| Jim Thrower | |
| Number: | 49, 21 |
| Position: | Defensive back |
| Birth Date: | 6 November 1947 |
| Birth Place: | Camden, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Height Ft: | 6 |
| Height In: | 2 |
| Weight Lbs: | 195 |
| College: | Texas A&M–Commerce |
| Undraftedyear: | 1970 |
| Pastteams: | |
| Statlabel1: | Games |
| Statvalue1: | 46 |
| Statlabel2: | Kick rtn yards |
| Statvalue2: | 353 |
| Pfr: | ThroJi20 |
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. 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] He was fired by the Eagles in November 1972.[4]
He next played for the Detroit Lions during the 1973 and 1974 seasons. 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.[5] During the 1975, was placed on the injured reserve list. The Detroit Free Press called him the captain of the injured reserve list.[6]
In three years in the NFL, Thrower appeared in a total of 46 NFL games, four of them as a starter.[7]
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]