He totaled 431 carries for 1714 yards and 10 TDs rushing, to go along with 52 receptions for 561 yards and 5 TDs.
Well lauded, he led the Cowboys in rushing all 3 years, and the team to the Sun Bowl and Sugar Bowl.
Kiick was selected in the 5th round of the 1968 AFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins.
He’d go on to play for the Dolphins for the next seven seasons, where Jim established himself as a wonderful compliment to Larry Czonka in the backfield as a receiver, rusher, and blocker.
In 1969, Kiick led the AFL with 9 rushing TDs.
He’d have a career high 1,155 yards from scrimmage the following year in 1970.
And in 1971, rushed for a career high 738 yards.
Czonka and Kiick were known affectionately as ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ thanks in part to their drunken debauchery on road games.
In each of his first 4 seasons, Kiick had over 1,000 yards from scrimmage.
Over a period of time however, new players such as Mercury Morris and Paul Warfield were introduced to the team, eating into Kiick’s playing time and touches.
He and Larry shocked the football world when in 1975 Jim, Paul, and Larry jumped ship for the World Football League.
They all played for the Memphis Southmen.
Jim ran for 462 yards on 121 carries, scoring 9 TDs, while also catching 25 passes for 259 yards and a TD.
After the league folded, Jim returned to the NFL where he played the ’76 season for the Broncos.
He played the majority of the ’77 season with Denver, and finished out the year with the Redskins.
Jim had a variety of pursuits he chased after his NFL time ended, including private investigation, and owned a self-titled sports promotion company.
ACCOLADES:
Wyoming Athletics Hall of Fame
Pro Bowl 1968, ’69
NOTES:
By the time I was back collecting and targeting this set, Jim had already started deteriorating rapidly from dementia- and he was one of the many players that had been diagnosed with CTE. It made me deeply sad, so I didn’t want to trouble him for his autograph during this private time of his life, even though he was still participating in private signings.
It’s difficult for me to talk about this subject. Care giving for one who is experiencing issues with mental cognition hits home for me. My grandfather suffered from Alzheimer’s near the end of his life in his 90s. He had to be placed into a senior care center. I just remember the last time I saw him, it was my birthday, and he thought I worked for him at the plant- somewhere he hadn’t been to in 30 years.
EPITAPH:
6/20/20- Jim had battled dementia and had been living in a assisted living community. He passed away at the age of 73. It was later confirmed that Kiick had suffered from CTE.
Fran Tarkenton played college ball at Georgia from 1958-’60.
At QB over 3 years he completed 186 of 317 passes for 2100 yards and 18 TDs to 20 INT.
In 1961 was a 3rd round pick of the then expansion Minnesota Vikings.
Came off the bench in his first game and threw for 4 TDs and rushed for another in a comeback win.
Rushed for a career high 5 TDs his rookie year.
His 89 yard completion in 1962 led the NFL.
Displayed his gift for running out of the pocket early on- becoming one of the first modern hybrid scrambling QBs.
In ’64 passed for 2506 yards and 22 TDs to 11 INT as Tarkenton led the Vikings to an 8-5-1 record.
Traded to Giants in 1967.
Threw for a career high 3,088 yards and 29 TDs that year.
Traded back to the Vikings in 1972.
During the 70s, alongside the Purple People Eaters, led the Vikings to two 12-2 records, and a 10-2-1 record enroute to the 3 Super Bowl appearances,
Led NFL in Attempts in 1975, ’76, ’78, completions in ’75 and ’78 and completion percentage in 1977.
Finished out on top in 1978 with 3468 yards passing and retired after the season- his 18th in the NFL
At the time of his retirement, owned many of the NFL career passing records.
Moved into business, public speaking, commentating, acting, wrote self help books, and an annuity market firm.
ACCOLADES:
Georgia Sports Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
All Pro 1975
NFL MVP 1975
NFL Offensive Player of the Year 1875
Pro Bowl 1964-’65, 1967-’70, 1974-’76
Minnesota Vikings 25th Anniversary Team
Minnesota Vikings 40th Anniversary Team
50 Greatest Vikings
Vikings #10 Jersey Retired
Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor
NOTES:
Fran Tarkenton with Cathy Lee Crosby on ‘That’s Incredible’ alongside Hopper the Frog
Fran Tarkenton was a very comfortable voice during my childhood, in which I wasn’t really familiar with him from football post retirement but from his stint as a host on the show ‘That’s Incredible’. It only lasted one season in the 80’s but the format, some of the segments, the hosts and the theme music stuck with me over the years.
