Background
Otis was born in Celina, Ohio.
Otis was born in Celina, Ohio.
He attended Celina High School, and played for the Celina Bulldogs high school football team Otis attended Ohio State University, where he was a fullback for the Ohio State Buckeyes football team from 1967 to 1969.
Otis played college football for Ohio State University, and was recognized as an All-American. He played professionally for the New Orleans Saints, Kansas City Chiefs and Saint Louis Cardinals of the NFL.
He led the team in rushing every year of his college career. Otis was inducted into the Ohio State Varsity O Hall of Fame in 1996.
In the Ohio State record book, he remains second only to Archie Griffin among Ohio State running backs in career rushing yards per game.
In 2000, Otis was selected to the Ohio State Football All-Century Team. Otis was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in 1970.
The following year he was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs. However, Otis played the last six years of his nine-year NFL career with the Saint Louis Cardinals.
Otis" most successful year as a professional was in 1975, when he rushed for an NFC-leading 1,076 yards and was selected to the Pro Bowl.
To avoid any appearance of impropriety, Hayes broke off all social contact with the elder Otis during the son"s college career. Doctor Otis lived and operated a medical practice in Celina, Ohio. Otis"s son James John Otis II was a star high school quarterback in the Saint Louis area.
He was invited to Ohio State in 2001 as a preferred walk-on and lettered in 2003 for special teams play.
Jim Otis"s other son, Jeff Otis, has been under contract with five NFL teams and is currently a free agent.
Otis"s father, Doctor James John Otis, had been the roommate and best friend of Ohio State head coach Woody Hayes when both men were members of the Sigma Chi fraternity of Denison University in the 1930s.
