New England Patriots: Top 5 tight ends in franchise history
By Duncan Day
4. Jim Whalen (1965-69)
Jim Whalen, who played five seasons with the Boston Patriots, passed away in December 2012. However, his legacy in the Patriots’ organization will live on as he left an impact on the field. His ability on the gridiron was lauded by his teammates from his time with the Patriots.
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“Jim was strong, durable, and fast,’’ said Jon Morris, a Patriots Hall of Fame center, via Boston.com. “And he wouldn’t hesitate to give you the needle with a twinkle in his eye.’’
Whalen didn’t play tight end in high school, but did so at Boston College, the result being two All-East selections. He earned first-team All-Pro honors in 1968, his fourth season in professional football, registering 47 catches, 718 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. He boasts the highest yards per catch average (16.3) of any Patriots tight end with at least 150 receptions.
The 210-pounder accumulated 2,487 receiving yards during his time with the Pats, which is better than Hernandez, Watson and wide receiver David Givens. Though he may have been from a now bygone era of the league, there’s no denying the legacy and impact of Whalen.