Jim Turner (placekicker)

James Bayard Turner (March 28, 1941 – June 10, 2023) was an American professional football placekicker who played in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL) for the New York Jets and Denver Broncos. He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection with the Jets and a member of their Super Bowl III championship team. Turner was chosen for the AFL All-Time Second-team and the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame.

Career

Turner was born and raised in Martinez, California.<ref name=traub_06142023>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=educated/> He graduated from John Swett High School in 1959. He played for the football team as a quarterback and was also a freestyle swimmer.<ref name="educated">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Turner attended Utah State University, where he played college football for the Utah State Aggies as both a quarterback and placekicker.<ref name=utahstate/>

The Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL) selected Turner in the 19th round of the 1963 NFL draft.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He signed with the Redskins,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> but failed a tryout with the Redskins and was released. Turner signed with the New York Jets of the American Football League (AFL) as a free agent in 1964.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He set then-league records with single-season totals of 145 points and 34 field goals in 1968.<ref name=traub_06142023/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=howfield/> Turner kicked for nine points, making two of three field goals, in the AFL Championship Game win over the Oakland Raiders.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He had 10 points in the Jets' 16–7 defeat of the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III.<ref name=nbcsportsobit>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He was named to the Pro Bowl in 1968 and 1969.<ref name=pfr/>

Following the 1970 season the Jets traded Turner to the Denver Broncos for Bobby Howfield.<ref name=howfield>Template:Cite news</ref> He scored four points in the Broncos' losing effort in Super Bowl XII against the Dallas Cowboys, connecting on a 47-yard field goal and an extra point following a touchdown run by Rob Lytle.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Turner finished his career with 304 of 488 (62%) field goals and 521 of 534 extra points, giving him 1,439 total points.<ref name=pfr>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Upon his retirement, he ranked second in field goals in NFL history, with only a fellow AFL veteran in George Blanda having more; Turner now ranks in the top 35 for kickers four decades after his career ended.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="latimes">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He did not miss a game, playing in 228 consecutive contests.<ref name=nbcsportsobit/> His single-season scoring record was broken by Mark Moseley in 1983, and Ali Haji-Sheikh broke Turner's field goal record the same season.<ref name=traub_06142023/> He was inducted into the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame in 1988<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and the Utah State University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013.<ref name=utahstate>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

NFL career statistics

Legend
	Won the Super Bowl
	Led the league
Bold	Career high

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	Field Goals				Extra Points			Points
			FGA	FGM	Lng	Pct	XPA	XPM	Pct
1964	NYJ	14	27	13	50	48.1	33	33	100.0	72
1965	NYJ	14	34	20	49	58.8	31	31	100.0	91
1966	NYJ	14	35	18	45	51.4	35	34	97.1	88
1967	NYJ	14	32	17	48	53.1	39	36	92.3	87
1968	NYJ	14	46	34	49	73.9	43	43	100.0	145
1969	NYJ	14	47	32	50	68.1	33	33	100.0	129
1970	NYJ	14	35	19	42	54.3	28	28	100.0	85
1971	DEN	14	38	25	49	65.8	18	18	100.0	93
1972	DEN	14	29	20	49	69.0	37	37	100.0	97
1973	DEN	14	33	22	50	66.7	40	40	100.0	106
1974	DEN	14	21	11	43	52.4	38	35	92.1	68
1975	DEN	14	28	21	53	75.0	26	23	88.5	86
1976	DEN	14	21	15	47	71.4	39	36	92.3	81
1977	DEN	14	19	13	48	68.4	34	31	91.2	70
1978	DEN	16	22	11	45	50.0	35	31	88.6	64
1979	DEN	16	21	13	49	61.9	34	32	94.1	71
Career		228	488	304	53	62.3	543	521	95.9	1,433

Postseason

Year	Team	GP	Field Goals			Extra Points			Points
			FGA	FGM	Pct	XPA	XPM	Pct
1968	NYJ	2	8	5	62.5	4	4	100.0	19
1969	NYJ	1	2	2	100.0	–	–	–	6
1977	DEN	3	6	3	50.0	7	7	100.0	16
1978	DEN	1	2	1	50.0	1	1	100.0	4
1979	DEN	1	–	–	–	1	1	100.0	1
Career		8	18	11	61.1	13	13	100.0	46

Broadcasting career

In 1981, Turner joined NBC Sports as a color commentary sportscaster.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Personal life

Turner's widow, Mary Kay, is from El Sobrante, California.<ref name=educated/> They had three daughters and lived in Arvada, Colorado.<ref name="latimes"/>

Turner died in Arvada, Colorado from heart failure on June 10, 2023, at the age of 82.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

See also

• List of American Football League players
• List of most consecutive starts and games played by National Football League players

External links

• NFL.com player page
• Template:Usurped