Jim Otis

American football player (born 1948)

James Lloyd Otis (born April 29, 1948) is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons during the 1970s. Otis played college football for Ohio State University, and was recognized as an All American. He played professionally for the New Orleans Saints, Kansas City Chiefs and St. Louis Cardinals of the NFL.

Otis was born in Celina, Ohio. He attended Celina High School, and played for the Celina Bulldogs high school football team.

Otis attended the Ohio State University, where he was a fullback for the Ohio State Buckeyes football team from 1967 to 1969. He led the team in rushing every year of his college career. As a senior in 1969, he was as a consensus first team All American, and was seventh in the vote for the Heisman Trophy. Otis was inducted into the Ohio State Varsity O Hall of Fame in 1996. In the Ohio State record book, he remains second only to Archie Griffin among Ohio State running backs in career rushing yards per game. In 2000, Otis was selected to the Ohio State Football All Century Team.

Otis was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in 1970. The following year, he was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs. However, Otis played the last six years of his nine year NFL career with the St. Louis Cardinals (NFL). Otis's most successful year as a professional was in 1975, when he rushed for an NFC leading 1,076 yards and was selected to the Pro Bowl. Otis beat Minnesota's Chuck Foreman by 6 yards, thus preventing Foreman (who led the NFC in touchdowns and receptions that year) from achieving a rare Triple Crown.

Year Team Games Rushing Receiving GP GS Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD 1970 NOR 13 6 71 211 3.0 15 0 20 124 6.2 22 0 1971 KAN 13 0 49 184 3.8 14 0 13 81 6.2 26 2 1972 KAN 10 0 29 92 3.2 12 0 12 76 6.3 13 0 1973 STL 10 2 55 234 4.3 19 1 2 19 9.5 14 0 1974 STL 14 12 158 664 4.2 23 1 19 109 5.7 13 0 1975 STL 14 14 269 1,076 4.0 30 5 12 69 5.8 12 1 1976 STL 14 11 233 891 3.8 23 2 2 15 7.5 8 0 1977 STL 13 7 99 334 3.4 25 2 2 18 9.0 9 0 1978 STL 15 9 197 664 3.4 17 8 8 38 4.8 12 0 116 61 1,160 4,350 3.8 30 19 90 549 6.1 26 3

Year Team Games Rushing Receiving GP GS Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD 1971 KAN 1 0 3 13 4.3 12 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 1974 STL 1 1 8 35 4.4 12 0 1 1 1.0 1 0 1975 STL 1 1 12 38 3.2 6 1 4 52 13.0 21 0 3 2 23 86 3.7 12 2 5 51 10.2 21 0

Otis's father, Dr. James John Otis, had been the roommate and best friend of Ohio State head coach Woody Hayes when both men were members of the Sigma Chi fraternity of Denison University in the 1930s. To avoid any appearance of impropriety, Hayes broke off all social contact with the elder Otis during the son's college career. Dr. Otis lived and operated a medical practice in Celina, Ohio. Otis's son, James John Otis II, was a star high school quarterback in the St. Louis area. He was invited to Ohio State in 2001 as a preferred walk on and lettered in 2003 for special teams play. Jim Otis's other son, Jeff Otis, has been under contract with five NFL teams and is currently a free agent.