25 Facts About Jim Finks

1.

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

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2.

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

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3.

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.

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4.

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.

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5.

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

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6.

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

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7.

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

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8.

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

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9.

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

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10.

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.

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11.

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

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12.

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.

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13.

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

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14.

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

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15.

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

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16.

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

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17.

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

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18.

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

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19.

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

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20.

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.

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21.

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

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22.

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

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23.

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

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24.

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

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25.

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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