James McAlister

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James Edward McAlister (September 5, 1951 – March 31, 2018) was an American football running back who played in the NFL during the 1970s. He was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, and played college football at UCLA, where he earned first-team All-Pac-8 honors in 1972 and starred in track, setting a world-best long jump in 1973.

McAlister was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the sixth round of the 1974 NFL draft. He played in the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles (1975–1976) and the New England Patriots (1978), wearing numbers 43 and 37. He also spent a season with the Southern California Sun of the World Football League in 1974.

In the NFL, McAlister rushed for 677 yards, averaged 3.6 yards per carry, and scored 5 touchdowns. His signing helped bring attention to the WFL’s 1974 surge in public interest, as agent Michael Trope helped negotiate lucrative terms for several players.

McAlister appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1971. He died on March 31, 2018, in Corona, California.