James Michael Lachey (born June 4, 1963) is an American former professional
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
player who was an
offensive tackle
Offensive may refer to:
* Offensive (military), type of military operation
* Offensive, the former name of the Dutch political party Socialist Alternative
* Fighting words, spoken words which would have a tendency to cause acts of violence by the ...
for 10 seasons in the
National Football League
The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...
(NFL) with the
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers were a professional American football team in the National Football League (NFL). The Chargers played in San Diego, California from 1961 until 2016, before relocating back to the Greater Los Angeles area, where the franch ...
,
Los Angeles Raiders
The Los Angeles Raiders were a professional American football team of the National Football League (NFL). The Raiders played in Los Angeles from 1982 to 1994 before relocating back to Oakland, California, where the team played from its inaugural ...
, and
Washington Redskins
The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East ...
. He was selected by the Chargers in the first round of the
1985 NFL draft
The 1985 NFL draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The NFL draft, draft was held April 30 and May 1, 1985 NFL season, 1985, at the Omni Park Central Hotel in New York City, New ...
with the 12th overall pick.
He played
college football
College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...
for the
Ohio State Buckeyes
The Ohio State Buckeyes are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Ohio State University, located in Columbus, Ohio. The athletic programs are named after the colloquial term for people from the state of Ohio and after the state tree, ...
, earning
All-American
The All-America designation is an annual honor bestowed on outstanding athletes in the United States who are considered to be among the best athletes in their respective sport. Individuals receiving this distinction are typically added to an Al ...
honors.
He was a three-time
Pro Bowl
The National Football League All-Star Game (1939–1942), Pro Bowl (1951–2022), or Pro Bowl Games (since 2023) is an annual event held by the National Football League (NFL) featuring the league's All-star, star players.
The format has changed ...
player in
1987
Events January
* January 1 – Bolivia reintroduces the Boliviano currency.
* January 2 – Chadian–Libyan conflict – Battle of Fada: The Military of Chad, Chadian army destroys a Libyan armoured brigade.
* January 3 – Afghan leader ...
with the Chargers, and
1990
Important events of 1990 include the Reunification of Germany and the unification of Yemen, the formal beginning of the Human Genome Project (finished in 2003), the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope, the separation of Namibia from South ...
and
1991
It was the final year of the Cold War, which had begun in 1947. During the year, the Soviet Union Dissolution of the Soviet Union, collapsed, leaving Post-soviet states, fifteen sovereign republics and the Commonwealth of Independent State ...
with the Redskins as a member of "
the Hogs." He helped the Redskins win
Super Bowl XXVI
Super Bowl XXVI was an American football game between the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Washington Redskins and the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Buffalo Bills to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion f ...
. He was also a three-time All-Pro selection.
After his playing career, he became a radio analyst for Ohio State football.
Personal life
Lachey later became a broadcaster and wrote a book called ''Jim Lachey: The Ultimate Protector''.
Lachey has been a radio broadcaster for Buckeyes football games since 1997.
His son
Luke, currently a tight end on the
Iowa Hawkeyes football
The Iowa Hawkeyes football program represents the University of Iowa in college football. The Hawkeyes compete in the Big Ten Conference. Iowa joined the Conference (then known as the Western Conference or Big Nine) in 1899 and played their first ...
team, says Jim encouraged him to make his own college decision, "pick wherever I want to go, it’s not about anyone else.”
For Luke's final college home game on Friday, November 29, 2024, Lachey traveled to Iowa to watch his son play and initially planned to miss the Michigan–Ohio State game of November 30, which would have broken a streak of 357 consecutive Buckeyes games called. After news of Lachey's streak ending became public knowledge, Ohio State head coach
Ryan Day arranged a private flight for Lachey to return to Columbus in time for the Ohio State game.
Lachey was on the Buckeyes radio broadcast on November 30, his 358th consecutive game called.
Lachey coached for the Columbus Destroyers during their run to the XXI Arena Bowl in 2007.
Awards and honors
NCAA
*1984 First-team All-American
NFL
*Three-time NFL
All-Pro
All-Pro is an honor bestowed upon professional American football players that designates the best player at each position during a given season. All-Pro players are typically selected by press organizations, who select an "All-Pro team," a list t ...
First-team
*Three-time
NFL Pro Bowl selection
*
Super Bowl XXVI
Super Bowl XXVI was an American football game between the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Washington Redskins and the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Buffalo Bills to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion f ...
winner (as a member of the
Washington Redskins
The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East ...
)
References
External links
*http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/LachJi00.htm
*https://web.archive.org/web/20101028132857/http://www.buckeyesportspage.com/live/content/info/staff.html
1963 births
Living people
All-American college football players
American Conference Pro Bowl players
American football offensive tackles
College football announcers
Los Angeles Raiders players
National Conference Pro Bowl players
Ohio State Buckeyes football players
Ohio State Buckeyes football announcers
People from St. Henry, Ohio
Sportspeople from Mercer County, Ohio
Players of American football from Ohio
San Diego Chargers players
Washington Redskins players
20th-century American sportsmen
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