Jimmy Edwards (gridiron football)

Jimmy Edwards
No. 20
Date of birth (1952-09-19) September 19, 1952
Place of birth Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Career information
CFL status International
Position(s) RB
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 195 lb (88 kg)
College Oklahoma
Louisiana at Monroe
High school Classen High School
Career history
As player
1974 Birmingham Americans - WFL
1975 Shreveport Steamers - WFL
19761978 Hamilton Tiger-Cats - CFL
1979 Minnesota Vikings - NFL
1981 Winnipeg Blue Bombers - CFL
1982 Saskatchewan Roughriders - CFL
Career highlights and awards
CFL All-Star 1976, 1977
CFL East All-Star 1976, 1977
Awards 1977 - CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award
1976, 1977 - Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy
Career stats

Jimmy Edwards (born September 19, 1952) is a former star running back for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League.

Early life

Edwards was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and graduated from Classen High School in Oklahoma City.[1] He married Elaine June Sheets. He played college football at the University of Oklahoma and the University of Louisiana at Monroe.[2]

Professional career

He began his professional career in the WFL in 1974 with the Birmingham Americans. He rushed for 575 yatds on 99 carries and scored 7 TDs, while also catching 11 passes and returning kickoffs. In 1975 he moved to the Shreveport Steamers, where he rushed for only 163 yards on 49 carries and scoring 3 TDs. In the short existence of the WFL Edwards was the 20th all-time leading rusher.

He starred with the Tiger-Cats from 1976 to 1978. He was an all star each season and won the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award in 1977 when he led the league in rushing with 1581 yards. This remained a team record until 2004, when Troy Davis broke it. He also rushed for 1046 yards in 1976, with 7 touchdowns, and for 800 yards in 1978. He finished in Hamilton with 3467 yards on 641 carries.

In 1979 he played 14 games with the NFL's Minnesota Vikings, where he led the league in kickoff return yardage average (25.1 on 44 returns.) He also returned 33 punts, but caught only one pass and did not rush the ball.[3]

He returned to the CFL briefly, playing with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 1981 and the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1982.

References

  1. "Jimmy LaRoy Edwards". databaseFootball.com. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  2. "Jimmy Edwards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  3. "Jimmy Edwards". NFL Enterprises LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
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