James Samuel Everett III (born January 3, 1963) is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons, primarily with the Los Angeles Rams. He played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers and was selected as the third pick in the first round of the 1986 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers. Unable to work out a contract agreement with Everett, the Oilers traded his rights to the Rams, with whom Everett played from 1986 to 1993. Jim then played with the New Orleans Saints from 1994 to 1996 and ended his career with a stint with the San Diego Chargers in 1997.
College career
Purdue University recruited Everett out of Eldorado High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Jim Everett led his high school team to the State Championship game in 1979 against the Demons of Santa Fe High School. The Demons' stifling defense (held opponents to 100 points) and record-setting offense (547 points scored) handed the Jim Everett and his Eagle teammates their second loss of the season, and avenged a loss the Demons suffered earlier in the year. In 1980 they finally won the school's only state championship. In addition to quarterbacking the team, he played defense as a safety.
Recruited to play either safety or quarterback, he was soon slotted into the quarterback role where he narrowly missed out on being a four-year starter at Purdue, as a game-day decision before his first game as a freshman led to Scott Campbell getting the nod over Everett. Campbell held off Everett for three years, one of which Everett was able to redshirt to gain an extra year of eligibility. Upon Campbell's graduation to a seven-year career in the NFL, Everett took over the reins of the pass-oriented Boilermakers offense.
As a junior, Everett led the Boilermakers to the 1984 Peach Bowl, where he passed for 253 yards and three touchdowns. Purdue lost the game to Virginia, quarterbacked by future Green Bay Packer Don Majkowski, 27–24. Everett is also the only Purdue quarterback to ever beat Michigan, Notre Dame, and Ohio State all in the same season.
During the 1985 season, Everett led the NCAA in total offense (3,589 yards), at the time a school record (since broken by fellow Purdue alum Drew Brees). He finished sixth in balloting for the 1985 Heisman Trophy.
Everett earned regular membership on the Distinguished Students list at Purdue, and graduated with a degree in industrial management. During his time at Purdue, Everett regularly tutored fellow Purdue athletes in courses such as calculus and statistical analysis. He was also initiated into the Sigma Chi fraternity as an undergraduate. During his senior year, he was awarded the Big Ten Medal of Honor in recognition of his athletic and academic achievements. 1984: 3,256 yards with 18 TD vs 16 INT in 11 games 1985: 3,651 yards with 23 TD vs 11 INT in 11 games
NFL career
Everett had a productive NFL career, especially with the Rams, where he was a statistical leader in several passing categories. His Rams teams were successful early in his career, earning playoff berths in 1986, 1988, and 1989, despite never reaching the Super Bowl. Everett continued to produce fine statistics, and was rewarded with a trip to the 1991 Pro Bowl game in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Despite productive years with the Rams, 1989 marked Everett's final playoff season in his NFL career. Starting in 1990, the Rams began to trade or release players due to financial concerns. (For example, LeRoy Irvin spent his final season with the Lions. Meanwhile, Greg Bell, who had been the team's starting running back, spent 1990 across town.) After winning 13 games in 1989 (including 2 playoff wins), the Rams won 19 games from 1990-93 combined (5 in 1990, 3 in 1991, 6 in 1992, 5 in 1993).
The 1993 season was a low point in Everett's career. He played in only 10 games but managed to throw 12 interceptions. He threw only eight touchdown passes, tying the lowest yearly total of his career and matching his rookie total when he only played in six games. Around mid-season, Rams coach Chuck Knox benched him for T. J. Rubley.
The Rams traded Everett to the Saints in March 1994. In return, the Los Angeles Times reported, Los Angeles received "a seventh-round pick in the 1995 draft".