National Football Foundation

Jim Lynch had a great year in 1966. He was captain of the Notre Dame team, unanimous All-America linebacker, won a Scholar-Athlete Award from the National Football Foundation and received the Maxwell Trophy as the top player in the nation. His coach, Ara Parseghian, has said, "I am often asked who was the best player to coach, and Jim Lynch always comes to mind. He was All-America in every sense - talented, hard-nosed, and honest." While at Notre Dame, Lynch joined a volunteer student group and spent the summer of 1964 in Peru working with native Indians. After Notre Dame, Lynch played 11 years with the Kansas City Chiefs 1967-1977. The 1966 team he captained at Notre Dame won the national championship, and the 1969 Kansas City team, with Lynch as linebacker, won the Super Bowl. In 1965, Lynch led his team in tackles with 108, and Notre Dame ranked sixth in the nation in defense. In 1966, Lynch again led in tackles with 106, and Notre Dame was fourth in the nation in defense. Lynch was inducted into the Chiefs' Hall of Fame in 1990 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992.