Former Vikings Guard Jim Battle Dies at 88
Summary
Jim Battle, a former professional football player who played in the NFL and Canadian Football League, died on June 21 at the age of 87. He was known for his college football career at Southern Illinois University and later worked in education in Canada.Key Facts
- Jim Battle was born on February 20, 1938, in Bartow, Florida.
- He played college football at Southern Illinois University from 1959 to 1962 as a pass-catching end.
- Battle set school records with 85 receptions, 1,010 yards, and 20 touchdown catches at Southern Illinois.
- In 1963, the Minnesota Vikings signed him as an undrafted player and moved him to offensive guard.
- He played 14 games in the NFL during the 1963 season, starting two games.
- Battle played for the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League from 1964 to 1965.
- He earned a Master’s degree and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and worked for the Edmonton Public School Board for over 30 years.
- Battle suffered from dementia and Parkinson’s disease linked to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain condition common in contact sport athletes.
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