Jim Pyne

James M. Pyne (born November 23, 1971) is an American businessman and former professional football player. He played as a guard and center for nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He is the co-founder of Wheels Up and has also served as the chief partnership officer of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.^[1]

Jim Pyne

No. 60, 61, 71, 73
Position:	Guard Center
Personal information
Born:	(1971-11-23) November 23, 1971 (age 52) Milford, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	290 lb (132 kg)
Career information
High school:	Milford
College:	Virginia Tech
NFL draft:	1994 / round: 7 / pick: 200
Expansion draft:	1999 / round: 1 / pick: 1
Career history
As a player:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1994–1997) Detroit Lions (1998) Cleveland Browns (1999–2000) Philadelphia Eagles (2001)
As a coach:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2003–2004) New Orleans Saints (2005)
Career highlights and awards
Unanimous All-American (1993) Dudley Award (1993)
Career NFL statistics
Games played: 81 Games started: 73 Fumble recoveries: 1
Player stats at PFR

Pyne played college football for Virginia Tech, and earned All-American honors. Selected by Tampa Bay in the seventh round of the 1994 NFL draft, he became a reliable starter for the Buccaneers, Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles. After playing in the NFL, Pyne became an assistant coach for the Buccaneers from 2003 to 2004 and for the New Orleans Saints in 2005.^[2]

Early life and education

Pyne was born in Milford, Massachusetts.^[3] He attended Milford High School and Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, Connecticut, and played high school football for the Milford Scarlet Hawks and the Choate Judges.^[4]

Career

College football

Pyne attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and played for the Virginia Tech Hokies football team from 1990 to 1993. As a senior in 1993, he was selected as a unanimous All-American, becoming Virginia Tech's first player ever to do so,^[5] and was also awarded the Dudley Award, which is given to the Commonwealth of Virginia's outstanding player of the year.^[6] 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 hundred 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 was also inducted to Virginia Tech's Sports Hall of Fame.^[5] He later was named a legend of the ACC.

Professional football

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Pyne in seventh round (200th pick overall) in the 1994 NFL draft.^[7] He played four of his nine professional seasons with the Buccaneers as a left guard, starting in 38 of his 42 appearances from 1995 to 1997.^[8][9]

In 1998, he went to Detroit to play with the Lions and started 16 games at center.^[10]

In 1999, he became the first overall pick of the Cleveland Browns in the 1999 expansion draft.^[11] 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 team's 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][12]

Personal life

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 first family to play three generations of professional football.^[13]

His brother, George Pyne, has played football at Brown University and is a businessman.^[14]

References

1. "Pyne comes in to firm up Wheels Up partnerships". Business Air News. March 26, 2019. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
2. "Jim Pyne". Pro Football Archives.
3. National Football League, Historical Players, Jim Pyne. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
4. databaseFootball.com, Players, Jim Pyne Archived March 24, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
5. "Five Named to Tech Hall of Fame". Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. August 8, 2004. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
6. "Virginia Tech's Pyne collects Dudley award". The Free Lance-Star. Associated Press. December 3, 1993. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
7. "1994 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
8. Pro-Football-Reference.com, Players, Jim Pyne. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
9. Cobb, Mike (February 22, 1998). "Bucs Lose Lineman Pyne to Lions". Lakeland Ledger. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
10. "Browns decide to build with no-name guys". Reading Eagle. February 10, 1999. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
11. "Browns Get Pick of the NFL Leftovers". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 10, 1999. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
12. "2001 Philadelphia Eagles Starters & Roster". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
13. "Pyne rejects pay cut and gets cut". The Vindicator. Associated Press. August 23, 2001. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
14. Hughes, Jed (August 4, 2003). "Pyne didn't follow a playbook on way to NASCAR executive suite". sportsbusinessdaily.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2015. Retrieved October 2, 2015.

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