Jim Lindsey, a running back who won a national title in college before being crowned an NFL champion in his professional career, has died at the age of 81.
Lindsey had been battling a lengthy illness prior to his death, according to Arkansas sports blog Whole Hog Sports.
Tributes to his life and career emerged as the news was revealed late on Tuesday evening.
‘We are saddened by the loss of Arkansas legend Jim Lindsey,’ read a statement posted by the University of Arkansas college football X account. ‘He made Arkansas a better place in many ways. His friends and family are in our thoughts.’
Lindsey was a star running back on the Arkansas Razorbacks from 1963 to 1966. He was a member of the Razorbacks team that won shares of the 1964 national championship.
Arkansas won the Southwest Conference title that season before defeating No. 6 Nebraska in the Cotton Bowl and finishing the season a perfect 11-0.
Jim Lindsey (21), who won a national championship at Arkansas in 1964, has died at age 81
Lindsey (21) also won an NFL championship in the pros as a member of the Vikings in 1969
However, Arkansas is only recognized as having a share of the title as the AP and the UPI Polls were held and released at the end of the regular season. Both those polls declared Alabama the national champions before the Crimson Tide would lose to Texas in the Orange Bowl. As such, 1964 was one of the last years where the final poll of the season was released prior to the playing of all bowl games.
Lindsey went on to be drafted in the second round of both the AFL and NFL Drafts in 1966. He was selected by the Buffalo Bills 17th overall in the AFL draft and was picked 27th overall in the NFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings.
He ultimately chose Minnesota and spent his entire eight-year career with the team – mostly on special teams – and won the NFL Championship in 1969.
Lindsey retired in 1972 and started a successful real estate company in 1972. At the time of his passing, he owned thousands of apartment units and dozens of golf courses across the south and Midwest.
He also ran for governor of the state in 1976, but lost in the primary to Democrat incumbent David Pryor.
Lindsey was also involved in philanthropy and gave back to his alma mater alongside former Arkansas teammate and current Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. His name adorns the Jerry Jones/Jim Lindsey Hall of Champions at the school’s Broyles Athletic Complex.