View source for Jim Lee Hunt

{{Short description|American football player (1938–1975)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name        = Jim Lee Hunt
| image       =
| number      = 79
| position    = [[Defensive tackle]]
| birth_date  = October 5, 1938
| birth_place = [[Atlanta, Texas]], U.S.
| death_date  = {{death date and age|1975|11|22|1938|10|5}}
| death_place = [[Boston, Massachusetts]], U.S.
| height_ft   = 5
| height_in   = 11
| weight_lbs  = 255
| high_school = Booker T. Washington
| college     = [[Prairie View A&M Panthers football|Prairie View A&M]]
| draftyear   = 1960
| draftround  = 16
| draftpick   = 181
| pastteams   =
* [[Boston Patriots]] ([[1960 American Football League season|1960]]–{{NFL Year|1970}})
| highlights  =
* 4× [[American Football League All-Star game|AFL All-Star]] (1961, 1966, 1967, 1969)
* 4× Second-team [[All-AFL]] ([[1961 All-AFL Team|1961]], [[1966 All-AFL Team|1966]]–[[1968 All-AFL Team|1968]])
* [[New England Patriots|Boston Patriots All-1960s Team]]
* [[New England Patriots|New England Patriots 35th Anniversary Team]]
* [[New England Patriots Hall of Fame]]
* [[New England Patriots#Retired numbers|New England Patriots No. 79]] retired
| pfr         = H/HuntJi00 
}} '''Jim Lee "Earthquake" Hunt''' (October 5, 1938 – November 22, 1975) was an American professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[defensive tackle]] for the [[American Football League]] (AFL)'s [[Boston Patriots]] from 1960 through 1969, and for the NFL' Boston Patriots in 1970. He was a four-time [[American Football League All-Star games|AFL All-Star]], and was one of only 20 men to play the entire ten years of the AFL.  He was used as a defensive end occasionally. He played [[college football]] for the [[Prairie View A&M Panthers football|Prairie View A&M Panthers]].

==Professional career==
Hunt was drafted out of [[Prairie View A&M University]] in the 16th round of the [[1960 NFL draft]] by the [[Chicago Bears]], but decided to sign as an original member of the [[Boston Patriots]]. He was nicknamed 'Earthquake' because it was said that the ground rumbled when he rushed the passer. He also was the team's fastest defensive lineman.

He was a four-time AFL All-Star and was voted the best pass-rushing tackle in the AFL in 1967.

Hunt recovered fumbles by Cotton Davidson, Al Dorow, Tom Flores, Mickey Slaughter, [[Ode Burrell]], Darrell Lester, Daryle Lamonica, Steve Tensi, Bobby Burnett, Marlin Briscoe, Bob Cappadona, Robert Holmes, Don Trull and Larry Csonka. He returned a fumble by Don Trull 51 yards in the Patriots 45–17 loss to the Houston Oilers at the Houston Astrodome on December 15, 1968.

He led the team with 9 sacks in 1966 and totaled 29 career sacks of 19 different QB's. He recorded sacks of Frank Tripucka, George Herring, Tom Flores, John Hadl, Jacky Lee, Len Dawson, John McCormick, Jack Kemp, Joe Namath, Don Trull, Max Chobian, Daryle Lamonica, Steve Tensi, Rick Norton, Pete Beathard, Jim LeClair, Bob Griese, Earl Morrall & James Harris.

Hunt holds the AFL Record for the most career fumble recoveries. His number was retired by the team and was inducted into its Hall of Fame. He is a member of the Patriots All-1960s (AFL) Team and played in 142 games during his 12-year career.

His death at a young age was caused from a heart attack.

==See also==
*[[List of American Football League players|Other American Football League players]]

==External links==
* [https://www.patriotshalloffame.com/hall_of_famer/jim-lee-hunt/ New England Patriots bio]

{{Chicago Cardinals 1960 draft navbox}}
{{1960 Boston Patriots}}
{{Patriots1960s}}
{{Patriots35th}}
{{PatriotsHOF}}
{{New England Patriots retired numbers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hunt, Jim}}
[[Category:Boston Patriots players]]
[[Category:American Football League All-Star players]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Texas]]
[[Category:Prairie View A&M Panthers football players]]
[[Category:1975 deaths]]
[[Category:1938 births]]
[[Category:American Football League players]]
[[Category:NFL players with retired numbers]]