James Preston “Jim” Weatherall was born on October 26, 1929, in Graham, Texas. As a dominant two-way tackle, Weatherall anchored the offensive and defensive lines of one of college football’s greatest dynasties before embarking on a professional career that spanned two countries and multiple leagues. He was a versatile “ironman” whose skill set included blocking, tackling, and placekicking, making him a truly indispensable player in his era.
Per the biography post on Jim on footballfoundation.org, Weatherall was a consensus All-America in 1950 and a unanimous All-America in 1951. Jim had a nine-year pro career that spanned from 1954 to the 1962 season, playing in the CFL with Edmonton and then in the NFL with Philadelphia, Washington, and Detroit.
Jim Weatherall was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992.
Accolades and Accomplishments
College Career (Oklahoma Sooners, 1948-1951):
- 1951 Outland Trophy Winner (Awarded to the nation’s best interior lineman)—the first OU player to win the award.
- 1951 Unanimous All-American and 1950 Consensus All-American.
- 1950 National Champion (Helped lead OU to their first national title).
- Member of OU teams that recorded a 39-4 overall record and a 31-game winning streak.
- 2-Time First-team All-Big Seven (1950, 1951).
- Also served as the team’s placekicker, finishing fifth and second in the nation in extra points scored in 1950 and 1951, respectively.
- College Football Hall of Fame Inductee (1992).
Professional Career (CFL and NFL, 1954–1960):
- Pro Teams Played On: Edmonton Eskimos (CFL/WIFU, 1954), Philadelphia Eagles (NFL, 1955–1957), Washington Redskins (NFL, 1958), Detroit Lions (NFL, 1959–1960).
- 1954 Grey Cup Champion with the Edmonton Eskimos.
- 1956 Pro Bowl selection (NFL).
- Drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2nd Round (17th overall) of the 1952 NFL Draft. His professional debut was postponed while he served as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War.
Here Are More Stories of Sooners Football Legends
- Lombardi Winner to Super Bowl Champion: The Power and Persistence of Tony Casillas
- Defensive Immortal Lee Roy Selmon
- Barry Switzer: From Crossett to Championship Glory
- Football History of September 24
- Joe Washington
- Billy Sims: Oklahoma Sooners Legend & Heisman Winner
- Waddy Young: Oklahoma Football Star & WWII Bomber Pilot
- Greg Pruitt: Oklahoma Sooners Legend & Pro Bowl Star
- Tommy McDonald: College & Pro Football Hall of Fame
- Kurt Burris: Oklahoma’s Hall of Fame Center & Linebacker
- Rod Shoate: The Sideline-to-Sideline Terror of the Sooner Defense
- Keith Jackson: The Gold Standard of the Modern Tight End
- Billy Vessels: The Oklahoma Sooners’ First Heisman Trailblazer
- The Boz: Brian Bosworth and the Dynasty of the Sooners
- Jim Owens: The Iron Man of Oklahoma and Washington
- “This One’s For Pat”: The Championship Standard of Broncos Owner Pat Bowlen
- Jerry Tubbs: The Unstoppable Sooner and the Heart of the Early Cowboys Defense
- The Granddaddy of Thrills: Reliving Georgia’s Epic 2OT Rose Bowl Comeback against Oklahoma
- Rickey Dixon: Oklahoma Sooners Defensive Back and 1987 Jim Thorpe Award Winner
- Remembering Hall of Famer Steve Owens
- The Founding Fullback: Celebrating the College Football Hall of Fame Legacy of Oklahoma’s Forest Geyer
- Football History of December 2
- The Day the Streak Died: How Unranked Notre Dame Halted Oklahoma’s 47-Game Reign
- The Sooner Pioneer: Claude Reeds and Oklahoma’s Unbreakable 102-Yard Punt
- The First Lineman Sweep: J.D. Roberts, The Unanimous Guard
- Oklahoma Wishbone Anchor: Celebrating Center Tom Brahaney
- Oklahoma Sooners Inducted Into the College Football Hall of Fame
- Tommy McDonald
- The Game of the Century: When Oklahoma and Ohio State Battled to the Finish
