Dalton legends to Detroit Lions: Former Catamount, NFL punter Jim Arnold makes connection with Jahmyr Gibbs

Nov. 25—When Jahmyr Gibbs was drafted with the 12th overall pick of April's NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions, the running back became the first Dalton High School graduate to be taken in the draft in 40 years.

The last former Catamount to be drafted?

Former All-Pro punter Jim Arnold in 1983.

Arnold, who became a full-time punter for Dalton High before his junior season and earned a scholarship to Vanderbilt University, was originally drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs.

But Arnold, who changed teams after a few years in the league, is better known as a former member of his second NFL squad.

Arnold was, like Gibbs is now, a Detroit Lion.

Arnold, who spent 1986 through 1993 with the Lions, was named an All-Pro and to the Pro Bowl twice and was named a member of the Lions' 75th Anniversary Team in 2008.

Before a recent game, Arnold got a chance to meet up with the other Dalton legend turned Detroit Lion.

The Lions helped arrange a meet up between Arnold and Gibbs after learning through Arnold that the two shared the hometown connection.

"It was just a really neat exchange," Arnold said. "I didn't know if he was aware of me or not, so I went and introduced myself and told him I played at Dalton High School. I was really kind of taken aback and honored, because he told me that when he first got to Detroit he wanted to wear my old no. 6."

The number was taken by safety Ifeatu Melifonwu, so Gibbs settled on No. 26 instead.

The two former Catamounts talked ball and posed for a picture before Gibbs put up a 152-yard rushing game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday Night Football on Oct. 31.

"He's a great young man, and I think he's going to bring a lot of excitement to Detroit," Arnold said.

Arnold said he can't keep up with Catamount football as much as he used to, but that Gibbs had turned heads during his days in the red and white.

"I was home for a homecoming game and saw him that night play," Arnold said. "Of course knowing his ranking and everything going into college, I knew he was a great player."

Arnold followed Gibbs' college career through stops at Georgia Tech and Alabama before watching his former team draft a player from his former high school.

"Coming into the draft, I was thinking about him as someone who could really add some flavor," Arnold said. "This year, Detroit really had a lot of draft capital. I was very happy when I saw him get drafted by the Lions. I was extremely proud of him and happy for him. To have someone from Dalton, Georgia, be drafted in the first round is a great thing for the town and for the (Dalton High) program. It was just really neat to see."

Perhaps having former Dalton Catamounts on the roster is a winning recipe for the Detroit Lions. Arnold was on the team when the 1991 Detroit Lions, led by hall-of-fame running back Barry Sanders, reached the NFC Championship Game and fell one win shy of a Super Bowl Appearance.

The 12-4 mark of that season remains the best since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger for a franchise that has done a lot more losing than winning in the intervening years, and it marked the last time the team won a playoff game.

After a strong finish to 2022, the 2023 season's 8-2 start by the Lions is the best 10-game start for the franchise since 1962.

The Lions, which play traditionally on Thanksgiving day, lost 29-22 to the Green Bay Packers Thursday to fall to 8-3. In his Thanksgiving debut, Gibbs rushed 11 times for 54 yards and grabbed four catches for 19 yards.

"Detroit's a great city, and it will always be a special place to me," Arnold said. "To know that fan base and that they've been so starved for so long, it's great to see. It's a great sports town and an awesome place to be."

Arnold pursued the meet up in hopes that the photo taken would be framed and reside in a trophy case at Dalton High. He plans to present the photo to the school next year.

Arnold, who retired from the NFL in 1994, now resides in Franklin, Tennessee, near where he played college football in Nashville.

He works at a local plant nursery and says he loves outdoor sports and is involved in trying to increase exposure for pickleball in Nashville. Arnold is also involved in Detroit's "Peer Pride" group that tries to build the community of former Lions players, helping connect them with opportunities and medical care.