Former Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jim Lynch died this week at 76. NFL reporter Rick Gosselin of the Talk of Fame Network first reported the news.
Lynch spent eleven years in the AFL/NFL (1967-1977), all with Kansas City. After helping Notre Dame win a National Championship in 1966, Kansas City selected him in the second round of the ‘67 AFL draft. He spent the first eight seasons of his career playing alongside two future hall of farmers, Bobby Bell and Willie Lanier (1967-1974).
Lynch played in 151 total games, starting 142, and appeared in 148 consecutive games. According to Pro Football Reference, he totaled 17 interceptions for 191 yards and a score, as well as 14 fumble recoveries and 18 sacks. (The league didn’t officially recognize sacks as an official statistic until 1982, however, PRF says they’ve accounted for every sack as early as 1970. The stats remain unofficial.)
Lynch made the Pro Bowl in 1968 and was a part of the Chiefs’ Super Bowl IV Championship team, which defeated the Minnesota Vikings 23-7.
Lynch was inducted into the Chiefs’ Hall of Honor in 1990 and the College Hall of Fame two seasons later.
