National Football Foundation

A co-captain of the 1979 Ohio State football team, linebacker Jim Laughlin helped the Buckeyes to an 11-1 record, suffering their only loss in the Rose Bowl to the USC Trojans. He was named team MVP and First Team All-Big Ten following his final season. In three seasons under College Football Hall of Fame coach Earle Bruce, Laughlin helped the team to a 27-8-1 record, three bowl appearances and two Big Ten titles. The team leader in tackles, tackles for loss, blocked punts and fumbles recovered, he was a three-time winner of the Agonis Club Award as the team’s top defensive player of the week.

A 1979 Academic All-Big Ten selection, Laughlin maintained a 3.15 GPA in business administration. He was active in Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Central Ohio Heart Fund, the Multiple Sclerosis Campaign Fund and the Columbus Children’s Hospital Charity Drive.

Laughlin was selected in the fourth round (91^st overall) of the 1980 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. He played four seasons for the Falcons from 1980-82 and in 1987, one season with the Green Bay Packers in 1983 and three seasons with the Los Angeles Rams from 1984-86. He intercepted two passes in 88 NFL games.