| Jim Champion | |
| Birth Date: | January 11, 1926 |
| Birth Place: | Tillatoba, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Number: | 35 |
| Position1: | Linebacker |
| Position2: | Tackle |
| Position3: | Defensive tackle |
| Height Ft: | 6 |
| Height In: | 0 |
| Weight Lb: | 238 |
| College: | Mississippi State |
| Nfldraftedyear: | 1950 |
| Nfldraftedround: | 18 |
| Nfldraftedpick: | 224 |
| Administrating Years1: | 1973 |
| Administrating Team1: | St. Louis Cardinals (scout) |
| Coaching Years1: | 1954–1956 |
| Coaching Team1: | Greenwood HS (MS) (HC) |
| Coaching Years2: | 1957–1961 |
| Coaching Team2: | Mississippi State (line) |
| Coaching Years3: | 1962–1965 |
| Coaching Team3: | BC Lions (defensive coach) |
| Coaching Years4: | 1966 |
| Coaching Team4: | St. Louis Cardinals (assistant) |
| Coaching Years5: | 1967–1969 |
| Coaching Team5: | BC Lions (HC) |
| Coaching Years6: | 1971–1972 |
| Coaching Team6: | New Orleans Saints (DC) |
| Coaching Years7: | 1974–1975 |
| Coaching Team7: | St. Louis Cardinals (DL) |
| Coaching Years8: | 1976 |
| Coaching Team8: | New York Jets (DL) |
| Coaching Years9: | 1977–1979 |
| Coaching Team9: | Atlanta Falcons (DL) |
| Coaching Years10: | 1980 |
| Coaching Team10: | Green Bay Packers (DL) |
| Playing Years1: | 1950–1951 |
| Playing Team1: | New York Yanks |
| Career Highlights: | Grey Cup Champion (52nd) |
| Records: | 8–28–2 (CFL) 24–4–2 (High school) |
James Henry Champion (January 11, 1926 – January 15, 1987) was an American gridiron football player and coach.
A graduate of Mississippi State University, Champion spent two seasons as a linebacker and offensive and defensive tackle for the New York Yanks of the National Football League (NFL).[1]
After his playing career, Champion became head football coach Greenwood High School in Greenwood, Mississippi. After three seasons in Greenwood, he returned to Mississippi State as line coach.[2] From 1962 to 1965, Champion was a defensive coach with the BC Lions. After spending one season as an assistant with the St. Louis Cardinals, he returned to the Lions, this time as head coach. Champion was fired during the 1969 season after a 1–9 start.[3]
Following his dismissal, Champion served as an assistant with the New Orleans Saints, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Jets, and Atlanta Falcons before his retirement after the 1979 season.[4] He returned to coaching on an interim basis in 1980 after the resignation of Green Bay Packers defensive line coach Fred von Appen. Champion spent the rest of the season with the Packers, but was not brought back for the 1981 season.[5]
| Team | Year | Regular Season | Post Season | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Result | |||
| BC | 1967 | 3 | 8 | 1 | .273 | 5th in West Division | 0 | 0 | Missed playoffs | |
| BC | 1968 | 4 | 11 | 1 | .267 | 4th in West Division | 0 | 0 | Missed playoffs | |
| BC | 1969 | 1 | 9 | 0 | .100 | 5th in West Division | 0 | 0 | Fired | |
| Total | 8 | 28 | 2 | .222 | 0 | 0 | ||||