Ole Miss Football Star Tight End Jim Poole Jr. Dies at 76

Poole was a two-time All-SEC selection and standout player for the Rebels in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Former Ole Miss football star tight end Jim Poole Jr. passed away on February 8th in Jackson, Mississippi at the age of 76. Poole played for the Rebels from 1969 to 1971, earning two first-team All-SEC selections and totaling 110 receptions for 1,196 yards and 6 touchdowns during his college career.

Why it matters

Poole was considered one of the all-time great tight ends in Ole Miss football history, helping establish the program as a regional power in the late 1960s and early 1970s. His passing marks the loss of another prominent figure from that era of Rebels football.

The details

Over his three seasons with the Rebels, Poole established himself as one of the top tight ends in the Southeastern Conference. He was a two-time first-team All-SEC selection and finished his career with impressive receiving numbers for the position at the time.

  • Poole played for Ole Miss from 1969 to 1971.
  • Poole passed away on February 8, 2026 in Jackson, Mississippi.

The players

Jim Poole Jr.

A former standout tight end who played for the Ole Miss Rebels from 1969 to 1971, earning two first-team All-SEC selections.

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The takeaway

Poole's passing is a significant loss for the Ole Miss football community, as he was one of the all-time great players to don the Rebels' uniform and helped establish the program as a regional power during his time on campus in the late 1960s and early 1970s.