Jim Gibbons was born on September 26, 1936, in Chicago, Illinois and died on August 20, 2016.
He was an American professional football tight end for the NFL’s Detroit Lions (1958–68).
Jim attended the University of Iowa, where he played football with “Mad Duck” Alex Karras.
Together, Gibbons and Karras went to Detroit as part of the Lions’ 1958 NFL Draft.
He was drafted in the sixth round by the Cleveland Browns, the 6’3″, 220-pound tight end was traded immediately to the Lions.
Gibbons became one of the Lions’ best offensive stars during the next decade.
Gibbons earned Pro Bowl honors three times during his career, after the 1960, 1961 and 1964 seasons.
Jim Gibbons had a career year in 1964, earning Lion MVP honors, catching 45 passes for 605 yards and 8 touchdowns.
Since 2009, Gibbons ranks seventh on the Lions’ all-time reception list with 287 receptions, 3,561 yards and 20 touchdowns.
He was selected to three Pro Bowls, Gibbons’s career highlight may have come during the legendary 1960 game versus the Baltimore Colts in Baltimore.
Jim scored on a 65-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Earl Morrall as time expired.
Which was the game’s third lead change in the last 15 seconds of play and gave the Lions a 20–15 victory.
Jim Gibbons passed away at 79 years old.