Professional Career
James signed with the National Football League's Detroit Lions in 1947. He was still eligible to play in college at the time, but wartime rules allowed him to skip to the professional ranks; the Lions had selected him in the 1947 NFL Draft. James broke his arm in the second game of the season, and he did sat on the sidelines for the rest of the year. Detroit did not renew his contract, and the Cleveland Browns of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC), a team coached by Paul Brown, picked him up. He started at right defensive halfback in 1948 opposite Tommy Colella and intercepted four passes as the Browns went 15–0 and won the All-America Football Conference championship. Brown was pleasantly surprised by his abilities defending opponents' passes. "Tommy always was a pretty good man on defense at Massillon and Ohio State," he said in 1948. "But his play this year has even surprised those of us who knew him in high school and college. I think we're definitely improved at defensive right half over last year."
James continued to be a key defensive player for the Browns in 1949, when the team won another AAFC championship behind a staunch defense and an offense led by quarterback Otto Graham and fullback Marion Motley. The AAFC dissolved after the season, however, and the Browns moved to the National Football League (NFL). Cleveland's first year in the NFL was the best of James's career; he intercepted nine passes, setting a club record that stood until 1978. The team finished the season with a 10–2 record and beat the Los Angeles Rams to win the NFL championship. James had an interception in the game and held the ball for placekicker Lou Groza as he kicked the game-winning field goal with under a minute to play.
Cleveland reached the championship in each of the ensuing three years, but lost each time, once to the Rams and twice to the Detroit Lions. In 1953, James intercepted five passes and recovered two fumbles; he was selected for the Pro Bowl after the season. The Browns went on to win the NFL championship again in 1954 and 1955. James was moved from defensive halfback to safety in 1955 as he got older and was hampered by injuries.
Brown released the 33-year-old James on waivers before the 1956 season, saying it was "one of the toughest things I've had to do in football" because of the effort he put out. James had worked in the offseason as a sporting goods salesman and had an offer to join a trucking firm, but he said he wanted to continue his football career for one more year. He was picked up by the Baltimore Colts, but left the team in October after injuring his shoulder. He ended his NFL career with 26 interceptions, all with the Browns, tying him for eighth place in team history.
Read more about this topic: Tommy James (American Football)
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