Contents

Jim Lynch

Linebacker

(1945-08-28)August 28, 1945
Lima, Ohio, U.S.

July 21, 2022(2022-07-21) (aged 76)
Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.

6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)

235 lb (107 kg)

Central Catholic
(Lima, Ohio)

Notre Dame (1964–1966)

1967 / Round: 2 / Pick: 47

191

14

1

James Robert Lynch (August 28, 1945 – July 21, 2022) was an American football linebacker who played in both the American Football League (AFL) and the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, where he was named an All-American and won the Maxwell Award in 1966. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992.

Early life[edit]

Lynch was born in Lima, Ohio.^[1] He graduated from Lima Central Catholic High School in 1963.^[2] Lynch played for the football and basketball teams.^[3][4]

College career[edit]

Lynch played college football at the University of Notre Dame. Leading the Fighting Irishintackles with 108 in 1965 and 106 in 1966, he was the defensive captain of the national champion 1966 Irish team.^[5] He received the Maxwell Award^[6] as the nation's best college football player in 1966. He was also a unanimous All-American selection that year.^[7]

Professional career[edit]

The Kansas City Chiefs selected Lynch in the second round of the 1967 NFL/AFL draft.^[7][8] From 1967 to 1977, Lynch played for the Chiefs as a right outside linebacker, playing alongside middle linebacker Willie Lanier and left outside linebacker Bobby Bell, both Pro Football Hall of Famers.^[9] These linebackers were important elements in the Chiefs' defense in their 1969 championship season, and led the defense in the Chiefs' first Super Bowl victory three years later in their first AFL-NFL World Championship (Super Bowl IV).^[10]

Retiring at the end of the 1977 season, Lynch finished his career with 18 sacks,^[A]17interceptions and 14 fumble recoveries. He also scored one touchdown.^[8][11]

Honors[edit]

Lynch was selected to play in the 1968 AFL All-Star Game.^[12]

In 1988, Lynch was inducted as an inaugural member into the Lima Central Catholic Hall of Fame for athletic achievement.^[13] In 1990, Lynch was inducted into the Chiefs' Hall of Fame.^[14] He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992.^[15] In 2006, Lynch was interviewed for the NFL Network documentary America's Game: The Super Bowl Champions chronicling the 1969 Kansas City Chiefs AFL and World Championship season.^[16]

Personal life[edit]

Lynch and his wife had three children.^[8] His older brother, Tom, was a center and captain for the 1963 Navy football team.^[7]

Lynch died on July 21, 2022, at the age of 76.^[17]

Explanatory notes[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Jim Lynch at the College Football Hall of Fame
• Career statistics and player information from Pro Football Reference · 

• Head coach: Ara Parseghian

• Assistant coaches: John Ray
• Doc Urich
• Joe Yonto

• Head coach: Ara Parseghian

• Assistant coaches: John Ray
• Jerry Wampfler
• Joe Yonto