politics | March 02, 2026

Billy Sims Net Worth 2024, Age, Height, Bio, Birthday, Wiki!

Explore Billy Sims net worth, age, height, bio, birthday, wiki, and salary! In this article, we will discover how old is Billy Sims? Who is Billy Sims dating now & how much money does Billy Sims have?

Billy Sims Biography

Billy Sims is one of the most popular and richest Football Player who was born on September 18, 1955 in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. A running back that was three-time Pro Bowl selection and played five seasons in the NFL with the Detroit Lions before his career ended due to an injury to his knee.

He was the head coach He played for head coach Barry Switzer at the University of Oklahoma. at the University of Oklahoma.

Sims was born in St. Louis, Missouri, but in the eighth grade he moved to Hooks, Texas, to live with his grandmother. Sims initially played baseball and grew up a St. Louis Cardinals fan. He showed no interest in football until moving to Texas. In three years of varsity football at Hooks High School, he rushed 1,128 times (a state record at the time, currently second behind Robert Strait) for 7,738 yards, including 441 carries in 1973 (another state record at the time, currently tied for second behind Ketric Sanford). Sims’ 38 games with 100 yards or more rushing (1972-1974) is tied for third place in all-time Texas high school records (with Ken Hall and Steve Worster) behind Robert Strait’s 41 games, and Wes Danaher’s 43 100-yard games.

Sims attended the University of Oklahoma, where he played for coach Barry Switzer’s Oklahoma Sooners football team from 1975 to 1979. After playing only one game in his freshman year of 1975, injuries kept Sims out of the lineup for most of his sophomore season, which allowed him to red-shirt to gain an extra year of eligibility. Injuries continued to plague Sims for half of his (red-shirt) sophomore season in 1977 (he rushed for only 545 yards total in two seasons in 1975 and 1977, plus one game in 1976.) In 1978, Sims rushed for 1,762 yards on 231 carries as a red-shirt junior, averaging 7.6 yards per carry. Including the postseason, Sims had 1,896 yards. Both the before and after bowl game totals led the NCAA. He also set a total yardage school record that stood until 2004, when freshman Adrian Peterson ran for 1,925 yards. Subsequently, Sims was awarded the Heisman Trophy for the 1978 season, becoming only the sixth junior to do so. He was runner-up for the Heisman the following season in 1979, coming in second to Charles White of USC.

In his eighth year, he relocated in Hooks, Texas, to reside with his grandmother.

NameBilly Sims
First NameBilly
Last NameSims
OccupationFootball Player
BirthdaySeptember 18
Birth Year1955
Place of BirthSt. Louis
Home TownMissouri
Birth CountryUnited States
Birth SignVirgo
Full/Birth Name
FatherNot Available
MotherNot Available
SiblingsNot Available
SpouseNot Known
Children(s)Not Available

Ethnicity, religion & political views

Many peoples want to know what is Billy Sims ethnicity, nationality, Ancestry & Race? Let's check it out! As per public resource, IMDb & Wikipedia, Billy Sims's ethnicity is Not Known. We will update Billy Sims's religion & political views in this article. Please check the article again after few days.

As he expected, Sims was the first overall pick in the 1980 NFL Draft. He spent his career with the Detroit Lions, making the Pro Bowl in 1980, 1981, and 1982. Sims led Detroit to the playoffs in 1982 and 1983, but they lost in the first round in both appearances. In the 1983 wild card game at Candlestick Park against the San Francisco 49ers, Sims ran for 114 yards on 20 carries, but Joe Montana led the 49ers to a comeback victory, as Detroit kicker Eddie Murray missed a field goal in the waning moments.

Billy Sims Net Worth

Billy Sims is one of the richest Football Player from United States. According to our analysis, Wikipedia, Forbes & Business Insider, Billy Sims's net worth $100 Thousand. (Last Update: December 11, 2023)

He was a varsity player during his time at Hooks High School and rushed for 7,738 total yards which was a record in the state that time.

He was awarded his Heisman Trophy in 1978.

Billy Ray Sims (born September 18, 1955) is a former American college and professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for five seasons during the 1980s. Sims played college football for the University of Oklahoma, where he was a two-time consensus All-American, and won the Heisman Trophy in 1978. He was the first overall pick in the 1980 NFL Draft, and played professionally for the NFL’s Detroit Lions. Sims was the last Oklahoma player taken Number 1 overall in the NFL Draft until quarterback Sam Bradford was taken first in the 2010 NFL Draft. He was given the nickname “Kung Fu Billy Sims” by ESPN’s Chris Berman, after a game where the Detroit Lions played the Houston Oilers. In the NFL Films highlight, rather than be tackled during a rushing attempt, Sims ran at, jumped, and, while fully airborne, kicked Oilers Cornerback Steve Brown in the head.

Net Worth$100 Thousand
SalaryUnder Review
Source of IncomeFootball Player
CarsNot Available
HouseLiving in own house.

When Billy Sims retired from the Lions in 1984, he received a $1.9 million insurance settlement from Lloyd’s of London, in addition to the several million dollars he earned during his playing career. Sims lost his accumulated wealth through a series of failed business ventures. His numerous businesses included a nightclub, a radio station, a dry cleaner, and a car parts manufacturer.

Sims’ career ultimately ended midway through the 1984 season when he suffered a catastrophic right knee injury in a game against the Minnesota Vikings on October 21. Sims finished his career with 1131 carries for 5106 yards (4.5 yards per carry), and 186 receptions for 2072 yards (11.1 yards per catch). He spent two years attempting to rehabilitate his knee before retiring in 1986. Sims remains a beloved former sports figure in Detroit. His team uniform number 20 was worn five years after his retirement by Barry Sanders, and is currently retired as an unofficial “Triumvirate” of the greatest Lions in the modern era to ever wear the number, which also includes Hall of Fame defensive back Lem Barney.

Height, Weight & Body Measurements

Billy Sims height 6 ft 0 in Billy weight Not Known & body measurements will update soon.

Height6 ft 0 in
WeightNot Known
Body MeasurementsUnder Review
Eye ColorNot Available
Hair ColorNot Available
Feet/Shoe SizeNot Available

In 1979, against then-unbeaten Nebraska, who had the No. 1 rushing defense in the country at the time, Sims ran for 247 yards and helped the Sooners to a 17–14 win. Including the bowl game he had 248 attempts for 1,670 yards, averaging 6.7 yards per carry, and scored 23 touchdowns. He also became the first running back in Big 8 Conference (now merged to form the Big 12 Conference) history to rush for 200-yards in three consecutive games, and had four 200-yard games in a single season.

In 1995, he sold his Heisman Trophy to Texas businessman Bob White, who had been a father figure to Sims since he was in the ninth grade; White’s son played high school football with Sims. The trophy was sold to White with the agreement that it could be re-purchased by Sims by paying the original price plus 8.5% interest.

Who is Billy Sims Dating?

According to our records, Billy Sims is possibily single & has not been previously engaged. As of December 1, 2023, Billy Sims’s is not dating anyone.

Relationships Record: We have no records of past relationships for Billy Sims. You may help us to build the dating records for Billy Sims!

In 1988, four years after the knee injury that forced his retirement, Sims announced he was attempting a comeback with the Lions for the 1989 season. Speaking with Detroit Free Press columnist Mitch Albom, Sims claimed to be “as fit as he was in 1983.” He offered to play the season with a blank check, allowing Lions management to assess his value and fill in the salary amount accordingly. Sims hoped to meet with then-General Manager Russ Thomas and owner William Clay Ford, Sr. to discuss a spot on the team’s roster. Despite some interest from Lions head coach Wayne Fontes, Sims never returned to the NFL.

Facts & Trivia

Billy Ranked on the list of most popular Football Player. Also ranked in the elit list of famous people born in United States. Billy Sims celebrates birthday on September 18 of every year.

In 2007, a bronze statue of Sims was dedicated on the University of Oklahoma campus in Heisman Park, commemorating his 1978 award. The life and one half size statue was created by sculptor Jim Franklin in his studio in Perry, Oklahoma. The bronze was cast by the Bronze Horse Foundry in Pawhuska, Oklahoma.

What ended Billy Sims career?

The star defensive end, who played with the former Lions’ running back, offers one practice as testimony to his greatness. Maybe you know about former Detroit running back Billy Sims and how his burgeoning NFL career was cut short in 1984 by a devastating knee injury.

Where is Billy Sims now?

He now lives in Dallas and makes his living promoting Billy Sims BBQ restaurants. There are 44 of them nationally, most are in Oklahoma, where Sims went to college.

Why did Billy Sims retire early?

The injuries that forced Billy Sims to retire According to the Detroit Free Press, a gruesome 1984 knee injury is what curtailed Sims in the prime of his football life. It came during a game against the Minnesota Vikings in their old stadium, the Metrodome.

Is Billy Sims a Hall of Famer?

Billy Sims (1995) – Hall of Fame – National Football Foundation.

How much did Billy Sims sell his Heisman Trophy?

Following his unexpected bankruptcy, Sims hustled to pay the bills. He sold his Heisman Trophy for $50,000 in ’95. Years later, he reneged on his agreement and sold the Heisman Trophy again, but this time for $88,000.

You may read full biography about Billy Sims from Wikipedia.