Former Texas standout, NFL No. 1 overall pick Kenneth Sims has died at 65
The University of Texas said Sims died on March 21 at his home.
Sims' death came after a brief illness, according to the National Football Foundation, but no further information was provided. He became a National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Famer in 2021.
A Kosse, Texas, native, Sims shined as a defensive tackle for Texas from 1978 to 1981 and was an AP All-American selection in 1980 and 1981. He was an unanimous All-American pick in 1981, the same season that the Longhorns finished 10-1-1, beat Alabama in the Cotton Bowl, and finished ranked No. 2 in the final AP poll.
Over his final two college seasons Sims totaled 241 tackles, 21 sacks, 40 tackles for loss, 11 forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries.
His efforts helped him become the first Longhorns player to receive the Lombardi Award, given to the nation's best collegiate lineman, in 1981.
Sims was selected with the top pick in the 1982 NFL draft by the New England Patriots. He was selected to the 1982 all-rookie team and spent his entire career in New England, but had trouble duplicating the production he had at the collegiate level.
His best NFL season was in 1985 when he had 5 1/2 sacks in 13 games, helping the Patriots reach Super Bowl 20, where they lost to the Chicago Bears. But Sims didn't play in that game after suffering a broken leg in the regular season.
A funeral service will be held on April 5 in Kosse, Texas.
___
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Cowboys sign TE Jake Ferguson to $52M deal as Micah Parsons continues without extension
The Dallas Cowboys got a deal done at training camp, but not the one fans are looking for. The Cowboys announced Sunday morning that they have signed tight end Tony Ferguson to a four-year, $52 million extension. All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons, meanwhile, remains without a deal as he seeks an extension entering the final year of his rookie contract. The deal for Ferguson makes him the highest-paid tight end in Cowboys history and the seventh-highest paid tight end in the NFL, according to the Cowboys. He signed the extension with one year remaining on his four-year rookie contract that scheduled to pay him $3.4 million in 2025. A fourth-round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, Ferguson was a part-time starter as a rookie and has been Dallas' No. 1 tight end in the two seasons since. He emerged as one of quarterback Dak Prescott's favorite targets in 2023 with 71 catches for 761 yards and five touchdowns. Ferguson's production dropped last season as he tallied 59 catches for 494 yards without a touchdown. That still led Cowboys tight ends and was the good for the third-highest production among all Cowboys pass catchers behind CeeDee Lamb and Jalen Tolbert. The Cowboys bolstered their receiving corps with the addition of former Pittsburgh Steeler George Pickens in the offseason. Ferguson projects to remain as a top target for Prescott. Jerry Jones jeered by fans over lack of Parsons progress Parsons, meanwhile remains without a contract extension as the Cowboys prepare to practice in pads for the first time on Sunday. The absence of his extension remains the top story at Cowboys camp and one of the biggest training camp stories in the NFL. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was greeted with boos and calls from fans to "pay Micah" as he addressed fans during a public training camp session on Saturday. Jones' address to fans took place days after his Monday news conference in which he swiped at the availability of both Parsons and quarterback Dak Prescott while addressing Parsons' contract status at the start of training camp. Just because we sign him doesn't mean we're going to have him," Jones said of Parsons. "He was hurt six games last year. Seriously. I remember signing a player for the highest-paid at the position in the league and he got knocked out two-thirds of the year — Dak Prescott. "So there's a lot of things you can think about, just as the player does, when you're thinking about committing and guaranteeing money.' Parsons was not "hurt six games last year." He missed four of 17 games with injury. In his previous three seasons, Parsons played in 50 of 51 regular-season Cowboys games. He's a three-time All-Pro and has made the Pro Bowl after each of his four seasons. Parsons is seeking a deal that will make him among the highest-paid defenders in football after fellow All-Pro pass rushers Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt signed contracts in the offseason paying them $40-plus million per season. Watt signed a three-year, $123 million extension ahead of Steelers training camp that set the new bar. Parsons reported to training camp without his extension, but has been a limited participant since practices started on Tuesday. He watched Wednesday's session from the sideline with back tightness, but declined to call himself a hold-in. Training camp escalates in intensity starting Sunday as the Cowboys practice in pads for the first time.
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Rashawn Slater agrees to four-year, $114-million deal with the Chargers
Rashawn Slater, a former first-round draft pick and one of the leaders on the Chargers offensive line, is staying in L.A. for the long haul. Slater has agreed to a four-year, $114-million contract extension, according to a person with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly, making him the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history. Slater, a two-time Pro Bowl selection and a second-team All-Pro in 2021, will be paid out $92 million guaranteed, ESPN and NFL Media reported. Read more: Is Tuli Tuipulotu the next Joey Bosa for the Chargers? Edge rusher 'does it all' Working as Justin Herbert's blindside protector, Slater started every game last season and played a valuable role in helping the Chargers set a franchise record for the fewest offensive turnovers (eight) in a season. He finished last season with the second-best overall grade and the third-best pass-blocking grade at offensive tackle, per Pro Football Focus. Slater's tireless efforts certainly won over Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh, who has Slater in his exclusive "Elite Nine" club on the team that includes stars Khalil Mack, Derwin James Jr. and Herbert, among others. 'Speaking on behalf of everyone in the organization, fully support Rashawn and what he's trying to accomplish for himself and his family,' said Harbaugh last month about Slater's push for a contract extension. 'We're all in support.' Times staff writers Sam Farmer and Thuc Nhi Nguyen contributed to this report. Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Right tackle Jawaan Taylor returns to practice as Chiefs put pads on for first time in training camp
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs right tackle Jawaan Taylor made his training camp debut after missing their first four practices because of a knee injury, and he was right in the mix with the starters Sunday as they put on pads for the first time. Backup tight end Tre Watson, who also had been out with a groin injury, passed his physical and joined Taylor on the field. Taylor has started all 33 regular-season games he has played for Kansas City over the past two seasons. But his blocking metrics coupled with a propensity for penalties mean his job is far from secure. The Chiefs signed backup 49ers tackle Jaylon Moore to a two-year, $30 million deal and used their first-round draft pick on Ohio State standout Josh Simmons. After the first week of camp, Simmons appears to have the inside track on the left tackle job, which was a problem position for the Chiefs all of last season. So when Taylor returned, it was in a rotation with Moore for first-team snaps on Sunday. 'We're getting back in the swing. He hasn't done anything," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said of Taylor, who showed up on the injury report with knee trouble much of last season and had offseason surgery. 'But all three are kind of competing there.' Reid said he was pleased with the way Simmons looked in his first padded practice. There was some question about whether he would even be ready for camp after tearing his patellar tendon in a game with the Buckeyes last season. 'He did some good things. I wasn't focusing on him the whole time, but I thought he did some good things,' Reid said. 'He's a work in progress. He has to keep working. Young guy.' Meanwhile, Reid said cornerback Kristian Fulton had a procedure to 'clean out' his knee in the spring, which is why he remains on the physically unable to perform list. The Chiefs gave him a two-year, $20 million deal in March. Rookie tight end Jake Briningstool also did not practice Sunday because of a hamstring injury. ___ AP NFL: Dave Skretta, The Associated Press
