American football player (1939–2006)
American football player
James Davis "Country" Warren (born July 20, 1939, in Ferriday, Louisiana, died August 9, 2006) was a collegiate halfback and professional football cornerback who played twelve seasons with the American Football League's San Diego Chargers and Miami Dolphins and the NFL's Oakland Raiders.
Warren played his college ball at the University of Illinois, where the senior halfback was part of its 1963 Big Ten championship team. In the Rose Bowl against the Washington Huskies that season, he took a pitch-out and scored a 2-yard touchdown that gave the Illini a 10–7 lead in the third quarter. The play proved to be the game-winner in a 17–7 triumph.
Warren was not chosen in the 1964 AFL and NFL drafts before he signed with the Chargers as a free agent. After two productive seasons, he was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the 1966 AFL expansion draft. That season would be the best of his pro career. He picked off five passes in 14 games (all starts), led the league in interception return yards (198) and represented the East squad in the All-Star Game. He spent his final six seasons with the Raiders (1970–74, 1977). He concluded his career with 25 interceptions, three fumble recoveries and four touchdowns in 140 games.
After his retirement as a player, Warren coached at his alma mater Cohen College Prep High School in Uptown New Orleans. Its football team advanced to the district playoffs for the first time in 25 years under his tutelage. He also coached with the Raiders, USFL's Orlando Renegades, Bethune-Cookman College, Long Beach State University and University of Houston.
In 1994, Warren was inducted into the Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame. He died on Aug. 9, 2006, at 67 years of age.
See also
