| No. 24 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Running back | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born: | (1942-02-07)February 7, 1942 Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. | ||||
| Died: | November 14, 1999(1999-11-14) (aged 57) | ||||
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||
| Weight: | 215 lb (98 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school: | Banks (Birmingham) | ||||
| College: | Auburn | ||||
| NFL draft: | 1965: 4th round, 47th pick | ||||
| AFL draft: | 1965: 9th round, 68 (by theNew York Jets)[1]th pick | ||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||
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James Corbin Sidle (February 7, 1942 – November 14, 1999) was an American professionalfootball player who was arunning back in theNational Football League (NFL) for theAtlanta Falcons. He playedcollege football for theAuburn Tigers and was selected by theDallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the1965 NFL draft.
Sidle attended Sylacauga High School, before transferring after his sophomore season toL. Frazier Banks High School, where as aquarterback he received All-State andAll-American honors. He also practicedbasketball and won the state championship in the hurdles.
He accepted a football scholarship fromAuburn University, where the team employed a run oriented offense. In 1963, as the startingquarterback he finished second in the nation in rushing behindDave Casinelli and was named first-teamAll-American, after leading his team to a No. 5 ranking (9-1 record) and losing 7-13 to Nebraska in the1964 Orange Bowl.[2][3] He registered 1,006 rushing yards, 10 rushingtouchdowns, 706 passing yards and 5 passingtouchdowns.[4]
Although he was aquarterback, he still was featured on the cover of the September 21, 1964 edition of theSports Illustrated magazine, under the title: "The Year of the Running Back". That year his team was one of the favorites to win the National Championship, but he tore the rotator cuff in his right shoulder in the season opener, playing against theUniversity of Houston. He still played in all 10 games that season after being switched tohalfback, but the team finished with a 6-4 record. He posted 303 rushing yards, 2 rushingtouchdowns, 262 passing yards, 54 receiving yards and one receivingtouchdown.
In 1999, he was inducted into Auburn'sTiger Trail, a walk of fame honoring former school greats. In 2002, he was inducted in theAlabama Sports Hall of Fame.
Sidle was selected by theDallas Cowboys in the fourth round (47th overall) of the1965 NFL draft and by theNew York Jets in the ninth round (68th overall) of the1965 AFL Draft. He signed with the Cowboys and was switched tofullback, but he was lost for the year intraining camp, after re-injuring in July the same shoulder he hurt in college. His rights were sold to the expansion teamAtlanta Falcons on August 31,1966.[5]
In1966, theAtlanta Falcons first used him atrunning back, before switching him totight end. He was waived on September 11 and signed to thetaxi squad. He was promoted to the active roster on October 7.[6]
In1967, he signed with theBC Lions of theCanadian Football League, where he played as atight end for 2 seasons.
Sidle died of heart failure on November 14, 1999, after being hospitalized with pneumonia.[7]