Former Patriots First Overall Pick Kenneth Sims Dies at 65

Kenneth Sims, the former No. 1 overall pick for the New England Patriots in the 1982 NFL Draft and a standout player at the University of Texas, has died at the age of 65. The Patriots announced his passing, revealing that Sims had been battling an illness and passed away in his sleep at his home on Friday.

Sims’ death prompted tributes from the football community, with the official Texas Football account expressing their condolences. A 2021 College Football Hall of Fame inductee, Sims was a dominant defensive presence for the Longhorns. After playing behind Steve McMichael and Bill Acker, he rose to prominence during his junior year, recording 131 tackles and earning All-American honors. He followed this with another All-American season as a senior, becoming the first Longhorn to win the Lombardi Award and receiving the most defensive votes for the Heisman Trophy in 1981.

His collegiate success led to the Patriots selecting him as the top pick in the 1982 NFL Draft. Sims played eight seasons with New England, appearing in 74 games with 64 starts. He recorded 17 sacks, including a 5.5-sack season in 1985. However, a broken leg that year prevented him from participating in Super Bowl XX, where the Patriots faced the Chicago Bears.

Sims’ impact on both college and professional football is remembered, and his contributions to the sport will be missed.

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