Jim Pyne
Encyclopedia
James M. Pyne is a former American football
player and coach in the National Football League
. He played college football
at Virginia Tech
.
n, becoming Virginia Tech's first player ever to do so, and was also awarded the Dudley Award
, which is given to the Commonwealth of Virginia's outstanding player of the year. He was a finalist for both the Lombardi Award
and the Outland Trophy
. Virginia Tech retired his number (#73); it is one of only four football numbers retired by the school in over 100 years of football. He was named to the Big East Conference
s All-time team at the turn of the century. The offensive line meeting room at Virginia Tech has been named in his honor. He has been inducted to Virginia Tech's Sports Hall of Fame.
and played four of his eight professional seasons with the team as a left guard, starting in 38 of his 42 appearances from 1995 to 1997. In 1998 he went to Detroit to play with the Lions and started 16 games at center. In 1999 he became the first overall pick of the Cleveland Browns
in the 1999 expansion draft
. In Cleveland he was a starter for two seasons at left guard before injuring his knee. He was named the team MVP by the Akron Browns backers and named the teams top offensive lineman by the touchdown club. He was also elected team captain while with the Browns. He was named three times to Muscle and Fitnesses' NFL all strength team. He finished his career with the NFC East division champion Philadelphia Eagles in 2001.
of the American Football League
in 1965. Pyne's grandfather, George Pyne II, played for the Providence Steam Roller
of the NFL in 1931. The Pynes became the only family to play three generations of professional football. They have since been joined by the Matthews family (Clay Matthews, Sr.
, Clay Matthews, Jr., and Clay Matthews III
). He has been inducted into three halls of fame: Virginia Tech, Milford High School (Ma.), and Choate Rosemary Hall (Wallingford, CT).
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player and coach in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Virginia Tech
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, popularly known as Virginia Tech , is a public land-grant university with the main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia with other research and educational centers throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and internationally.Founded in...
.
College career
Pyne attended Virginia Tech and was selected as a unanimous All-AmericaAll-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n, becoming Virginia Tech's first player ever to do so, and was also awarded the Dudley Award
Dudley Award
The Dudley Award, named after former Virginia running back Bill Dudley, is presented annually by the Richmond Times-Dispatch to one NCAA Division I football player in the Commonwealth of Virginia....
, which is given to the Commonwealth of Virginia's outstanding player of the year. He was a finalist for both the Lombardi Award
Lombardi Award
The Rotary Lombardi Award is awarded annually to the best college football lineman or linebacker. The Lombardi Award program was approved by the Rotary Club in Houston in 1970 shortly after the death of Vince Lombardi. The committee outlined the criteria for eligibility for the award, which...
and the Outland Trophy
Outland Trophy
The Outland Trophy is awarded to the best United States college football interior lineman by the Football Writers Association of America. It is named after John H. Outland. One of only a few players ever to be named All-America at two positions, Outland garnered consensus All-America honors in...
. Virginia Tech retired his number (#73); it is one of only four football numbers retired by the school in over 100 years of football. He was named to the Big East Conference
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
s All-time team at the turn of the century. The offensive line meeting room at Virginia Tech has been named in his honor. He has been inducted to Virginia Tech's Sports Hall of Fame.
Professional career
Pyne joined the NFL's Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
and played four of his eight professional seasons with the team as a left guard, starting in 38 of his 42 appearances from 1995 to 1997. In 1998 he went to Detroit to play with the Lions and started 16 games at center. In 1999 he became the first overall pick of the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the 1999 expansion draft
1999 NFL Expansion Draft
The Cleveland Browns had spent three years with its operations suspended after Art Modell had taken the Browns' organization and players to Baltimore, Maryland to form the Baltimore Ravens at the end of the 1995 NFL season...
. In Cleveland he was a starter for two seasons at left guard before injuring his knee. He was named the team MVP by the Akron Browns backers and named the teams top offensive lineman by the touchdown club. He was also elected team captain while with the Browns. He was named three times to Muscle and Fitnesses' NFL all strength team. He finished his career with the NFC East division champion Philadelphia Eagles in 2001.
Personal
Pyne's father, George Pyne III, played for the Boston PatriotsNew England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
of the American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
in 1965. Pyne's grandfather, George Pyne II, played for the Providence Steam Roller
Providence Steam Roller
The Providence Steam Roller was a professional American football team based in Providence, Rhode Island in the National Football League from 1925 to 1931. Providence was the first New England team to win an NFL championship...
of the NFL in 1931. The Pynes became the only family to play three generations of professional football. They have since been joined by the Matthews family (Clay Matthews, Sr.
Clay Matthews, Sr.
William Clay Matthews, Sr. is a former American football Offensive tackle for four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL. His career was interrupted by the Korean War, and Matthews became a paratrooper for the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division...
, Clay Matthews, Jr., and Clay Matthews III
Clay Matthews III
William Clay Matthews III is an American football linebacker for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Packers 26th overall in the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Southern California.-Early years:Matthews was born in the Los...
). He has been inducted into three halls of fame: Virginia Tech, Milford High School (Ma.), and Choate Rosemary Hall (Wallingford, CT).