Jim Arnold was a professional American football player who played as a punter in the National Football League (NFL) for several teams during his career. Arnold was born on December 28, 1961, in Waynesboro, Mississippi, and attended the University of Vanderbilt, where he played college football.
Arnold began his professional career in the NFL in 1983 when he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Kansas City Chiefs. He played for the Chiefs for two seasons before being traded to the Detroit Lions in 1985. Arnold played for the Lions for six seasons and was considered one of the best punters in the league during his time there. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 1987 and 1988 and was also named First-Team All-Pro in 1987.
After leaving the Lions in 1991, Arnold played for several other teams, including the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, and Green Bay Packers. He retired from the NFL in 1994 after playing for 12 seasons.
Arnold was known for his powerful leg and accuracy as a punter. He was also known for his ability to pin opponents deep in their own territory, which often gave his team an advantage in field position. Arnold's career statistics include 931 punts for 39,447 yards, an average of 42.3 yards per punt. He also had 244 punts inside the 20-yard line and 71 touchbacks.
Arnold's success as a punter earned him several accolades throughout his career. In addition to his Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors, he was also named to the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team. Arnold was also inducted into the Vanderbilt Athletics Hall of Fame in 1999.
After retiring from football, Arnold worked as a financial advisor and also served as a volunteer coach for high school football teams in Tennessee. He passed away on December 23, 2016, at the age of 54.
In summary, Jim Arnold was a highly successful punter in the NFL who played for several teams during his 12-year career. He was known for his powerful leg, accuracy, and ability to pin opponents deep in their own territory. Arnold earned several accolades throughout his career, including Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors, and was inducted into the Vanderbilt Athletics Hall of Fame.
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