Kenneth Sims, the No. 1 overall selection in the 1982 NFL Draft by the Patriots, died Friday, the team announced.
Sims was battling an illness and died in his sleep at his home.
He was 65.
Prior to being drafted by the Patriots, Sims was a standout defensive end at the University of Texas and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2021.
“Very sad day with the pᴀssing of our Longhorn Legend and College Football Hall of Famer Kenneth Sims,” the official Texas football account posted on X. “Our thoughts & prayers go out to his family, friends, and teammates.”
Sims had a breakout junior season at Texas after spending his first two years serving as a backup to future Pro Football Hall of Famer Steve McMichael.
During his junior year, Sims racked up 131 tackles and was named an All-American.
Sims followed his junior season by becoming the first Longhorn to win the Lombardi Award during his senior year.
The Texas native spent the entirety of his eight-year NFL career with the Patriots, playing 74 career games (64 starts) with the team.
Sims was a member of the 1982 All-Rookie team and received votes for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
During his tenure with New England, Sims recorded 17 career sacks, including a career-high 5.5 during the 1985 season, which saw the Patriots reach the Super Bowl.
Sims broke his leg late in the 1985 regular season and was unable to play in New England’s Super Bowl loss to the Bears.
After his death, the Patriots wrote on social media that they were “deeply saddened by the pᴀssing” of Sims.
