Jimmy Orr facts for kids
circa 1961
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| No. 44, 86, 28 | |||||||||||
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | October 4, 1935 Seneca, South Carolina, U.S. |
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| Died: | October 27, 2020 (aged 85) Brunswick, Georgia, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 185 lb (84 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Seneca | ||||||||||
| College: | Georgia | ||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1957 / Round: 25 / Pick: 291 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||
Jimmy Orr (October 4, 1935 – October 27, 2020) was an American professional football player. He was a wide receiver for 13 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Jimmy played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Colts from 1958 to 1970.
He was a very popular player, especially when he played for the Baltimore Colts. Fans even called a part of the end zone at Memorial Stadium "Orrsville." This was because he caught so many passes there!
Playing College Football
Jimmy Orr played college football at the University of Georgia. He was a talented player there before joining the NFL.
Becoming a Rookie Star
In 1958, Jimmy Orr joined the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was named the UPI NFL-NFC Rookie of the Year. This means he was the best new player in the league that year!
During his rookie season, he caught 33 passes for 910 yards. He also scored seven touchdowns. For a long time, his 910 receiving yards was a record for Steelers rookies. It wasn't broken until 2017.
Jimmy also set Steelers rookie records in one game. He scored three touchdowns and gained 205 yards against the Chicago Cardinals.
His NFL Career
Jimmy Orr played his first three seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 1961, he was traded to the Baltimore Colts. He then played ten more seasons with the Colts.
He finished his career in 1970. By then, he had caught exactly 400 passes. He gained 7,914 receiving yards and scored 66 touchdowns.
A Memorable Super Bowl Play
Jimmy Orr was part of a famous play in Super Bowl III. This game was against the New York Jets.
On the last play of the first half, the Colts tried a trick play. Quarterback Earl Morrall handed the ball to Tom Matte. Matte then threw it back to Morrall. This is called a "flea-flicker" play.
Jimmy Orr was wide open and ready to catch the ball. He had a clear path to the end zone. But Morrall did not see him. Instead, he threw the ball to Jerry Hill. The ball was then intercepted by a Jets player.
