Jim Lee “Earthquake” Hunt

Jim Lee Hunt was a professional football player who played defensive tackle for the Boston Patriot’s in the American Football League (AFL) from 1960-1969 and for the Boston Patriots in 1970 when they joined the NFL.

Hunt was born here in Atlanta and attended Booker T. Washington High School.

After graduating high school in 1956 he attended Prairie View A&M.

He was a force to be reckoned with on the football field both in high school and in college.

He was moved from fullback in high school to defensive tackle in college.

Standing at 5 feet, 11 inches and weighing 255 pounds was misleading to some because he was very fast for his size.

Hunt was drafted by the NFL’s St. Louis Cardinals in 1960 but a foot injury after 10 games pushed him to the taxi squad.

A taxi squad is a group of professional football players under contract who practice with a team but are ineligible to participate in official games.

The Boston Patriots of the new American Football League contacted Hunt and he joined the team.

Hunt made an impact in his 12 years of playing professional football.

He earned the nickname “Earthquake” because it was said the ground rumbled when he rushed the quarterbacks.

He was a 4-time AFL All-Star and was only one of 20 men who played all 10 years of the AFL before it was dissolved.

By the end of his career he totaled 29 sacks of 19 different QB’s and holds the AFL record for the most career fumble recoveries.

Hunt hung up his cleats for good in 1972 after 12 seasons in the league and became an assistant coach with the Boston Eagles football team.

His number was retired by the Patriots and was inducted into its Hall of Fame. He was added to the inaugural Atlanta Athletics Hall of Fame class in 2018.

Hunt suffered a heart attack in Nov. of 1975 and the Patriots’ legend tragically passed away at the young age of 37. He was buried at Pinecrest Cemetery here in Atlanta.

Hunt was one of 10 children to Eulav Collins and was raised on Collins Road. He had two brothers and seven sisters.

Rev. Willie Collins, his brother, and sisters, Mrs. Dorothy Banks, Mattie Hatcher and Vanasser Collins still live here in Atlanta.