Date of birth: | November 23, 1971 |
Place of birth: | Milford, Massachusetts |
Career information | |
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Position(s): | Offensive lineman |
College: | Virginia Tech |
NFL Draft: | 1994 / Round: 7 / Pick: 200 |
Organizations | |
As player: | |
1995–1997 1998 1999–2000 2001 |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Detroit Lions Cleveland Browns Philadelphia Eagles |
Career highlights and awards | |
Retired #s: | 73 (VT) |
Playing stats at NFL.com |
James M. Pyne (born November 23, 1971) is a former American football player and coach in the National Football League. He played college football at Virginia Tech.
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Pyne was born in Milford, Massachusetts. He attended Milford High School and Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, Connecticut.
Pyne attended Virginia Tech and was selected as a unanimous All-American, becoming Virginia Tech's first player ever to do so,[1] and was also awarded the Dudley Award, which is given to the Commonwealth of Virginia's outstanding player of the year.[2] He was a finalist for both the Lombardi Award and the Outland Trophy. Virginia Tech retired his number (#73); it is one of only four football numbers retired by the school in over 100 years of football. He was named to the Big East Conferences All-time team at the turn of the century. The offensive line meeting room at Virginia Tech has been named in his honor. He has been inducted to Virginia Tech's Sports Hall of Fame.[1]
Pyne joined the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers and played four of his eight professional seasons with the team as a left guard, starting in 38 of his 42 appearances from 1995 to 1997.[3][4] In 1998 he went to Detroit to play with the Lions and started 16 games at center.[5] In 1999 he became the first overall pick of the Cleveland Browns in the 1999 expansion draft.[6] In Cleveland he was a starter for two seasons at left guard before injuring his knee. He was named the team MVP by the Akron Browns backers and named the teams top offensive lineman by the touchdown club. He was also elected team captain while with the Browns. He was named three times to Muscle and Fitnesses' NFL all strength team. He finished his career with the NFC East division champion Philadelphia Eagles in 2001.[3][7]
Pyne's father, George Pyne III, played for the Boston Patriots of the American Football League in 1965. Pyne's grandfather, George Pyne II, played for the Providence Steam Roller of the NFL in 1931. The Pynes became the only family to play three generations of professional football.[8] They have since been joined by the Matthews family (Clay Matthews, Sr., Clay Matthews, Jr., and Clay Matthews III). He has been inducted into three halls of fame: Virginia Tech,[1] Milford High School (Ma.), and Choate Rosemary Hall (Wallingford, CT).
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