25 Facts About Jim Finks

James Edward Jim Finks was an American football and Canadian football player, coach, and executive.

Jim Finks was born in St Louis, Missouri, attended high school in Salem, Illinois, and attended college at the University of Tulsa.

Jim Finks was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in 1948 to play catcher and accepted that position before moving to the Pittsburgh Steelers to play football.

Jim Finks signed many of the players that made Calgary the winningest team in the CFL during the 1960s, though the team did not win a Grey Cup title until 1971.

Jim Finks signed quarterback Joe Kapp, who would later play under Finks in the NFL.

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In 1964, Jim Finks was named the general manager of the Minnesota Vikings.

Vikings team that Jim Finks put together was powered by a dynamic defensive front four, popularly known as The "Purple People Eaters".

The first member of the unit, defensive end Jim Marshall, came to the Vikings in a 1961 trade before Finks arrived.

Jim Finks completed "The Purple People Eaters" in 1967 by picking Alan Page in the draft.

In 1967, Norm Van Brocklin resigned as head coach and Jim Finks immediately hired Bud Grant, who had been a successful coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL for 10 seasons.

That year, Jim Finks brought in a new quarterback, Joe Kapp, from the CFL.

In 1972, Jim Finks made another daring trade with the New York Giants, this time to bring back Fran Tarkenton, the quarterback he had traded in 1967.

Jim Finks, who had been named a club vice-president in 1972 as a reward for his brilliant work, resigned in May 1974.

Jim Finks joined the Chicago Bears as executive vice-president and general manager.

Jim Finks spent the 1974 season studying the Bears player talent as well as opposition players from all around the NFL.

Jim Finks contributed to one of the most dominant NFL teams of the 1980s.

Jim Finks remained through the 1984 season when the Cubs captured the 1984 National League's Eastern Division crown.

Jim Finks was named NFL Executive of the Year for the second time.

Jim Finks was the only candidate put forward for the job by a six-owner search committee .

However, a group of 11 newer owners who wanted more of a voice in the selection process abstained from voting, preventing Jim Finks from receiving the 19 votes necessary to become Commissioner.

However, Jim Finks declined this position and Tagliabue was elected by an undisclosed number of votes.

Jim Finks died in 1994 in Metairie, Louisiana from lung cancer.

Jim Finks was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995.

Jim Finks enshrinement was based substantially on achievements with the Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints franchises.

Jim Finks had previously built the Vikings and Bears into Super Bowl teams—and the Saints became winners for the first time in franchise history.

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