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Kenneth Sims, unanimous All-American and former No. 1 overall pick, passes away

Joe Cookby:Joe Cook•03/21/25•

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Kenneth Sims
Kenneth Sims (Dick Raphael-Imagn Images)

Former Texas defensive end Kenneth Sims, a unanimous All-American, two-time All-Southwest Conference selection, two-time team MVP, the 1981 Lombardi Award winner, and the No. 1 overall pick in the 1982 NFL Draft, passed away according to the school.

Sims, one of three Longhorns along with Tommy Nobis and Earl Campbell to be picked first overall in the NFL draft, was 65.

A product of Groesbeck High School, Sims was a fearsome defensive end for some of the best Longhorn teams of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Sims earned membership into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2021.

Sims is tied for ninth in school history in tackles for loss with 50, tied for fourth in sacks with 29, and is No. 1 in forced fumbles with 15. He was a team captain in 1981.

Sims finished eighth in Heisman Trophy voting in 1981, the top vote-getter among defensive players. He won the 1981 Lombardi Award, the first Longhorn to take home the honor. He was able to earn that award while only playing in nine games. One of those games was a 12-tackle performance against No. 10 Oklahoma in the 1981 Red River Shootout.

While with the Longhorns, Sims was on two teams that won bowl games. The Longhorns won the 1978 Sun Bowl and the 1982 Cotton Bowl with Sims on the defensive line. Texas finished No. 2 in the AP Poll that season behind Clemson.

Other UT stars to follow him in winning the Lombardi included Tony Degrate in 1984, Brian Orakpo in 2008, and Kelvin Banks in 2024.

The No. 1 overall selection in the 1982 draft by the New England Patriots, Sims played for eight years in the NFL. He placed fourth in defensive rookie of the year voting in 1982, and was named to the Pro Football Writers Association’s All-Rookie team. He was on the Patriots team that appeared in Super Bowl XX but was unable to compete due to injury.

Sims was inducted into the Longhorn Hall of Honor in 1997, and is one of 24 Longhorns in the College Football Hall of Fame.

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