James "Cannonball" Butler (May 4, 1943 – February 10, 2014) was an American professional football player who was a running back for eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL), with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Atlanta Falcons and the St. Louis Cardinals. Butler grew up in Delray Beach, Florida and played college football at Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, Florida. To this day, he is the only alumnus from the school to ever play in the NFL.
In the NFL, Butler was the leading rusher for the Atlanta Falcons in each of his four seasons with the team (1968–1971), and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1969.
Biography
Jim Butler was born May 4, 1943, in Quincy, Florida.
Butler played collegiately for Edward Waters College, a small historically black university located in Jacksonville.D. Orlando Ledbetter, "James 'Cannonball' Butler, 1943–2014: Pro Bowl Running Back for Falcons," Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Feb. 18, 2014, p. C8.
Butler was selected in the 14th round of the 1965 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, who made him that year's 186th overall pick. He played halfback for the Steelers for three years, gaining a little more than 500 yards rushing and an additional 233 catching passes out of the backfield.Tom Bennett, 1972 Atlanta Falcons (media guide). Atlanta, GA: Atlanta Falcons Football Club, 1972; p. 20. He was also a frequent kickoff returner for Pittsburgh, running back one kick 93 yards for a touchdown in 1966.
Butler was named a member of the NFL Pro Bowl following the conclusion of the 1969 NFL season.
After his retirement from the NFL, Butler worked for the city of Atlanta and on special projects with the Atlanta Public Schools system.
During his later years Butler suffered from dementia, a common ailment among aging football players of his era due to repetitive brain injury.
Butler died February 10, 2014 in Atlanta. He was 71 years old at the time of his death and was survived by a daughter and a son.
NFL career statistics Legend Bold Career high
Year Team Games Rushing Receiving GP GS Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD 1965 PIT 14 3 46 108 2.3 12 0 9 117 13.0 43 1 1966 PIT 14 3 46 114 2.5 19 2 4 93 23.3 66 1 1967 PIT 11 6 90 293 3.3 24 0 4 23 5.8 13 0 1968 ATL 12 7 94 365 3.9 60 2 15 127 8.5 31 0 1969 ATL 14 14 163 655 4.0 39 3 17 297 17.5 65 2 1970 ATL 14 12 166 636 3.8 33 0 24 151 6.3 25 1 1971 ATL 13 13 186 594 3.2 19 2 15 143 9.5 27 2 1972 STL 5 0 6 3 0.5 5 0 1 8 8.0 8 0 97 58 797 2,768 3.5 60 9 89 959 10.8 66 7
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