We're counting down the days to kickoff with “99 Warriors,” the greatest Ohio State Buckeyes by jersey number, as voted by the staff of Eleven Warriors.
No. 64 JIM LACHEY
The 6-foot-6 and 225-pound Lachey was a three-sport standout at St. Henry, as he started on the state championship basketball team and also ran the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and threw the shot put for the track team.
OL JIM LACHEY
1981-84
b. June 4, 1963 (St. Henry, OH)
- Consensus All-American (1984)
- Big Ten Champion (1981, 1984)
- Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame (1999)
Lachey had just four starts as an underclassman at Ohio State, but established himself as one of college football’s premier offensive linemen during his senior season. He helped pave the way for running back Keith Byars to lead the nation in rushing (1,764 yards), all-purpose yards (2,441) and scoring (24 touchdowns) in 1984. The Buckeyes won the Big Ten that season and earned a berth in the Rose Bowl, while Lachey was named a consensus All-American.
Lachey was then selected with the 12th overall pick in the 1985 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers. He played 11 seasons with the Chargers (1985-87), Los Angeles Raiders (1988) and Washington Redskins (1988-95). He was a three-time first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection and won Super Bowl XXVI with the Redskins.
Lachey was the coach of the now-defunct Arena Football League’s Columbus Destroyers when they reached Arena Bowl XXI in 2007. He is now the color analyst on the Ohio State Sports Radio Network, as well as the the co-host of the Urban Meyer Call-In Show and the Buckeye Roundtable on Columbus-based 97.1 The Fan.
Photo: Ohio State Dept. of Athletics
