June James (gridiron football)
James with the Saskatchewan Roughriders | |||||
| No. 96, 58, 48[1] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Linebacker | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born: | December 2, 1962 Jennings, Louisiana, U.S. | ||||
| Died: | May 8, 1990 (aged 27) Gonzales, Louisiana, U.S. | ||||
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||
| Weight: | 218 lb (99 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school: | Southeast (Kansas City, Missouri) | ||||
| College: | Texas | ||||
| NFL draft: | 1985: 9th round, 230th pick | ||||
| Career history | |||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||
| |||||
June James IV (December 2, 1962 – May 8, 1990) was an American professional football linebacker who played two seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Detroit Lions and Indianapolis Colts. He was selected by the Lions in the ninth round of the 1985 NFL draft after playing college football for the Texas Longhorns. He also played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League.
Early life and college
June James IV was born on December 2, 1962, in Jennings, Louisiana.[2] His family moved to Kansas City, Missouri in 1966.[3] He attended Southeast High School in Kansas City.[1]
James played college football for the Texas Longhorns of the University of Texas at Austin, where he was an All-Southwest Conference linebacker. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in business.[3] He played in the East-West Shrine Game.
Professional career
James was selected by the Detroit Lions in the ninth round, with the 230th overall pick, of the 1985 NFL draft.[4] He officially signed with the team on July 21.[5] He played in all 16 games for the Lions during his rookie year in 1985 and recovered one fumble.[2] James was released by the Lions on August 18, 1986.[5]
James signed with the Indianapolis Colts on May 11, 1987.[5] He played in 11 games for the Colts during the strike-shortened 1987 season.[2] He was released on August 29, 1988.[5]
James was signed to the practice roster of the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League on September 1, 1988.[6] He was later promoted to the active roster and dressed in four games for the Roughriders during the 1988 season, recording one sack and one fumble recovery.[1] He suffered a torn ACL in 1989 and was then released by the Roughriders on June 10, 1989.[7][5]
Personal life
James moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1988.[3] He had a son named June James V.[7]
James died on May 8, 1990, in Gonzales, Louisiana at the age of 27 when his car went off the road for unknown reasons.[7] He was working as a car salesman at the time of his death.[7]
References
- ^ a b c "June James". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
- ^ a b c "June James". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
- ^ a b c "June James IV". The Kansas City Star. May 12, 1990. pp. C7. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
- ^ "1985 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e "June James Transactions". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
- ^ Davis, Darrell (September 2, 1988). "Weekend match has added touch". The Leader-Post. pp. B2. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
- ^ a b c d Roberts, Reggie (May 10, 1990). "Former Roughrider killed in accident". Star-Phoenix. pp. B3. Retrieved May 10, 2025.