Before he shone under the bright lights of Texas Memorial Stadium, he was just a kid from Kosse, Texas. Riding the bus to Groesbeck for school every day, a neck injury kept him off the field for his junior year and the big-time programs weren’t knocking on his door until word got out. Groesbeck had a great defense in the late 1970s and one day Rice coach Ray Alborn couldn’t help but brag about this player to Texas assistant Ken Dabbs as the two rode to the airport together. Dabbs, always one to keep his cards close, played it cool: “Yeah, I’ve seen him. He’s really something else.” But, as soon as he got to the Dallas airport, he rushed to make a call that changed everything. “Mike Parker, do you know where Groesbeck is? No? Well, you’d better find it because there’s a player over there.”

The player was none other than former No. 1 overall NFL draft pick and College Football Hall of Famer Kenneth Sims, who passed away on Friday at age 65. The University of Texas, for whom he played defensive end from 1978-81, announced the news. “Very sad day with the passing of our Longhorn Legend and College Football Hall of Famer Kenneth Sims. Our thoughts & prayers go out (to) his family, friends, and teammates,” their post on X read. According to a report, Sims had been battling an illness and passed away at his home.

A Texas football legend, his journey to becoming one of the program’s all-time greats was far from a straightforward one.

Mike Parker was the Texas defensive line coach when he received that frantic call from Dabbs about Sims. Once Sims knew that Parker was recruiting him, he made up his mind. “I came here because of Parker. My mother thinks he’s the salt of the earth, which he is. I’m friends with his family today. He’s a Marine, Purple Heart. He’s a real tough guy, and that’s why we were all tough,” the defensive lineman said as per an excerpt in the book “What it Means to Be a Longhorn.” Yet, it all could’ve been so different. Sims nearly became an Aggie before he was a Longhorn.

Sims looked up to Emory Bellard, who had held the head coach post at Texas A&M for most of the 70s. However, he was let go by the program in 1978, just when Sims was looking for a college to select him. “I was almost an Aggie, but they fired my buddy, Emory Bellard. I was very fond of him. He was like a father — he’s still like a father to me. A very nice guy,” Sims recalled in the book. Moreover, he was put off by the rowdy A&M crowd at a basketball game in G. Rollie White, when he paid a visit. Then he almost became a Rice Owl, until Ray Alborn brought his name up in front of Dabbs, who made that call to Parker.

Born on October 31, 1959, he initially lined up as a linebacker at Groesbeck High School and took up roles at fullback, and tight end before finding his true calling on the defensive line. In 1978, when he arrived at the University of Texas, he had a special request for coach Fred Ackers. “I’d made up my mind I was coming to Texas. It was cold that weekend, bitter cold, and I didn’t own a coat back then. I asked Coach Akers if I could get No. 77, and he said, “I think we can arrange that. You’re easy,” Sims was quoted as saying in “What it Means to Be a Longhorn.” But despite, his impressive high school run, getting a starting spot at the Longhorns was far from easy.

He was sixth in the depth chart in Ackers’ team. He had to wait his turn behind future Hall of Famer Steve McMichael, but when his time came, Sims became an unstoppable force.

The young “Pup,” as he was christened by McMichael, wreaked havoc on offenses throughout his four seasons with the program. He amassed 322 tackles, 50 tackles for loss, 29 sacks, and a Texas-record 15 forced fumbles. He excelled in all facets of the game, from blocking kicks to recovering fumbles and making game-changing plays. Sims made history by becoming Texas’ first-ever Lombardi Award winner in 1981, recognizing him as the best lineman in college football. That season, he dominated with 131 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks. His performances were so overwhelming that he even received Heisman Trophy votes—an almost unheard-of honor for a defensive lineman and finished in eighth place. During Sims’ final collegiate season, Texas finished 10-1-1 which culminated with a win in the 1982 Cotton Bowl.

Sims dominated in his final two seasons at Texas, earning consensus All-America and first-team All-Southwest Conference honors in both years. His impact on the field was undeniable, and his leadership earned him Team MVP in back-to-back seasons, making him the first Longhorn to achieve that feat since Chris Gilbert (1966-68). His college football Hall of Fame induction in 2021 was well overdue. But his story could have gone another way, one that would have taken him away from football.

His father deserted him and his mother, who worked tirelessly as a maid and caterer to take care of eight children. Sims once even quit his high school football team, only to think better of it and return. By 12, he was paying for his own clothes, learning early the value of hard work. Above his bedroom door, his mother hung a wood-framed copy of the Ten Commandments, not as a piece of decoration, but as a guide. He took it to heart, missing only three days of school in 12 years.

Come the 1982 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots saw what Texas fans already knew—Sims was special. They made him the first overall pick in the Draft, making him the third Longhorn ever to be taken at No. 1 with only Earl Campbell (1978) and Tommy Nobis (1966), the two names before him. He finished fourth in AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year voting that season, which came after a trip to the playoffs.

His professional career spanned eight seasons with the Patriots, during which he played 74 games, recording 17 sacks and had five fumble recoveries.

Sims was a key figure in the Patriots’ 1985 Super Bowl campaign, registering 5.5 sacks that season as New England advanced to Super Bowl XX. However, Sims was unable to face off against the legendary Chicago Bears defense led by his former Texas teammate, Steve McMichael, as he had suffered from a broken leg late in the season.

Injuries cast a long shadow over Sims’ professional career, allowing him to play just one full season in 1984. In 1987, he underwent back surgery, and the following year, a ruptured Achilles tendon kept him off the field entirely. Yet, resilience defined his journey. He battled back in 1989, fighting through the season before a knee injury forced him to miss the final game. Through every setback, he refused to let adversity define him, always returning to the game he loved.

The Patriots also mourned the news of Sims passing on their social media and paid a tribute to him, noting, “Kenneth Sims was a key part of our franchise’s history, and we mourn the loss of a great competitor and teammate. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

Kenneth Sims’ influence extended beyond the field as his dominance earned him the NCAA Today’s Top V Award in 1982 (now the Top 10 Award) for not only Sims’ football skills but also for his leadership in academics and the community. He didn’t just participate in the sport; he raised its standards. Today, Texas football continues Sims’ legacy, acknowledging the loss of not just a legend but a fundamental part of its essence.

As the news of his passing came out, the football community lined up to pay tribute to the legend.

Football fans mourn over the huge loss

John Sibley Butler, shared his grief on social media, writing, “Kenneth Sims passed today. My friend since recruitment. CFHoF, 1st pick in NFL draft, 1982, Outland Trophy. Created endowment for Women Ath. The best Basket Team ever at Texas were football players. Scored over 100pts a game running clock time. RIP.”

During the 1981 season, Sims’ senior campaign, he was so dominant in an injury-shortened season that he became Texas’ first Lombardi Trophy winner. Then in the NFL, when he played in just 13 games in 1985, he achieved his most impressive statistical season. That’s not just talent—that’s a warrior’s mindset. No wonder this fan remembers Sims saying, “RIP Kenneth Sims. One of the all-time Texas Greats. 🤘🏽”

The news of Sims’ passing came just after another of Texas’ beloved sporting legends, George Foreman passed away. One fan somberly noted, “Sad day as we mourn a couple of Texas sports legends, Kenneth Sims and George Foreman.”

Stories Man Cave host Shawn Clynch also expressed his emotions on X, offering not only prayers and condolences to Kenneth Sims’ family but also paying tribute to the contributions Sims made to the game.  “RIP Kenneth Sims, a humble legend. A heart of gold. His sense of humor, off the charts. A Groesbeck Goat & was 1 of the best D-lineman in college 🏈 The Pats made Kenny the #1 pick in the ‘82 NFL draft after becoming UT’s 1st Lombardi Trophy winner. 🙏🏻 for the Sims family.”

As a dominant starter in the 1980 and 1981 seasons, Sims racked up an impressive 241 tackles, 21 sacks, 40 tackles for loss, 11 forced fumbles, and six fumble recoveries. His impact still echoes in the Texas record books. His 15 career forced fumbles remain the most in school history, while his 29 sacks (4th), seven fumble recoveries (5th), and 50 tackles for loss (9th) all rank among the Longhorns’ all-time best.

He will go down as a Longhorn legend as he takes his place in the heavens. May he rest in peace.