for 509 yards and 10 TDs his rookie year.
After a leg injury ended his 1962 season, and completely wiped his 1963 campaign, he returned to the ‘9ers in 1964.
Saw no action in 1965- and was involved in a salary dispute the following year, leading to him being exposed in the NFL Expansion Draft.
Selected by the New Orleans Saints in 1967.
Played 4 seasons for the Saints, posting an 11-28 record.
Threw for 20 TDs (17 INT) and a career high 2,532 yards in 1969.
Traded to Washington Redskins in 1970.
Fought with Sonny Jurgensen over the starting role for throughout his Redskin career.
He’d lead the NFL in TDs with 19, and 8.4 yards per completion in 1972.
In 1974, rookie Joe Theismann was added to the mix and battled Billy for the starting role.
Threw a 96 yard TD and a career high 25 TDs in 1975.
Retired after the 1978 season, having played 18 seasons and in 170 games at the grand old age of 38.
ACCOLADES:
College Football Hall of Fame
New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame
Washington Redskins Ring of Fame
80 Greatest Redskins of All Time
Pro Bowl 1972
Comeback Player of the Year 1976
NOTES:
I had gotten Billy on his Topps 1970 and his Upper Deck Legends 1997 cards and then realized that he appeared in the Legends Memorable Moments subset alongside Bob Lilly. Unwilling to pay the outrageous price for the card I waited this one out until I was able to get it for just a dollar or two and sent this along with the other Topps entries out to him. A consistent and kind signer, he returned both groups in just 9 days flat.
Billy has always battled adversity in his life, whether from alcohol, where he got the nickname Ol Whiskey from his time in New Orleans, or a devastating leg injury he suffered early in his career in San Fransisco.
Jim Otto played center and linebacker at the University of Miami, FL.
He was selected by the proposed AFL Minnesota team in 1960.
When the Minnesota team joined the NFL instead, his rights fell to the Oakland Raiders.
Jim went on to play the entire 10 years of the AFL as the Raiders starting center.
He’d then play an additional FIVE more for the Raiders after the AFL and NFL merged.
Considered one of the finest- if not the finest center to play the game, Jim was showered with accolades throughout his career.
He was the last original Oakland Raider to retire- after the 1974 season.
Started 210 contests over his career.
Jim is equally well known as the most famous player to wear the number ’00’.
ACCOLADES:
First Team All- AFL 1960-’65, ’67-’69
Second Team All- AFL 1966
AFL All-Star 1961-’69
Pro Bowl 1970-’72
All Pro 1970
Second Team All Pro 1972
All Time AFL Team
NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame and Museum 1972
Wisconsin Sports Hall of Fame 1998
Pro Football Hall of Fame 1980
NOTES:
I wrote Jim back in 2020, and like many of the autographs during the COVID blitz- they got lost in the shuffle. Then as I got around to this post I kept kicking it further down, thinking I’d get him again on another card or two at that point. His fee also was just a modest $10 per card.
Both of these are sets that I really like. This classy 1970 Topps card with him popping a block with a smile is pretty iconic. The Upper Deck Legends turned into a set need around this time, and the silver sharpie touch was really nice of him.
Jim notably also suffered from more than SEVENTY operations due to his time playing football, and eventually had his right leg amputated in 2007, and almost died twice from post-surgery infections. Jim is a cautionary tale of ‘playing through pain’. He is said to have lived in constant pain over the last few years of his life- but remained a steadfast defendant of the sport.
EPITAPH:
5/19/2024- Jim Otto passed away at the grand old age of 86 in Aurora, Ca. No cause of death was given.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
