Jim Pace

James Edward Pace (January 1, 1936 – March 4, 1983) was an American professional football player who was a running back for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines, earning first-team All-American honors playing halfback in 1957.

Early life Although he was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, Pace was raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was also awarded the Chicago Tribune Silver Football as the Most Valuable Player in the Big Ten Conference. He also ran track at Michigan and won the Big Ten 60-yard indoor dash title. In 1957, he scored ten touchdowns: seven rushing, two receiving, and one punt return. He accumulated almost 800 yards of total offense in 1957 (664 rushing, 122 receiving and 98 on punt returns) and averaged 5.4 yards per carry rushing. which was at that time the Michigan record for rushing yards against Ohio State. Pace played in the 1957 East–West Shrine Game.

Professional career Pace was the eighth overall pick in the first round of the 1958 NFL draft. but played just one season for the San Francisco 49ers. He later played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League before retiring in 1963.

After retiring from football, Pace was an AFL administrative assistant from 1964 to 1966, an Oakland football scout, an actor in TV commercials and a school administrator in Los Angeles. He died at age 47 in Culver City, California.