Jim Nance

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Nance was the son of a Pennsylvania coal miner, who had nine other children. He attended Indiana High School in Indiana, Pennsylvania, where he was a two-time Pennsylvania heavyweight wrestling champion in 1960 and 1961. It is said that the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) added the heavyweight class to accommodate Nance, who was too large for their highest weight class in 1959, which was 185 pounds. Starting for three years at Syracuse University, Nance tied the school record for career touchdowns and led the Orangemen football team in rushing in 1964, scoring in ten straight games. Nance also was a collegiate wrestler at Syracuse, winning the NCAA wrestling national championship at heavyweight in 1963 and 1965. He went 43-1 as a wrestler. He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2007. Nance was a 19th round selection of the Boston Patriots in the 1965 AFL draft as well as a fourth round selection of the Chicago Bears in the 1965 NFL draft. Apparently, Patriots owner Billy Sullivan lobbied pretty hard for Nance to his friend and Syracuse coach Ben Schwartzwalder. Nance signed with the Patriots. His rookie season was generally unimpressive, with one outlet calling him a poor pass blocker. However, he would go on to lead the AFL in rushing the next two seasons, which saw him slim down from 245 to 235. He went on to become the only AFL player ever to rush for more than 1,400 yards in a season. He is still the only Patriot to win a rushing title. At 6-1 and 260 pounds, Nance was a powerful fullback who carried 299 times in 1966, for 11 touchdowns and 1,458 yards. That season, he rushed for 208 yards and two touchdowns in a 24–21 victory over the Oakland Raiders. Nance was an American Football League All-Star that year and then became the unanimous selection for the league's Most Valuable Player award (the AP vote saw him win 20 of the 27 votes). He was the last Patriot to be named an MVP for over three decades. He was an All-Star again in 1967 when he became the only AFL player to have consecutive seasons with over 1,000 yards, this time 1,216. Ankle troubles in 1968 (which started in preseason) ended up being the first of various maladies that plagued his later years of his career. He retired as the Patriots' all-time leader in rushing touchdowns with 45, a record he still holds. Nance was ordered to do active duty fo

In Their Own Story

By 1968, Nance's body began to break down. Ankle troubles starting in preseason signaled a series of maladies that would plague his later years. He also launched a scholarship fund drive for African Americans aspiring to become lawyers. Despite these off-field contributions and his status as the Patriots' all-time rushing touchdown leader with 45, his playing days were dwindling. In the 1972 offseason, he requested a trade but refused a move to the Philadelphia Eagles, resulting in his release in July; he sat out the entire year while holding the record as the 11th leading rusher of all-time. Even after retirement, his loyalty endured; during the 1986 playoffs leading to Super Bowl XX, he was noted as an ardent fan of the Patriots.

Reader's Guide

Jim Nance was a powerful fullback for the Boston Patriots, leading the AFL in rushing in 1966 and 1967. He was the only AFL player to rush for over 1,400 yards in a season and remains the only Patriot to win a rushing title. He was named AFL MVP in 1966 and is a member of the Patriots Hall of Fame.

Did You Know?

• Nance was a two-time NCAA wrestling national champion at heavyweight (1963 and 1965) and went 43-1 as a collegiate wrestler.
• He slimmed down from 245 to 235 pounds before leading the AFL in rushing.
• He is the all-time leading rusher in the World Football League with 2,007 yards.
• Nance was the last Patriot to be named an MVP for over three decades.