Jim Whalen

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James Francis Whalen, Jr. (May 20, 1943 – December 18, 2012) was an American professional football player who was a tight end in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL).^[2]

Whalen was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He played in the AFL for the Boston Patriots, and then in the NFL for the Denver Broncos and Philadelphia Eagles. Whalen played college football for the Boston College Eagles, where he was a two time first-team All-East selection and one time All-American. Whalen was selected in the third round of the 1965 AFL draft.^[3] He was also chosen in the fourth round of the 1965 NFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings.^[3]

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.^{[citation needed]} 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.^[4] The Boston Red Sox were playing in the 1967 World Series and the Patriots had to play at Boston College for this game.^{[citation needed]} 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).