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.

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.