Jim Young

NFL player


Color=#f7923a
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DateOfBirth=birth date and age|1943|6|6
Birthplace=Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
DateOfDeath=
Position=Running back Wide receiver
College=Queen's University
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DraftedRound=
Career Highlights=Y
CFLAllStar=1972
Awards=1970 Most Outstanding Canadian 1972 Most Outstanding Canadian
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years=1965-1966
1967-1979
teams=Minnesota Vikings
British Columbia Lions (CFL)
DatabaseFootball=YOUNGJIM01
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CFHOF=24&player=Young,%20Jim

James Norman "Dirty Thirty" Young (born June 6, 1943 in Hamilton, Ontario)cite press release| title = Celebrity High: Westdale Secondary Alumni (Jim Young)| publisher = "The Hamilton Spectator"| date = 2006-05-19| url = http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=hamilton/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1147989017565&call_pageid=1020420665036&col=1014656511815| accessdate = 2007-01-26] is a former professional American football and Canadian football player. Young played running back and wide receiver for the NFL's Minnesota Vikings for one season (1965-66), and the CFL's British Columbia Lions for twelve seasons (1967-79). Young is a member of Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, the British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame, and the Queen's University Football Hall of Fame. Young's #30 jersey is one of eight numbers retired by the B.C. Lions.cite web | url = http://www.bclions.com/index.php?module=page&id=3066 | accessdate = 2007-03-28 | title = B.C. Lions Retired Numbers | publisher = BCLions.com] In 2003, Young was voted a member of the B.C. Lions All-Time Dream Team as part of the club’s 50 year anniversary celebration.cite web | url = http://www.bclions.com/index.php?module=page&id=3060 | accessdate = 2007-03-28 | title = B.C. Lions Dream Team | publisher = BCLions.com] In 2006, Young was voted to the Honour Roll of the CFL's top 50 players of the league's modern era by Canadian sports network TSN.cite web | url = http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/feature/?fid=10855 | accessdate = 2007-05-01 | author = | title = TSN Top 50 Honour Roll | publisher = TSN.ca | date = 2006-11-28]

Young was infamously nicknamed "Dirty Thirty", for his aggressive style and jersey number. Sports journalist Jim Taylor would write a football biography of Young featuring the same name.

National Football League - Minnesota Vikings

Young was the first Canadian college football player, playing for Queens University, drafted into the National Football League in 1965. He played halfback for the Minnesota Vikings in 1965 and 1966 (playing 6 games, rushing 3 times for 4 yards, and returning 6 punts).

Young ended up signing with the CFL's BC Lions in a multi-player "trade" between the NFL and the CFL teams, one of the very few transactions to ever occur between the two leagues.

Young wanted to return to Canada, and the BC Lions were very interested in acquiring him, however the Toronto Argonauts had his CFL rights.

The Minnesota Vikings were very interested in signing BC Lions quarterback Joe Kapp.

The Minnesota Vikings general manager at the time was Jim Finks, who had brought Kapp to Canada back in 1959, and their head coach was Bud Grant who had faced Kapp while coaching the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Both Finks and Grant, wanted to sign Joe Kapp to replace Fran Tarkenton who had been traded to the New York Giants.

To make this transaction possible, the BC Lions traded all-star defensive lineman Dick Fouts, and future CFL Hall of Fame running back Bill Symons to the Toronto Argonauts for the CFL rights to Jim Young. They then managed getting Kapp waived out of the CFL.

The Minnesota Vikings managed getting Jim Young waived out of the NFL. The expansion New Orleans Saints wanted Young and it took some work from Finks to keep them from claiming Young.

Young waived from the NFL signed with the BC Lions. On the other hand, Joe Kapp waived from the CFL, was free to sign with the Minnesota Vikings, who had previously claimed his NFL playing rights from the Washington Redskins.

Canadian Football League - British Columbia Lions

Young played from 1967 to 1979 with the British Columbia Lions (for 197 games,) primarily as a wide receiver. Young was named a CFL All-Star at wide receiver in 1972, and was a two-time Western Conference All Star at two positions (running back in 1969, wide receiver in 1972). Young was awarded the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award in 1970 and 1972.

He gained a reputation for his hard nosed play, hence the nickname "Dirty 30". His style of play forced defensive backs to watch out for him.

Young holds several B.C. Lions team records, including most receptions, 552, most receiving yards, 9248, and most receiving touchdowns, with 65.

Young's #30 jersey is one of eight numbers retired by the Lions.cite web | url = http://www.bclions.com/index.php?module=page&id=3066 | accessdate = 2006-09-04 | title = B.C. Lions Retired Numbers | publisher = BCLions.com]

Post football playing career and awards

Young joined the B.C. Lions team management after his retirement, and briefly coached the Lions on an interim basis during the 1990 CFL season.

In 1991, Young was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. In 1994, he was inducted into the British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame. In 2002, he was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. In November, 2006, Young was voted to the Honour Roll of the CFL's top 50 players of the league's modern era by Canadian sports network TSN.cite web | url = http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/feature/?fid=10855 | accessdate = 2007-05-01 | author = | title = TSN Top 50 Honour Roll | publisher = TSN.ca | date = 2006-11-28]

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