Inside The Panthers

Former Pitt C Jim Sweeney Passes at Age 60

One of the best offensive linemen in Pitt Panthers history has passed away.

Stephen Thompson

Former Pitt C Jim Sweeney Passes at Age 60
Former Pitt C Jim Sweeney Passes at Age 60 /
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PITTSBURGH -- One of the best offensive linemen in Pitt history has died. Jim Sweeney, a native of Mt. Lebanon and former All-American center for the Pitt Panthers, passed away yesterday.

Sweeney attended Pitt from 1980 to 1983 and played at all five offensive line positions and tight end during his career. His senior season, when he earned second-team All-American honors from the Sporting News, was his best. 

Sweeney was eventually drafted by the New York Jets in the second round of the 1984 NFL Draft. He was one of the most durable players in the franchise's history, starting 158 games in a row over a ten-year period.

Sweeney played for the Seattle Seahawks and Pittsburgh Steelers before retiring in 1999. He coached primarily at the college and high school levels up until the end of the 2021 season. 

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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