| Personal information | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born: | November 6, 1947 Camden, Arkansas | ||||
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||
| Weight: | 195 lb (88 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school: | Lincoln (AR) | ||||
| College: | Texas A&M–Commerce | ||||
| Position: | Defensive back | ||||
| Undrafted: | 1970 | ||||
| Career history | |||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||
James Frederick Thrower (born November 6, 1947) is a former American football defensive back. In 2022 he was inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame.[1]
Thrower was born in Camden, Arkansas, in 1947. He attended Lincoln High School and played college football at Texas A&M–Commerce.[2] He also exceled at track and field and basketball, and was inducted into the university's athletic hall of fame.[1]
Thrower played professional football as a defensive back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1970 to 1972.[2][3][4] He was fired by the Eagles in November 1972.[5]
He next played for the Detroit Lions during the 1973 and 1974 seasons.[2] While with the Lions, he was a backup to cornerback Lem Barney and also served as captain of the special team unit. He was also a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.[6] During the 1975, was placed on the injured reserve list. The Detroit Free Press called him the captain of the injured reserve list.[7]
In three years in the NFL, Thrower appeared in a total of 46 NFL games, four of them as a starter.[2]
After retiring from football, Thrower worked for the Stroh Brewery Co. and later Michigan Consolidated Gas Co. He was also a leading fundraiser for the NAACP.[8]