Jim Beirne

Jim Beirne
No. 81, 85, 88
PositionsWide receiver, Tight end
Personal information
Born(1946-10-15)October 15, 1946
McKeesport, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedMay 28, 2021(2021-05-28) (aged 74)
Kerrville, Texas, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight206 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High schoolMcKeesport
CollegePurdue
NFL draft1968: 4th round, 105th overall pick
Career history
Awards and highlights
Career NFL/AFL statistics
Receptions142
Receiving yards2,011
Touchdowns11
Stats at Pro Football Reference

James Patrick Beirne (October 15, 1946 – May 28, 2021) was an American professional football player who was a wide receiver in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Purdue University, where he was an All-American, and first-team All-Big Ten as a senior (1967). He played professionally for the Houston Oilers of the AFL and was named an AFL All-Star in 1969. He later played in the NFL for the Oilers and San Diego Chargers.

Early life

Beirne was born on October 15, 1946, in McKeesport, Pennsylvania.[1] He attended McKeesport High School, where he was a wide receiver on the football team.[2] In 1963, as a 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (81.6 kg) senior, Beirne had 69 receptions for 1,075 yards and seven touchdowns.[3] He received the most votes for the WPIAL (Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League) Class AA All-Star Team that year.[4] In December 1963, the Associated Press (AP) selected Beirne to its first-team All-Pennsylvania All-Star scholastic football team.[3] He was selected to play in the 1964 Big 33 Game between high school all-stars from Texas and Pennsylvania.[5]

He also played outfielder on McKeesport's baseball team.[6][7]

College career

Beirne attended Purdue University, where he played three varsity seasons for the Boilermakers (1965 to 1967), playing in the Big Ten Conference.[8] Purdue's quarterback in 1965 and 1966 was future Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Bob Griese.[9][10]

Beirne played tight end as a sophomore in 1965. He was third on the team in receptions (29) and receiving yards (384), behind wide receivers Bob Hadrick (47) and Jim Finley (33). Beirne was first on the team in yards per reception (13.2) and receiving touchdowns (four).[11] He was tied for third in the Big Ten in receiving touchdowns and was eighth in yards per reception.[12] Purdue had a 7–2–1 record that season.[11] Beirne was named the team's outstanding sophomore player.[13]

As a junior in 1966, Beirne moved to wide receiver, replacing Bob Hadrick who had graduated.[14][15] Beirne led the Boilermakers in receptions (64) and receiving yards (768).[16] His eight receiving touchdowns that year was best in the Big Ten.[17] He was second in the Big Ten in total receptions and fourth in receiving yards,[17] and was sixth nationally in receptions.[18] Purdue finished the season 9–2, ranked No. 7 nationally by the Associated Press.[16][19] Purdue defeated the 1966 USC Trojans in the Rose Bowl, 14–13. Beirne caught a 39-yard pass in the game, but lost an opportunity to score a touchdown. He caught Griese's pass at the USC two-yard line, but fumbled at the goal line as he was being tackled; before reaching the endzone.[20][21]

The Associated Press named Beirne second team All-Big Ten in November 1966.[22] United Press International (UPI) gave him honorable mention on its All-Big Ten team.[23] He was named to the first-team offense on the Central Press Association Captains' All-America Team in 1966.[24] He was an AP and UPI honorable mention All-American that year.[25][26]

As a senior in 1967, Beirne tied Leroy Keyes for the team lead with 45 receptions (tied for fourth in the Big Ten), and had 643 receiving yards and five touchdown receptions.[27][28] Purdue had an 8–2 record and was ranked No. 9 by the Associated Press that year.[27][29] The Associated Press and UPI named Beirne first-team All-Big Ten in 1967.[30][31] The AP and UPI also named him an honorable mention All-American in 1967.[32][33] He was again named a Central Press Captains' All-American in 1967.[34] Beirne's teammates elected him honorary captain at the end of the season.[35]

Beirne was chosen to play in the late December 1967 East West Shrine Game in San Francisco,[36] and in the January 1968 Hula Bowl.[37]

Professional career

The Houston Oilers selected Beirne in the fourth round of the 1968 NFL/AFL draft, 105th overall.[38] Beirne started 12 games at wide receiver as a rookie for the Oilers. He was third on the team with 31 receptions, 474 receiving yards, and four touchdowns.[39] His best game that year was on November 28 against the Kansas City Chiefs, when he had four receptions for 103 yards and a 66-yard touchdown reception from Oilers' quarterback Pete Beathard.[40][41] He had two touchdown receptions in the season's final game; a victory that gave the Oilers a second-place finish with a 7–7 record that season.[42]

Beirne started all 14 Oilers' games the following season (1969). He had 42 receptions for 540 yards and four touchdowns, and was selected to play in the 1969 AFL All-Star Game.[43][44] This was the final game in AFL history, as the AFL merged into the NFL for play the following season.[45] In a November 9 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Beirne had six receptions for 114 yards and two touchdowns (on passes of 37 and 34 yards).[46][47]

Beirne started seven games in 1970, but became a reserve wide receiver playing behind Charlie Joiner during the season.[48][49] Beirne's best game that year came against the eventual Super Bowl V Champion Baltimore Colts[50] in week four, with six receptions for 85 yards.[51] Joiner had suffered a broken arm before the 1970 season started, and was not activated until Houston's sixth game of the season on October 25 (in which he caught five passes for 100 yards).[52][53] Beirne had 11 receptions for 142 yards in the five games before Joiner's return, and five receptions for 74 yards over the final nine games of the season.[51] Jerry LeVias led the Oilers' wide receivers in receptions that season.[49]

The Oilers traded LeVias before the 1971 season[54] and Beirne once again became a full-time starter at wide receiver. He started 13 games in 1971, with 38 receptions for 550 yards and one touchdown.[55] This was Beirne's last season as a full-time starter, and he would only start three games over the remainder of his career.[1] Beirne began the 1972 season as a reserve and did not start a game until week six, because of an injury to starter Ken Burrough (though Burrough came into Game 6 and caught an 80-yard touchdown pass).[56][57] Beirne started two games that season, with only seven receptions for 95 yards.[58] He suffered a knee injury and did not play in the final four games of the 1972 season; and had surgery after the season ended.[59]

Beirne suffered a stone bruise on his heel before the 1973 season.[59] He appeared in only one game, the first week of the season;[60] and was placed on injured reserve for most of the 1973 season.[61] It is reported that when Oilers' head coach Sid Gillman attempted to pass Beirne through waivers at the end of the 1973 season so Beirne could play a game in Pittsburgh near his hometown of McKeesport, the San Diego Chargers claimed Beirne off waivers for the $100 fee.[61] He signed with the Chargers in early December 1973, reportedly joining the Chargers before the last two games of the season,[62] though he is not listed on their 1973 roster.[63]

He began the 1974 season as a reserve receiver with the Chargers, playing behind former Oilers' teammate Jerry LeVias, and Gary Garrison.[64] Beirne was with the Chargers for 14 games in 1974, not starting any. He had seven receptions for 121 yards, but had a leg injury limiting his play that season.[65][66] Beirne had three of those receptions for 61 yards in the Chargers first game of the 1974 season, against the Oilers.[67]

The Chargers released Beirne in mid-August 1975, and he returned to his home in Houston.[68][66] He rejoined the Oilers in 1975 for six games, after the team suffered a number of injuries and needed players. Beirne had one reception in 1975 and played on special teams.[61][69] The Oilers waived Beirne in late August 1976 and again in early September 1976,[70][71] but re-signed him during the season.[72]

The Oilers signed Beirne on four separate occasions between the end of the 1975 season and the end of September 1976, releasing him three times during September 1976.[61] He was on the Oilers' 1976 roster for seven games, without a reception.[73][1] He returned a kickoff 12 yards on November 1, 1976 and played in his last NFL game on November 7.[74] He underwent knee surgery and was out for the remainder of the 1976 season.[75] After finishing the 1976 season on the injured reserved list, the Oilers waived Beirne in March 1977.[76]

During his career Beirne was lacking in speed compared to other wide receivers, but excelled in catching the ball and in his competitiveness. He had a willingness to catch passes in the middle of the field, knowing he would be hit hard.[59][66] In his eight seasons with the Oilers, Beirne started 49 games, with 135 receptions for 1,890 yards (14 yards per reception) and eleven touchdowns. He had 142 receptions for 2,011 yards over his entire career.[1]

Personal life and death

After Beirne retired, he and his wife Jody established Jim Beirne Custom Homes in the Houston area.[77] They had two sons (Kevin and Mike) and a daughter (Kathleen Ann) who predeceased Beirne.[78] Beirne and Jody lived in Fredericksburg, Texas for about five years before his death in late May 2021.[79]

Beirne's sons were both athletes as well.[80] His son Kevin Beirne was a receiver on Texas A&M's college football team,[80] and was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher for three seasons 2000 to 2002.[81] Beirne's son Mike Beirne was a tight end, wide receiver, and linebacker at the University of Kentucky from 1998 to 2001.[82][83][84]

Beirne died of complications from Alzheimer's disease on May 28, 2021 in Kerrville, Texas.[78][79]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Jim Beirne Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  2. ↑ Kurtz, Paul A. (October 13, 1962). "Johnstown Risks 'AA' Title Hopes". The Pittsburgh Press. p. 7.
  3. 1 2 Leheer, Dave (December 12, 1963). "AP's 1963 Scholastic All-State Grid Team". The Morning Press (Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania). pp. Twelve.
  4. ↑ Kramer, Brute (November 30, 1963). "Three Repeaters on WPIAL Class AA 'Star Selections". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 16.
  5. ↑ Christ, Ronnie (July 25, 1964). "Pennsylvania Texas Concentrate on Ends". The Evening News ([[Harrisburg, Pennsylvania[[). p. 8.
  6. ↑ Kurtz, Paul A. (June 12, 1962). "Ellwood City WPIAL Champion". The Pittsburgh Press. p. 39.
  7. ↑ Kurtz, Paul A. (May 28, 1963). "Zambo, Christian Pitching Mainstays Of McKeesport Nine". The Pittsburgh Press. p. 29.
  8. ↑ "Jim Beirne College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Bob Griese College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  10. ↑ Fame, Pro Football Hall of (February 10, 2026). "Bob Griese". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  11. 1 2 "1965 Purdue Boilermakers Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  12. ↑ "1965 Big Ten Conference Year Summary". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Bob Griese Voted MVP". Journal & Courier (Lafayette, Indiana). November 23, 1965. p. 13.
  14. ↑ Doyle, Joe (September 8, 1966). "According to Doyle". The South Bend Tribune (South Bend, Indiana). p. 30.
  15. ↑ "Bob Hadrick College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  16. 1 2 "1966 Purdue Boilermakers Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  17. 1 2 "1966 Big Ten Conference Year Summary". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  18. ↑ "1966 College Football Leaders". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  19. ↑ "1966 College Football Polls". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Purdue Slips Past Southern Cal". The Muncie Star (Muncie, Indiana). United Press International. January 3, 1967. p. 11.
  21. ↑ Schrader, Gus (January 3, 1967). "Red Peppers". The Cedar Rapids Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa). pp. 13, 15.
  22. ↑ "4 Boilermakers Make AP All-Big Ten Team". The Journal and Courier (Lafayette, Indiana). November 23, 1966. p. 14.
  23. ↑ "Purdue 'Hogs' All-Big Ten Squad Honors". The Indianapolis Star. Associated Press, United Press International. November 24, 1966. p. 79.
  24. ↑ Johns, Walter L. (November 26, 1966). "Spartans, Irish Lead On All-American Team". The Clarion-Ledger (Jackson, Mississippi). Central Press Association. p. 22.
  25. ↑ Smits, Ted (December 8, 1966). "Notre Dame and Spartans Each Land 3 All-Americans". The Kansas City Star. Associated Press. p. 30.
  26. ↑ "UPI Overlooks Bob Griese". Kokomo Morning Times (Kokomo, Indiana). United Press International. December 1, 1966. p. 9.
  27. 1 2 "1967 Purdue Boilermakers Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  28. ↑ "1967 Big Ten Conference Year Summary". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  29. ↑ "1967 College Football Polls". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  30. ↑ Mooshil, Joe (November 28, 1967). "All Big-Ten Teams For 1967 Loaded With Boilermakers, Gophers And Hoosier Stars". The Register (Danville, Virginia). Associated Press. pp. 8–A.
  31. ↑ "Purdue's Keyes Unanimous Pick". Nevada State Journal (Reno, Nevada). United Press International. December 3, 1967. p. 58.
  32. ↑ "AP 1967 Football All-Americans". The Kansas City Times. Associated Press. December 8, 1967. p. 38.
  33. ↑ Griffin, John C. (November 29, 1967). "UPI Post All-American Team; Staley On Second". The Herald Journal (Logan, Utah). United Press International. p. 4.
  34. ↑ Johns, Walter L. (November 28, 1967). "West Coast Dominates 1967 Press Captains' All-American". Elizabethton Star (Elizabethton, Tennessee). Central Press Association. p. 3.
  35. ↑ "Leroy (Surprise) Purdue's MVP". Daily Herald-Times (Bloomington, Indiana). Associated Press. November 28, 1967. p. 11.
  36. ↑ "West Favored by Three Points Over East in Shrine Classic". The Scranton Tribune (Scranton, Pennsylvania). United Press International. December 30, 1967. p. 12.
  37. ↑ "Hula Bowl Saturday On TV From Honolulu". Morning Sentinel (Waterville, Maine). Associated Press. January 3, 1968. p. 18.
  38. ↑ "1968 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  39. ↑ "1968 Houston Oilers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  40. ↑ "Jim Beirne 1968 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  41. ↑ Bock, Hal (November 29, 1968). "Jets Win Crown As Oilers Lose To Kansas City". The Post-Crescent (Appleton, Wisconsin). Associated Press. pp. B8.
  42. ↑ "OILERS WIN BY 45-17 AND FINISH SECOND" (PDF). The New York Times. December 6, 1968. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  43. ↑ "1969 Houston Oilers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  44. ↑ "1969 AFL Pro Bowlers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  45. ↑ Pro Football Hall of Fame (March 13, 2026). "General History - Chronology (1960 to 1979)". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  46. ↑ "Cincinnati Bengals at Houston Oilers - November 9th, 1969". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  47. ↑ "Bengals Tie Oilers On Late Field Goal". The Philadelphia Inquirer. November 10, 1969. p. 30.
  48. ↑ Lundgren, Hal (November 19, 1970). "Beirne Unhappy Sitting on Bench". The Houston Chronicle. pp. 2, Sec. 4.
  49. 1 2 "1970 Houston Oilers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  50. ↑ "Super Bowl V - Dallas Cowboys vs. Baltimore Colts - January 17th, 1971". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  51. 1 2 "Jim Beirne 1970 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  52. ↑ Snyder, Gary (October 25, 1970). "Football–Last Bastion of USA Tradition". The Orange Leader (Orange, Texas). pp. Nine.
  53. ↑ "Charlie Joiner 1970 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  54. ↑ "Despite Levias Trade, Oilers Strength Lies With Receivers". Beaumont Enterprise-Journal (Beaumont, Texas). September 10, 1971. pp. 10C.
  55. ↑ "1971 Houston Oilers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  56. ↑ "Oilers Change Wide Receivers". El Paso Herald-Post (El Paso, Texas). United Press International. October 21, 1972. pp. Four, Sec. C.
  57. ↑ "Cleveland Browns at Houston Oilers - October 22nd, 1972". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  58. ↑ "1972 Houston Oilers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  59. 1 2 3 Casstevens, David (July 28, 1973). "Jim burns for competition". The Houston Post. pp. 1D, 2D.
  60. ↑ "Jim Beirne 1973 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  61. 1 2 3 4 Herskowitz, Mickey (September 26, 1976). "Beirne burns for last Oiler chance". The Houston Post. pp. 5C.
  62. ↑ "Chargers sign end Jim Beirne". Press-Telegram (Long Beach, California). Associated Press. December 7, 1973. pp. C–4.
  63. ↑ "San Diego Chargers 1973 Games and Schedule". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  64. ↑ Means, Ray (September 17, 1974). "Pro Football Sizeup, San Diego Chargers". Lebanon Daily News (Lebanon, Pennsylvania). United Press International. p. 19.
  65. ↑ "1974 San Diego Chargers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  66. 1 2 3 Peebles, Dick (August 17, 1976). "Jim Beirne – he comes to play". Houston Chronicle. pp. 2, Sec. 4.
  67. ↑ "San Diego Chargers at Houston Oilers - September 15th, 1974". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  68. ↑ "No crowd due for Chargers". Daily Times-Advocate (Escondido, California). August 20, 1975. pp. A–15.
  69. ↑ "1975 Houston Oilers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  70. ↑ "Football Moves". The Pittsburgh Press. August 28, 1976. p. 7.
  71. ↑ "Some familiar names on NFL's waiver list". Register-Guard (Eugene, Oregon). United Press International. September 7, 1976. pp. 6C.
  72. ↑ "Football, National League". Buffalo Evening News. September 23, 1976. p. 54.
  73. ↑ "1976 Houston Oilers Roster & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  74. ↑ "Jim Beirne 1976 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  75. ↑ "NFL injury report, 49er Williams should play". The Argus (Fremont-Newark, California). United Press International. November 11, 1976. p. 24.
  76. ↑ "Oilers waive Bubba". Corpus Christi Times (Corpus Christi, Texas). Associated Press. March 9, 1977. pp. 9B.
  77. ↑ Williams, Charean (June 1, 2021). "Former Oilers receiver Jim Beirne dies at 74". NBC Sports. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  78. 1 2 "Obituary for James "Jim" Patrick Beirne |". Obituary for James "Jim" Patrick Beirne |. Archived from the original on September 20, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  79. 1 2 Koons, Zach (June 1, 2021). "Former Houston Oilers Pro Bowl WR Dies At 74". The Spun.
  80. 1 2 Hveem, Todd (August 19, 1998). "Favored up front". The Houston Chronicle. pp. 26, Zone 14.
  81. ↑ "Kevin Beirne Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  82. ↑ "Mike Beirne College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  83. ↑ Hampton, Rusty (October 31, 2001). "Kentucky Wildcats Report". Louisville Courier-Journal (Louisville, Kentucky). pp. E3.
  84. ↑ Cosby, Chip. "Games Within The Game". Lexington Herald-Leader (Lexington, Kentucky). pp. D10.
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