Former Boston Patriot Jim Nance Is Dead at 49

Jim Nance, twice the leading rusher in the old American Football League while playing for the Boston Patriots, died Tuesday. He was 49.

Nance, who suffered a heart attack and stroke in 1983, died at his home, according to Pat Hanlon, Patriot spokesman. An exact cause of death wasn’t immediately available.

“We are all saddened by the loss of Jim Nance,” Sam Jankovich, the club’s executive officer, said in a statement. “As a player, Jim was a tough, powerful running back. He gave it everything he had on the field. And in his lifetime he battled back from adversity.”

Nance, who played for the Patriots from 1965-71, set an AFL record rushing record of 1,458 yards in 1966 when he was named the league’s most valuable player. He also was the league’s top rusher in 1967 with 1,216 yards. After having ankle surgery following the 1968 season, Nance rushed for 750 yards in 1969 and was named the AFL’s comeback player of the year. He is the Patriots’ No. 2 career rusher with 5,323 yards on 1,323 carries.

After Nance was stricken nine years ago, he overcame paralysis in his left leg and arm. In the past year, Nance’s daughter, Nicole, died as a result of complications from injuries suffered in a car accident.

Nance is survived by his former wife, Marjorie, and a daughter, Rachel, 13.