{{Short description|American football player (born 1967)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography |name=Johnny Sims |image= |number= |position=Offensive lineman / Defensive lineman |birth_date={{birth date and age|1967|10|14}} |birth_place= |height_ft=6 |height_in=3 |weight_lbs=285 |high_school=East Marion<br>(Columbia, Mississippi) |college=Mississippi Valley State |undraftedyear=1991 |pastteams= * New Orleans Night ({{AFL Year|1991}}) * Los Angeles Rams ({{NFL Year|1992}}) * Albany Firebirds ({{AFL Year|1995}})* |highlights= * Second-team All-Arena (1991) * Second-team All-SWAC (1989) |afl=1472 }} '''Johnny Sims''' (born October 14, 1967) is an American former professional football lineman who played one season with the New Orleans Night of the Arena Football League (AFL). He played college football at Mississippi Valley State University.
==Early life and college== Johnny Sims was born on October 14, 1967.<ref name="pfa">{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/s/sims01501.html | title=Johnny Sims | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=23 June 2025}}</ref> He played high school football at East Marion High School in Columbia, Mississippi.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/columbian-progress/175103071/ | title=Area players making their marks | work=Columbian-Progress | date=August 25, 1990 | accessdate=23 June 2025 | pages=5C}}</ref><ref name="af"/>
Sims played college football for the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils of Mississippi Valley State University from 1986 to 1990 as a defensive tackle.<ref name="pfa"/> He recorded 88 tackles and 16 sacks in 1989, earning second-team All-SWAC honors.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/clarion-ledger/175102780/ | title=Conner takes honor as SWAC's defender | work=Clarion-Ledger | date=November 29, 1989 | accessdate=23 June 2025 | pages=3C}}</ref> He announced that he was returning to Mississippi Valley State for his fifth season, much to the surprise of the media who thought he had NFL prospects.<ref name="college">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vicksburg-post/175102823/ | title=Sims Eagerly Wants To Win | work=The Vicksburg Post | date=August 31, 1990 | accessdate=23 June 2025 | author=Rea, Ronnie | pages=18, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vicksburg-post/175102864/ 36]}}</ref> After four losing seasons, Sims said he wanted help Mississippi Valley State and new head coach Larry Dorsey have a winning season.<ref name="college"/> Sims stated "I wouldn't miss this season for all the money in the NFL."<ref name="college"/> The 1990 Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils went 6–5.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mississippi Valley State Yearly Results (1990–1994)|publisher=College Football Data Warehouse|accessdate=August 24, 2023|url=http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/m/mississippi_valley_state/1990-1994_yearly_results.php|archive-date=September 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905205606/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/m/mississippi_valley_state/1990-1994_yearly_results.php|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Professional career== In May 1991, it was reported that Sims and fellow Mississippi Valley State alum, quarterback Willie Totten, had signed with the New Orleans Night of the Arena Football League (AFL).<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/clarion-ledger/175101817/ | title=Totten signs with Arena Football League | work=Clarion-Ledger | date=May 15, 1991 | accessdate=23 June 2025 | pages=2C}}</ref> Sims played in eight games for the Night during the team's inaugural 1991 season, recording 13 solo tackles, three assisted tackles, three sacks, and one blocked kick.<ref name="pfa"/><ref name="af">{{cite web | url=https://www.arenafan.com/players/1472/ | title=Johnny Sims | publisher=ArenaFan.com | accessdate=23 June 2025}}</ref> He was an offensive lineman/defensive lineman during his time in the AFL as the league played under ironman rules.<ref name="pfa"/> Sims earned second-team All-Arena honors for his performance during the 1991 season.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.arenafan.com/players/?page=players&player=1472&pageview=bio | title=Johnny Sims - Awards | publisher=ArenaFan.com | accessdate=23 June 2025}}</ref> The Night finished the year with a 4–6 record.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/1991arflno.html | title=1991 New Orleans Night (Arena) | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=23 June 2025}}</ref> Sims stood 6'3" and weighed 285 pounds during his AFL career.<ref name="af"/>
Sims signed with the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL) on May 8, 1992, as a defensive tackle.<ref name="pst">{{cite web | url=https://www.prosportstransactions.com/football/Search/SearchResults.php?Player=Johnny+Sims&Team=&BeginDate=&EndDate=&PlayerMovementChkBx=yes&submit=Search | title=Transactions | publisher=ProSportsTransactions.com | accessdate=23 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nfl.com/players/johnny-sims/ | title=Johnny Sims | publisher=NFL.com | accessdate=23 June 2025}}</ref> He was waived/injured on July 25 and then reverted to injured reserve.<ref name="pst"/> He was waived by the Rams on November 17, 1992, and released the next day.<ref name="pst"/>
Sims later signed with the Albany Firebirds of the AFL for the 1995 season. He was waived on February 2, 1995.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/san-angelo-standard-times/175102075/ | title=Transactions | work=San Angelo Standard-Times | date=February 3, 1995 | accessdate=23 June 2025 | pages=2D}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.justsportsstats.com/footballstatsindex.php?player_id=simsjoh001 Stats Crew profile]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sims, Johnny}} Category:Living people Category:1967 births Category:Players of American football from Mississippi Category:American football offensive linemen Category:American football defensive tackles Category:Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils football players Category:New Orleans Night players Category:Los Angeles Rams players Category:Albany Firebirds players Category:Sportspeople from Columbia, Mississippi Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen Category:20th-century American sportsmen