Jim Spavital
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Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
Stillwater, Oklahoma, U.S.
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| Positions | Fullback, linebacker | ||||||||||||
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| Born | September 15, 1926 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. | ||||||||||||
| Died | March 7, 1993 (aged 66) Stillwater, Oklahoma, U.S. | ||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 210 lb (95 kg) | ||||||||||||
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| High school | Edmond Memorial (Edmond, Oklahoma) | ||||||||||||
| College | Oklahoma A&M | ||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 1948: 1st round, 11th overall pick | ||||||||||||
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James J. Spavital (September 15, 1926 – March 7, 1993) was an American gridiron football player, coach and executive in six different professional football leagues. He served as the head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL) from 1970 to 1973 and as head coach of the Chicago Fire of the World Football League (WFL) in 1974. Spavital was the general manager of the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders from 1979 to 1982 and the Michigan Panthers of the United States Football League (USFL) in 1983.
Spavital played for the All-America Football Conference's Los Angeles Dons in 1949 and the National Football League's Baltimore Colts during the 1950 season. As a starter in 1950 he had 246 rushing yards and 238 receiving. His 96-yard rush against the Green Bay Packers on November 5, 1950, is the fourth longest run from scrimmage in NFL history. As an Airborne reservist, Spavital was called up in 1951 to serve in the Korean War. His reporting date prevented him from playing a full NFL season so he moved north of the border to play for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL) enabling him to play a complete season prior to reporting for duty. Wear and tear on his feet effectively ended his playing career. He was also drafted by the New York Giants in the first round of the 1951 NFL draft after the Baltimore Colts folded.[1]