Jim Daniell

Who was Jim Daniell?

James Lachlan "Big Jim" Daniell was an American football offensive tackle and defensive tackle who played two years in the National Football League and All-America Football Conference.

Daniell played high school football for Mt. Lebanon High School and The Kiski School in Pennsylvania. After graduating, he attended Ohio State University and played college football for the Ohio State Buckyes between 1938 and 1941. He was selected in the 12th round of the 1942 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, but delayed a professional career to work for his family's steel business and serve in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Daniell was deployed in the Pacific theater and fought in the Battle of Okinawa. He rose to the rank of lieutenant and was awarded numerous service stars for his role in combat.

After the war, Daniell played for the Bears in part of the 1945 season before joining the AAFC's Cleveland Browns the following year, serving as the team's first captain. While the Browns reached the AAFC championship in 1946, Daniell was kicked off the team before the title game by head coach Paul Brown when he was arrested following a confrontation with Cleveland police. Daniell left football after the season and became a steel company executive in Pennsylvania. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1977. He was elected to the Ohio State Varsity O Hall of Fame in 2013.