Jim Kiick facts for kids
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Kiick playing for the Dolphins in Super Bowl VII
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| Position: | Running back | ||||||||||
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| Born: | August 9, 1946 Lincoln Park, New Jersey, U.S. |
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| Died: | June 20, 2020 (aged 73) Wilton Manors, Florida, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 214 lb (97 kg) | ||||||||||
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| High school: | Boonton (NJ) | ||||||||||
| College: | Wyoming | ||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1968 / Round: 5 / Pick: 118 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||
James Forrest Kiick (pronounced "kick"; born August 9, 1946 – died June 20, 2020) was an American professional football player. He was a running back who played for the Miami Dolphins. He was part of the undefeated 1972 team. This team is famous for winning every game they played that season.
Kiick was a key player in the Dolphins' running game during the early 1970s. He played in three Super Bowls, which are the championship games of the National Football League (NFL). He is the Dolphins' fourth all-time leading rusher. He and his teammate, fullback Larry Csonka, were known as "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid". They even wrote a book together called Always on the Run.
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Early Life and High School Football
Jim Kiick was born and grew up in Lincoln Park, New Jersey. In high school, he played football, baseball, and basketball at Boonton High School. He was chosen for the All-Morris County team. He played as a defensive back in high school, not as a running back.
Kiick graduated from high school in 1964. His father, George Kiick, also played in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
College Football Career
After high school, Kiick went to the University of Wyoming. He played college football for the Wyoming Cowboys from 1965 to 1967. He was the team's best rusher in each of those years. Overall, he ran for 1,714 yards and scored ten touchdowns. He also caught 52 passes for 561 yards and five touchdowns.
Kiick was the first player to be named first-team All-WAC three times. As a junior, he was named the Most Valuable Player in the 1966 Sun Bowl. In that game, he ran for 135 yards and scored two touchdowns. As a senior, he helped lead the undefeated Wyoming team to the 1968 Sugar Bowl.
Kiick also played in the Senior Bowl. He was chosen for the 1968 College All-Star Game. This is where he first met his future Dolphins teammate, Larry Csonka.
Professional Football Journey
Joining the Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins picked Jim Kiick in the fifth round of the 1968 NFL Draft. He was the 118th player chosen overall. The Dolphins liked his "quick feet." He signed a contract for $15,000 in his first year. He was the main halfback for the Dolphins for four years.
Kiick was a very versatile player. He was good at running the ball inside and was also an excellent blocker. He was also great at catching passes. He gained over 1,000 yards from rushing and receiving in each of his first four years. He was often compared to famous all-around players like Paul Hornung and Frank Gifford.
His teammate, Jim Langer, said Kiick was "a very smart runner and receiver." He played even when he was hurt and rarely fumbled the ball. Kiick once played with a broken toe and a broken finger. He led the Dolphins in rushing in 1968 and 1969. He was also chosen for the AFL All-Star game in both years.
In 1969, his nine rushing touchdowns led the AFL. In 1970, his total yards from scrimmage (running and receiving) led the AFC. Another teammate, Nick Buoniconti, said Kiick "loved clutch situations." He would always get the first down when the team needed it most.
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Playing in the Super Bowl
Kiick played in three Super Bowls in a row with the Dolphins.
- In Super Bowl VI, the Dolphins lost to the Dallas Cowboys.
- In Super Bowl VII, the Dolphins played against the Washington Redskins. Kiick scored the winning touchdown in this game. The Dolphins won 14–7, completing their perfect 17–0 season. This was a huge achievement in NFL history.
- In Super Bowl VIII, Kiick scored the second touchdown for Miami. The Dolphins won against the Minnesota Vikings 24–7.
"Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid"
Jim Kiick and Larry Csonka were roommates during training camp. A sportswriter named Bill Braucher gave them the nickname "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid." Csonka was Sundance, and Kiick was Butch. They even posed for a poster dressed in cowboy clothes.
In 1973, Kiick and Csonka wrote a book with sportswriter Dave Anderson. The book was called Always on the Run. It talked about their childhoods and their experiences as professional football players. It also shared stories about their teammates. The book gave a look into the history of the Dolphins and professional football during that time.
Playing in the WFL
In 1975, Kiick and his teammates Csonka and Paul Warfield played for the Memphis Southmen in the World Football League (WFL). Kiick had wanted to leave the Dolphins for a while. They signed very large contracts, which was big news in the sports world. However, the WFL league stopped playing games in October 1975. Kiick led his team in touchdowns with ten.
Later NFL Teams
After the WFL, Kiick returned to the NFL. He played for the Denver Broncos in 1976. He rushed for 115 yards and one touchdown. He also caught 12 passes. In 1977, he was released by the Broncos. He then joined the Washington Redskins for one game. He retired from football in 1978.
Jim Kiick finished his NFL career with 3,759 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns. He also had 2,302 receiving yards and four touchdowns. He was known for rarely fumbling the ball.
Life After Football
After retiring from football, Jim Kiick worked as a private investigator. He also became president of Kiick Sports Promotions. In 1996, he was inducted into the University of Wyoming's Athletics Hall of Fame. His daughter, Allie Kiick, is a professional tennis player.
Jim Kiick passed away on June 20, 2020, at the age of 73.
See also
- List of American Football League players
