Particle.news
Download on the App Store
7 ARTICLES
·
last mo.

Kenneth Sims, Texas Longhorns Legend and NFL Top Pick, Dies at 65

Sims, a College Football Hall of Famer known for his athletic dominance and community contributions, passed away in his sleep while battling an illness.

Image
Image
Kenneth Sims #77 of the New England Patriots looks on during an NFL football game circa 1982 at Sullivan Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts.
Image

Overview

  • Kenneth Sims, the first overall pick in the 1982 NFL Draft and a standout defensive lineman for the Texas Longhorns, has died at age 65.
  • Sims was a two-time consensus All-American and the first Texas player to win the Lombardi Award, honoring the nation's top lineman, in 1981.
  • Despite a promising start in the NFL with the New England Patriots, his career was hindered by injuries, including a ruptured Achilles tendon and back issues.
  • Off the field, Sims played a significant role in desegregating Texas football and supported women’s athletics with an endowed scholarship.
  • He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2021 and is remembered for his humility, generosity, and lasting impact on the football community.