LeClair enrolled at the University of Minnesota Crookston where he played football and wrestled for the Trojans from 1968 to 1970. He was named MCCC Minnesota College Athletic Conference All-Conference and NJCAA All-Region in football and ranked first in Minnesota and fourth in the nation in wrestling during the 1970-1971 season. He also captained both teams.[1] He led the 1968 football team to a 6- 2 record that was at one time ranked nationally. They won the Northern Conference Title of the Minnesota Junior College League. He was named to the NCJAA All-Region and All Minnesota football teams.
LeClair was also an outstanding wrestler during his two years at UMC. He finished his final year at UMC with a record of 25-2 in the 190-pound division. In addition to being captain of the wrestling team, he finished his final season ranked fourth in the nation, first in the state and outstanding wrestler in three tourneys.[2]
LeClair then played college football for two years at the University of North Dakota, where as a senior, he was named Little All-American in 1971 as he recorded 187 tackles, three interceptions, four fumble recoveries fumbles, and 11 forced fumbles for the Fighting Sioux. He was also a two-time All-North Central Conference honoree and he was named the league's most valuable defensive lineman in 1971.[3][2]
He earned a bachelor's degree in education in 1971.[2]
Professional career
LeClair was selected in the third round (54th overall) of the 1972 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.[4]
He spent the next three years mainly as a starter on special teams and as a backup linebacker. He became a starter on defense in 1975 and remained so for the rest of his career (nine seasons through 1983). He was named to the Pro Bowl in 1976.[4]
LeClair was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999. LeClair was inducted to the Minnesota College Athletic Conference Hall of Fame in 1975. LeClair is a member of the University of Minnesota, Crookston Hall of Fame inaugural class of 1999. He was inducted into the University of North Dakota Athletic Hall of Fame in 1985, and he was one of two inaugural inductees into the South St. Paul High School Hall of Fame in 2007.[1] On June 21, 2014 at the Jamestown Civic Center, Jim LeClair was inducted into the North Dakota Sports Hall of Fame.[7]
Coaching and political careers
After his NFL career, LeClair became the head coach of the Mayville State University football team from 1986 to 1988.[8] He later became the mayor of Mayville, North Dakota. He also operated an insurance agency in Mayville.
Personal life
In addition to his football career, LeClair was a member of the United States Army Reserve from 1972 to 1977.
LeClair and his wife, Elizabeth (Betty), had three children, Kelli, Jamie and Andrew.[2] LeClair died on November 4, 2019, in Mayville.[9]
^ ab"UND's Jim LeClair, Terry Abram Named to inaugural class of South St. Paul High School Athletic Hall of Fame". University of North Dakota Athletics.
^ abcd"Jim LeClair (1999) - Hall of Fame". University of Minnesota Crookston Athletics.
^. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
Career statistics and player information from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference
March 04, 2023
leclair, american, football, quarterback, quarterback, james, michael, leclair, october, 1950, november, 2019, american, football, player, coach, played, professionally, linebacker, seasons, from, 1972, 1983, national, football, league, with, cincinnati, benga. For the American football quarterback see Jim LeClair quarterback James Michael LeClair October 30 1950 November 4 2019 was an American football player and coach He played professionally as a linebacker for 12 seasons from 1972 to 1983 in the National Football League NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals and two seasons from 1984 to 1985 in the United States Football League USFL with the New Jersey Generals LeClair played college football at University of Minnesota Crookston and the University of North Dakota He served as the head football coach at Mayville State University in Mayville North Dakota from 1986 to 1988 LeClair was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player in 1999 Jim LeClairNo 55Position LinebackerPersonal informationBorn 1950 10 30 October 30 1950Saint Paul Minnesota U S Died November 4 2019 2019 11 04 aged 69 Mayville North Dakota U S Height 6 ft 3 in 1 91 m Weight 234 lb 106 kg Career informationHigh school South St Paul South St Paul Minnesota College Minnesota Crookston 1968 1969 North Dakota 1970 1971 NFL Draft 1972 Round 3 Pick 54Career historyAs a player Cincinnati Bengals 1972 1983 New Jersey Generals 1984 1985 As a coach Mayville State 1986 1988 Career highlights and awardsPro Bowl 1976 All USFL 1984 First team Little All American 1971 Career NFL statisticsSacks 7 5Fumble recoveries 10Interceptions 10Touchdowns 1Player stats at NFL com PFRCollege Football Hall of Fame Contents 1 Early life 2 College career 3 Professional career 4 Honors 5 Coaching and political careers 6 Personal life 7 Head coaching record 8 References 9 External linksEarly life EditLeClair attended South St Paul High School in South St Paul Minnesota where he was a standout football player and wrestler for the Packers from 1966 to 1968 College career EditLeClair enrolled at the University of Minnesota Crookston where he played football and wrestled for the Trojans from 1968 to 1970 He was named MCCC Minnesota College Athletic Conference All Conference and NJCAA All Region in football and ranked first in Minnesota and fourth in the nation in wrestling during the 1970 1971 season He also captained both teams 1 He led the 1968 football team to a 6 2 record that was at one time ranked nationally They won the Northern Conference Title of the Minnesota Junior College League He was named to the NCJAA All Region and All Minnesota football teams LeClair was also an outstanding wrestler during his two years at UMC He finished his final year at UMC with a record of 25 2 in the 190 pound division In addition to being captain of the wrestling team he finished his final season ranked fourth in the nation first in the state and outstanding wrestler in three tourneys 2 LeClair then played college football for two years at the University of North Dakota where as a senior he was named Little All American in 1971 as he recorded 187 tackles three interceptions four fumble recoveries fumbles and 11 forced fumbles for the Fighting Sioux He was also a two time All North Central Conference honoree and he was named the league s most valuable defensive lineman in 1971 3 2 He earned a bachelor s degree in education in 1971 2 Professional career EditLeClair was selected in the third round 54th overall of the 1972 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals 4 He spent the next three years mainly as a starter on special teams and as a backup linebacker He became a starter on defense in 1975 and remained so for the rest of his career nine seasons through 1983 He was named to the Pro Bowl in 1976 4 In 1981 he was a starting linebacker on the Bengals team which won the AFC Championship Game dubbed The Freezer Bowl the coldest game in NFL history won by the Bengals over the San Diego Chargers 27 7 He then played in Super Bowl XVI which the Bengals lost to the San Francisco 49ers 26 21 5 The 1983 season was the last of his 12 year NFL career which included 10 interceptions and 10 fumble recoveries 4 After leaving the NFL LeClair played for two seasons with the New Jersey Generals of the USFL 6 Honors EditLeClair was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999 LeClair was inducted to the Minnesota College Athletic Conference Hall of Fame in 1975 LeClair is a member of the University of Minnesota Crookston Hall of Fame inaugural class of 1999 He was inducted into the University of North Dakota Athletic Hall of Fame in 1985 and he was one of two inaugural inductees into the South St Paul High School Hall of Fame in 2007 1 On June 21 2014 at the Jamestown Civic Center Jim LeClair was inducted into the North Dakota Sports Hall of Fame 7 Coaching and political careers EditAfter his NFL career LeClair became the head coach of the Mayville State University football team from 1986 to 1988 8 He later became the mayor of Mayville North Dakota He also operated an insurance agency in Mayville Personal life EditIn addition to his football career LeClair was a member of the United States Army Reserve from 1972 to 1977 LeClair and his wife Elizabeth Betty had three children Kelli Jamie and Andrew 2 LeClair died on November 4 2019 in Mayville 9 Head coaching record EditYear Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl playoffsMayville State Comets North Dakota College Athletic Conference 1986 1988 1986 Mayville State 2 7 1 4 5th1987 Mayville State 1 8 0 5 6th1988 Mayville State 3 6 1 5 T 5thMayville State 6 21 2 14Total 6 21References Edit a b UND s Jim LeClair Terry Abram Named to inaugural class of South St Paul High School Athletic Hall of Fame University of North Dakota Athletics a b c d Jim LeClair 1999 Hall of Fame University of Minnesota Crookston Athletics University of North Dakota Hall of Fame alphabetical Archived from the original on February 1 2014 Retrieved January 28 2014 a b c Jim LeClair Stats Pro Football Reference com Super Bowl XVI San Francisco 49ers vs Cincinnati Bengals January 24th 1982 Pro Football Reference com New Jersey Generals USFL United States Football League www usflsite com North Dakota Sports Hall of Fame www facebook com Mayville named LeClair grid coach Rapid City Journal Rapid City South Dakota Associated Press April 6 1986 p D2 Retrieved November 15 2020 via Newspapers com Former UND NFL standout Jim LeClair dies at 69 KNOX Radio External links EditJim LeClair at the College Football Hall of Fame Career statistics and player information from NFL com Pro Football Reference Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jim LeClair amp oldid 1142550163, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
