Former NFL Exec Jim Kensil Dies

[Reuters]

NEW YORK (Reuter) -- Jim Kensil, the former right-hand man
to commissioner Pete Rozelle and president of the New York Jets
for 11 years, died of heart failure Thursday morning at
Massapequa General Hospital in New York. He was 66.
Kensil was an administrator for the NFL for 16 years, nine
as executive director and seven as director of public relations.
Rozelle called Kensil, ``my offensive and defensive
coordinator.''
Kensil was named the Jets' president and chief operating
officer in June of 1977. He helped return the Jets to the
playoffs in 1981 after a 13-year layoff dating back to Joe
Namath and the AFL. Under Kensil's guidance, the Jets made four
playoff appearances during a six-year period (1981-86), equaled
by the Oakland Raiders and bettered only by the Miami Dolphins
(five times) in the AFC. He retired from the team in 1988 due to
medical reasons.
Kensil succeeded current owner Leon Hess, who had served as
acting president of the Jets following the death of Phil Iselin
in December of 1976. Steve Gutman succeeded Kensil as president
on June 14, 1988.
``When Phil Iselin died, I found myself appointed by my
partners to see that the team stayed on course,'' said Hess. ``I
turned to Pete Rozelle for advice and he suggested his
right-hand man Jim Kensil. We were fortunate. Jim gave us
stability and helped return the team to the playoffs four times.
We will all miss him.''
Kensil was a member of the executive committee of NFL
properties and was on the board of the Bert Bell NFL Retirement
Plan. While in the NFL office, Kensil made many innovative
contributions and was one of the chief architects of the present
NFL scheduling format.
Kensil is survived by his wife, Katherine, four children --
Joe, Mary Jo, Danny and Mike, who is the director of operations
for the Jets -- and five grandchildren.