Jim Dooley

Who was Jim Dooley?

James William Dooley was an American football player and coach. He is best remembered for his tenure in both capacities with the National Football League's Chicago Bears.

Dooley, who grew up in Miami, Florida, originally wanted to pursue a career in medicine at Vanderbilt University, but attended the nearby University of Miami when head coach Andy Gustafson agreed to have the school pay his way through medical school. With the Hurricanes, he played on both sides of the ball and put together an outstanding career, winning All-American honors and becoming the first player in school history to have his number retired. Possessing great speed, he capped this era with four interceptions against Clemson University in the Gator Bowl on January 1, 1952, then was drafted in the first round by the Bears.

In his first year in the NFL, Dooley saw little time on offense, but collected five interceptions. In 1953, he became an important part of the team's passing attack with 53 receptions and four touchdowns, showing a flair for faking out defenders while also popularizing the down-and-out pass. After 34 catches and seven touchdowns the following year, Dooley's career took a detour when he missed much of the next two seasons by serving the U.S. Air Force. He joined the team on November 28, 1956, and played in their final three games, helping the team reach the NFL Championship game against the New York Giants.