Jimmy Warren
Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame
Football, 1956-77
Cohen High School/Illinois/NFL
Inducted: 1994
After a standout career at Cohen High School, Jimmy Warren attended the University of Illinois and then played 12 seasons of professional football as a defensive back with the San Diego Chargers (AFL, 1964-65), the Miami Dolphins (AFL, 1966-69) and the Oakland Raiders (1970-74, 1977).
Selected in the 1964 AFL Draft by the Chargers. Warren intercepted seven passes over two seasons before signing with the expansion Dolphins. In his first year in Miami, he started each of Miami's 14 games, intercepting five passes, returning them for a league high 198 yards and one touchdown. His strong play in the defensive secondary was rewarded by his first and only Pro Bowl selection following the season. In 1967, Warren again started each of Miami's 14 games. He picked off four passes and returned a fumble for a touchdown, garnering a second team All-Conference selection by the Sporting News. In 1968, Warren started all 14 games, intercepting two passes and recovering two fumbles. He again earned second-team all-conference recognition from the Sporting News, as well as an All-AFL second team selection courtesy of the Newspaper Entertainment Association.
Warren started 13 games for the Dolphins in 1969, and was traded to the Oakland Raiders upon the AFL's merger with the NFL starting in 1970. He played six years in Oakland before retiring after the 1977 season. He had a pair of interception returns for touchdowns in 1971 with the Raiders.
In 140 games over 12 NFL seasons, Warren recorded 25 interceptions, returning those for 516 yards including three for touchdowns.
After his playing days, Warren went into coaching, including spending time as the head coach at his alma mater, Cohen, leading the team to the district playoffs for the first time in 25 years. He also coached with the Raiders, the Orlando Renegades of the USFL, Bethune-Cookman College, Long Beach State, and the University of Houston.
Born July 20, 1939 in Ferriday
, La., Warren died Aug. 9, 2006 at the age of 67.
