Jim Lynch, a linebacker with Notre Dame who was also a member of the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl IV champions, has died, his family and his alma mater confirmed Thursday. He was 76.
Lynch’s family announced that he died Thursday but did not provide a cause, according to The Associated Press.
Lynch is a member of the Chiefs’ Hall of Honor, Sports Illustrated reported. The Lima, Ohio, native was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992.
Our condolences go out to the family, friends and teammates of Jim Lynch.
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) July 21, 2022
“He was All-America in every sense – talented, hard-nosed, and honest.”
—Ara Parseghian pic.twitter.com/5IicmX4Ljd
Lynch, who was selected in the second round of the 1967 draft, played in the inaugural Super Bowl with Kansas City, which lost 35-10 to the Green Bay Packers. He was part of the 1969 AFL championship team that stunned the Minnesota Vikings 23-7 in Super Bowl IV.
Lynch played 11 seasons in the pros, all with the Chiefs, from 1967 to 1977, according to Pro-Football-Reference.com. He started every game from 1968 until he retired in 1977.
Lynch finished his career with 17 interceptions, 14 fumble recoveries and one touchdown. He played in the 1968 AFL All-Star game and was a two-time All-AFL player, according to Sports Illustrated. After retiring, he was inducted into the Chiefs Hall of Fame in 1990.
“Jim Lynch was a consistent force that made the Chiefs defense of the late 60s and early 70s one of the most feared in the game,” Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Georgia and his entire family.”
A statement from Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt on the passing of Chiefs Hall of Fame Linebacker Jim Lynch pic.twitter.com/IJqd7shFzB
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) July 23, 2022
Lynch starred at Central Catholic High School in Lima before heading to Notre Dame. He led the Fighting Irish in tackles in 1965 and 1966 with 108 and 106, respectively, according to Sports Illustrated. He won the Maxwell Award, given to the nation’s best all-around college football player, in 1966, the same year he was named a unanimous All-America selection.
Notre Dame won the national championship in 1966.
“I am often asked who was the best player to coach and Jim Lynch always comes to mind,” the late Notre Dame coach Ara Parseghian once said, according to the AP. “He was All-America in every sense: talented, hard-nosed and honest.”
©2022 Cox Media Group
