Jim Turner
No. 11, 15
Position:Placekicker
Personal information
Born:(1941-03-28)March 28, 1941
Crockett, California, U.S.
Died:June 10, 2023(2023-06-10) (aged 82)
Arvada, Colorado, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school:John Swett (Crockett)
College:Utah State
NFL Draft:1963 / Round: 19 / Pick: 259
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Field goals:304/488 (.623)
Extra points:521/543 (.959)
Points scored:1,439
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

James Bayard Turner (March 28, 1941 – June 10, 2023) was an American professional football player who was a placekicker in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL) for the New York Jets and the Denver Broncos. He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection with the Jets and a member of their Super Bowl III championship team. Turner was chosen for the AFL All-Time Second-team and the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame.

Career

Turner was born and raised in Crockett, California.[1][2] He graduated from John Swett High School in 1959. He played for the football team as a quarterback and was also a freestyle swimmer.[2] Turner attended Utah State University, where he played college football for the Utah State Aggies as both a quarterback and placekicker.[3]

The Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL) selected Turner in the 19th round of the 1963 NFL Draft.[4] He signed with the Redskins,[5] but failed a tryout with the Redskins and was released. Turner signed with the New York Jets of the American Football League (AFL) as a free agent in 1964.[6] He set then-league records with single-season totals of 145 points and 34 field goals in 1968.[1][7][8] Turner kicked for nine points, making two of three field goals, in the AFL Championship Game win over the Oakland Raiders.[9][10] He had 10 points in the Jets' 16–7 defeat of the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III.[11][12] He was named to the Pro Bowl in 1968 and 1969.[13]

Following the 1970 season the Jets traded Turner to the Denver Broncos for Bobby Howfield.[8] He scored four points in the Broncos' losing effort in Super Bowl XII against the Dallas Cowboys, connecting on a 47-yard field goal and an extra point following a touchdown run by Rob Lytle.[14][15]

Turner finished his career with 304 of 488 (62%) field goals and 521 of 534 extra points, giving him 1,439 total points.[13] Upon his retirement, he ranked second in field goals in NFL history, with only a fellow AFL veteran in George Blanda having more; Turner now ranks in the top 35 for kickers four decades after his career ended. [16][17] He did not miss a game, playing in 228 consecutive contests.[11] His single-season scoring record was broken by Mark Moseley in 1983, and Ali Haji-Sheikh broke Turner's field goal record the same season.[1] He was inducted into the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame in 1988[18] and the Utah State University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013.[3]

Broadcasting career

In 1981, Turner joined NBC Sports as a color commentary sportscaster.[19]

Personal life

Turner's wife, Mary Kay, is from El Sobrante, California.[2] They had three daughters and lived in Arvada, Colorado.[17]

Turner died in Arvada, Colorado from heart failure on June 10, 2023, at the age of 82.[20][21]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Traub, Alex (June 14, 2023). "Jim Turner, Who Kicked the Jets Into Super Bowl History, Dies at 82". The New York Times. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Staff, S. I. "THE FACE OF AN EDUCATED TOE". Sports Illustrated Vault | SI.com.
  3. 1 2 Denniston, Wade (September 9, 2013). "Turner humbled to be part of USU Hall of Fame". The Herald Journal.
  4. ↑ Stann, Francis (December 7, 1962). "Snead Must Learn Boo Is A Misleading Word". The Evening Star. Retrieved June 14, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "The News and Observer 23 May 1963, page 31". Newspapers.com. May 23, 1963. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Jets Sign Jim Turner As New Place‐Kicker – The New York Times". The New York Times. March 24, 1964. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Former Utah State Player Unsung Hero For N.Y. Jets". Ogden Standard Examiner. UPI. October 26, 1969. p. 4C. Retrieved June 14, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. 1 2 Anderson, Dave (January 28, 1971). "Jets Send Turner to Broncos for Howfield in Deal for Kicking Specialists – The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  9. ↑ Lange, Randy (June 13, 2023). "Jets Super Bowl III Kicker Jim Turner Dies at 82". NewYorkJets.com. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  10. ↑ "1968 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  11. 1 2 David, Michael (June 12, 2023). "Jim Turner, who kicked three field goals in Jets' Super Bowl III win, dies at 82 – ProFootballTalk". Profootballtalk.nbcsports.com. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Super Bowl III – New York Jets vs. Baltimore Colts – January 12th, 1969". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  13. 1 2 "Jim Turner Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  14. ↑ Moss, Irv (June 18, 2016). "Even loss to Cowboys didn't ruin Broncos initial trip to Super Bowl". Denver Post. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Super Bowl XII – Denver Broncos vs. Dallas Cowboys – January 15th, 1978". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  16. ↑ "NFL Career Field Goals Made Leaders Through 1979". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  17. 1 2 Walker, Bill (July 1, 1988). "A DIFFERENT KICK : Former NFL Placekicker Jim Turner Now Knocks Around a Racquetball". Los Angeles Times.
  18. ↑ "Where Are They Now: Jim Turner". Denver Broncos. Archived from the original on December 9, 2017. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  19. ↑ Walz, Steve K. (November 1, 1981). "Broadcasting's a new kick for Turner". Wichita Falls Times. Sunday Magazine, p. 26. Retrieved June 14, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ↑ Traub, Alex (June 15, 2023). "Jim Turner, Who Kicked the Jets Into Super Bowl History, Dies at 82". The New York Times. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Broncos, Jets kicking great Jim Turner dies at 82". 9news.com. January 1, 1978. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
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