James Francis Whalen, Jr. (May 20, 1943 – December 18, 2012) was a professional American football tight end.
Whalen was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He played in the American Football League (AFL) for the Boston Patriots, and then in the National Football League (NFL) for the Denver Broncos and Philadelphia Eagles. Whalen played college football at Boston College where he was a two time First-team All-East selection and one time All-American and was selected in the third round of the 1965 AFL Draft. He was also drafted in the fourth round of the 1965 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.
Jim Whalen is the only football player to have 3 TD receptions in a college game played at Boston College Alumni Stadium and have 3 TD receptions in a professional football game played at Boston College Alumni Stadium. Jim caught a team record 3 TD passes for the Boston Patriots in their 41–10 rout of the Miami Dolphins at BC on October 15, 1967. The Boston Red Sox were playing in the 1967 World Series and the Patriots had to play at Boston College for this game. Earlier in 1962 as a sophomore at Boston College, Whalen hauled in a team record three touchdown receptions in a victory against Boston University.
Whalen would become the first Patriots receiver to be accorded First-team All-Pro (1968). That same year he was voted as team MVP and would subsequently be selected as the tight end on the Patriots All-Decade Team (1960s).
Early years
James Francis "Jim" Whalen, Jr., grew up in Cambridge, Massachusetts residing on Plymouth Street. He was the son of James Francis "Brud" Whalen and Helen Whalen, née Zukowski. He has one sister, Rosemary.
(Whalen's father was one of the preeminent multi-sport collegiate stars of his era, captaining the Manhattan College baseball and football teams in its sports heyday at the national level. In one of his seasons on the gridiron he averaged 9.1 yards per carry rushing, 12.7 yards per pass reception, and 45 yards per punt return and was among the leaders nationally in touchdowns scored. He was elected into the Manhattan College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989.)
The younger Whalen was a three-sport star at Cambridge High and Latin, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a school that also produced a number of other top athletes including MLB Hall-of-Fame pitcher and 342 game winner Tim Keefe, MLB player Eddie Waitkus on whom the movie The Natural was loosely based and Olympic high jumper John Thomas. Whalen, who starred in football, baseball and ice hockey, was subsequently inducted into the Cambridge Rindge and Latin Athletic Hall of Fame.
College years
Overview
Whalen is considered one of the finest pass catchers and all-around athletes to graduate from Boston College. At the time of his graduation after the 1964 season, Whalen was the top pass receiver in Boston College history with 73 career receptions, surpassing the total of 70 accumulated by Art Graham, who like Whalen a few years later, would go on to a stellar career with the Boston Patriots. In addition to being one of the top ends in the country, Whalen was called upon to also punt his senior season. During his tenure at BC, Whalen also lettered in baseball and ice hockey in addition to football. The 1963, 1964 and 1965 BC Eagles hockey teams won the Beanpot Tournament while the 1963 and 1965 teams each reached the national Frozen Four.
Whalen was elected into the Boston College Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 1995.
1962 season
Whalen started as a sophomore at Boston College recording 16 catches for 309 yards and a lofty 19.3 yards per reception. He was second on the team in touchdowns with six, trailing only Art Graham who scored seven. Boston College would finish with an 8–2 record including wins over Texas Tech, Vanderbilt and Houston.
1963 season
Consensus First-team All-East selection as offensive end. Ranked first nationally in yards per catch (minimum of 25 catches) with an average of 20.1. His 523 receiving yards on 26 catches ranked eighth nationally, only 36 yards out of the fourth position. In addition to leading BC in receiving yards, Whalen also led in receptions. Boston College finished with a 6–3 record including wins over Virginia and Vanderbilt.
1964 season
Accorded Third-team All-American and repeated as consensus First-team All-East. Joining Whalen at the offensive skill positions were Roger Staubach/Navy at QB, Milt Moran/UMass at end, and Jim Nance and Floyd Little, each of Syracuse, as backs. After the conclusion of the 1964 season, Whalen was selected as a starter in both the East – West Shrine Game (held in San Francisco), as well as the Senior Bowl (Mobile, Alabama).