Jimmy Edwards (football player)

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Jimmy Edwards
Date of birth:	September 19, 1952 (1952-09-19) (age 55)
Place of birth:	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Career information
Position(s):	Running Back
College:	Oklahoma University and the University of Louisiana at Monroe.
Organizations
As player:
1974 1975 1976-78 1979 1981 1982	Birmingham Americans - WFL Shreveport Steamers - WFL Hamilton Tiger-Cats - CFL Minnesota Vikings - NFL Winnipeg Blue Bombers - CFL Saskatchewan Roughriders - CFL
Stats at DatabaseFootball.com

Jimmy Edwards, born September 19, 1952, in Oklahoma City, was a star running back for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League.

Edwards attended Oklahoma University and the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

He began his pro career in the WFL in 1974, with the Birmingham Americans. He rushed for 575 yatds on 99 carries and scored 7 TDs, while also catching 11 passes and returning kickoffs. In 1975 he moved to the Shreveport Steamers, where he rushed for only 163 yards on 49 carries and scoring 3 TDs. In the short existence of the WFL Edwards was the 20th all-time leading rusher.

He starred with the Tiger-Cats from 1976 to 1978. He was an all star each season and won the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award in 1977 when he led the league in rushing with 1581 yards. This remained a team record until 2004, when Troy Davis broke it. He also rushed for 1046 yards in 1976, with 7 touchdowns, and for 800 yards in 1978. He finished in Hamilton with 3467 yards on 641 carries.

In 1979 he played 14 games with the NFL's Minnesota Vikings, where he led the league in kickoff return yardage average (25.1 on 44 returns.) He also returned 33 punts, but caught only one pass and did not rush the ball

He returned to the CFL briefly, playing with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 1981 and the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1982.