Jim Lee "Earthquake" Hunt (October 5, 1938 – November 22, 1975) was an American 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 a
defensive tackle
A defensive tackle (DT) is a position in American football that typically lines up on the line of scrimmage, opposite one of the Guard (American football), offensive guards; however, he may also line up opposite one of the offensive Tackle (gridir ...
for the
American Football League
The American Football League (AFL) was a major professional American football league that operated for ten seasons from 1960 until 1970, AFL–NFL merger, when it merged with the older National Football League (NFL), and became the American Foot ...
(AFL)'s
Boston Patriots
Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and financial center of New England, a region of the Northeastern United States. It has an area of and a ...
from 1960 through 1969, and for the NFL' Boston Patriots in 1970. He was a four-time
AFL All-Star
The American Football League All-Star game was the annual game which featured each year's best performers in the American Football League (AFL). The game was first played in 1961 and the final AFL All-Star game occurred in 1969, prior to the lea ...
, and was one of only 20 men to play the entire ten years of the AFL. He was used as a defensive end occasionally. 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
Prairie View A&M Panthers.
Professional career
Hunt was drafted out of
Prairie View A&M University
Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU or PV) is a Public university, public Historically black colleges and universities, historically black land-grant university in Prairie View, Texas, United States. Founded in 1876, it is one of Texas's two lan ...
in the 16th round of the
1960 NFL draft
The 1960 NFL draft in which NFL teams take turns selecting amateur college American football players and other first-time eligible players, was held at the Warwick Hotel in Philadelphia on November 30, 1959. Many players, including half of thos ...
by the
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago. The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. They are one of two remaining ...
, but decided to sign as an original member of the
Boston Patriots
Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and financial center of New England, a region of the Northeastern United States. It has an area of and a ...
. He was nicknamed 'Earthquake' because it was said that the ground rumbled when he rushed the passer. He also was the team's fastest defensive lineman.
He was a four-time AFL All-Star and was voted the best pass-rushing tackle in the AFL in 1967.
Hunt recovered fumbles by Cotton Davidson, Al Dorow, Tom Flores, Mickey Slaughter,
Ode Burrell, Darrell Lester, Daryle Lamonica, Steve Tensi, Bobby Burnett, Marlin Briscoe, Bob Cappadona, Robert Holmes, Don Trull and Larry Csonka. He returned a fumble by Don Trull 51 yards in the Patriots 45–17 loss to the Houston Oilers at the Houston Astrodome on December 15, 1968.
He led the team with 9 sacks in 1966 and totaled 29 career sacks of 19 different QB's. He recorded sacks of Frank Tripucka, George Herring, Tom Flores, John Hadl, Jacky Lee, Len Dawson, John McCormick, Jack Kemp, Joe Namath, Don Trull, Max Chobian, Daryle Lamonica, Steve Tensi, Rick Norton, Pete Beathard, Jim LeClair, Bob Griese, Earl Morrall & James Harris.
Hunt holds the AFL Record for the most career fumble recoveries. His number was retired by the team and was inducted into its Hall of Fame. He is a member of the Patriots All-1960s (AFL) Team and played in 142 games during his 12-year career.
His death at a young age was caused from a heart attack.
See also
*
Other American Football League players
External links
New England Patriots bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hunt, Jim
Boston Patriots players
American Football League All-Star players
Players of American football from Texas
Prairie View A&M Panthers football players
1975 deaths
1938 births
American Football League players
NFL players with retired numbers