Ex-No. 1 overall pick, college Hall of Famer Kenneth Sims dies at 65

Field Level Media|published: 03/21/2025, 5:28pm EDT

Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Detailed view of a Texas Longhorns helmet during the CFP National playoff first round at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Former No. 1 overall NFL draft pick and College Football Hall of Famer Kenneth Sims died Friday at age 65, the University of Texas announced.

The university said Sims died peacefully at his home. According to a report, Sims had been battling an illness.

Former Texas DL Kenneth Sims, a unanimous All-American and No. 1 overall pick, has passed away.

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— Inside Texas (@InsideTexas) March 21, 2025

Sims played defensive end for Texas from 1978-81 and was a consensus All-American as a junior and senior. He had 23 tackles for loss as a senior, won the Lombardi Award and finished in eighth place in Heisman Trophy balloting.

Sims then went No. 1 in the NFL draft to the New England Patriots in an era in which quarterbacks didn't always go first overall. In this draft, Ohio State's Art Schlichter went No. 4 overall to the Baltimore Colts and BYU's Jim McMahon went fifth to the Chicago Bears. Heisman Trophy-winning running back Marcus Allen was the 10th pick by the Los Angeles Raiders.

Sims had three sacks in nine games as a rookie and placed fourth in Defensive Rookie of the Year balloting. He had a career-best 5.5 sacks in 13 games in 1985 before breaking a leg. That caused him to miss the postseason, including the Patriots' Super Bowl XX loss to the Chicago Bears.

Overall, Sims had 17 sacks and five fumble recoveries in 74 games (64 starts) over eight NFL seasons with the Patriots.

Sims was inducted into the College Hall of Fame in 2021. According to Texas, Sims had 322 tackles (50 for loss), 29 sacks, 15 forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries and three blocked kicks during his stellar college career.

--Field Level Media