Jim LeClair
Encyclopedia
James Michael LeClair is a former American football
linebacker who played twelve seasons in the National Football League
with the Cincinnati Bengals
. He later played in the USFL with the New Jersey Generals
.
LeClair began his intercollegiate football career at the University of Minnesota, Crookston while it was a 2-year university.
LeClair later played college football at the University of North Dakota
, where he was an All-American. As a senior, he recorded 187 tackles, 3 interceptins, four fumble recoveries fumbles, and 11 forced fumbles. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame
in 1999. After his college career, LeClair was selected in the third round of the NFL draft in 1972. He spent the next 2 years mainly as a starter on the special teams unit, but became a starter on defense in 1974 and remained so for the rest of his career, recording 10 interceptions and 10 fumble recoveries. He also made the pro bowl
in 1976.
In addition to his football career, LeClair was a member of the United States Army Reserve
from 1972 to 1977. In 1975, he became famous for wrestling a bear at the Cincinnati Convention Center as promotional stunt for the Army reserve during his two weeks of annual training. LeClair fought the Bear to a draw.
After his NFL career, LeClair became the head coach of the Mayville State University
football team from 1986-1988. He later became the mayor of Mayville and currently runs and insurance agency in the city.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker who played twelve seasons in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
with the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
. He later played in the USFL with the New Jersey Generals
New Jersey Generals
The New Jersey Generals were a franchise of the United States Football League established in 1982 to begin play in the spring and summer of 1983. The team played three seasons from 1983-85, winning 31 regular-season games and losing 25 while going 0-2 in postseason competition...
.
LeClair began his intercollegiate football career at the University of Minnesota, Crookston while it was a 2-year university.
LeClair later played college football at the University of North Dakota
University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota is a public university in Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA. Established by the Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishment of the state of North Dakota, UND is the oldest and largest university in the state and enrolls over 14,000 students. ...
, where he was an All-American. As a senior, he recorded 187 tackles, 3 interceptins, four fumble recoveries fumbles, and 11 forced fumbles. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in 1999. After his college career, LeClair was selected in the third round of the NFL draft in 1972. He spent the next 2 years mainly as a starter on the special teams unit, but became a starter on defense in 1974 and remained so for the rest of his career, recording 10 interceptions and 10 fumble recoveries. He also made the pro bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
in 1976.
In addition to his football career, LeClair was a member of the United States Army Reserve
United States Army Reserve
The United States Army Reserve is the federal reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the reserve components of the United States Army....
from 1972 to 1977. In 1975, he became famous for wrestling a bear at the Cincinnati Convention Center as promotional stunt for the Army reserve during his two weeks of annual training. LeClair fought the Bear to a draw.
After his NFL career, LeClair became the head coach of the Mayville State University
Mayville State University
Mayville State University is an institution of higher learning in Mayville, North Dakota, part of the North Dakota University System....
football team from 1986-1988. He later became the mayor of Mayville and currently runs and insurance agency in the city.