Position: Tackle
Years: 1939-1941
Place of Birth: Pittsburgh, PA
Date of Birth: Apr 10, 1918
Place of Death: Pittsburgh, PA
Date of Death: Dec 13, 1983
Jersey Number: 99
Height: 6-2
Weight: 219
High School: Mount Lebanon, PA (Mount Lebanon HS)Saltsburg, PA (Kiski Prep)
October 19, 1941, was a rainy Saturday afternoon in Columbus, Ohio, and Ohio State and Purdue were pushing each other through the mire in a scoreless Big Ten game when Purdue set up in punt formation. Ohio State's "Big Jim" Daniell exploded across the scrimmage line, evaded blockers and leapt with out-stretched arms. The punted ball was swatted back-beyond the goal line, then beyond the end line. Safety! Ohio State led, 2-0. That blocked kick hardly seemed important in the first period, but it became the margin of victory in a 16-14 Buckeye decision. However, it was more than that. It was the perfect indication of Jim Daniell's dedication to giving the extra effort needed to win. Known for his aggressive determination, Daniell was a key player in OSU's drive to the Big Ten title in 1939 and a 6-1-1 record in 1941. World War II saw Jim serve as Naval Lieutenant on a destroyer in the Pacific, where he earned the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and a Presidential Citation. He later played professional football with the Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns, serving as Cleveland's captain in 1946. Following his professional playing career, Daniell became a successful executive in the steel industry. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1977, joining his brother, Averell.
