James Bayard Turner (Jim Turner), 82, of Arvada, Colorado, passed away peacefully in his home with his family by his side on June 10, 2023.

Jim was born on March 28, 1941, to Bethel and Bayard Turner and raised in Crockett, California as the youngest of brothers Paul, Eddie, Jack and sister Pat. After Jim graduated from John Swett High School in 1959, he went on to Utah State University (1959-62) where he studied History and English and played quarterback and kicker for coach John Ralston. Jim played professional football for 16 years, seven seasons with the New York Jets (1964-70), and nine seasons with the Denver Broncos (1971-79).

During his time with the Jets, Jim set the NFL record for field goals with 34 in 1968 and 32 in 1969, played in two Pro Bowls, the first Monday Night Football game, and scored ten points in the Jets’ 16-7 defeat of the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III. For the Broncos, Jim had three playoff appearances from 1977-79, division titles in 1977 and 1978, advanced to Super Bowl XII against Dallas, and caught a touchdown pass against the Oakland Raiders which was one of his favorite memories. Jim was inducted into the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame in 1988. Jim finished his career with 304 of 488 (62%) field goals and 521 of 534 extra points, giving him 1,439 total points. At the time of his retirement, his 304 field goals made were the most in NFL history and he was the second-leading scorer in NFL history.

Post-football, Jim worked as a commentator for NBC Sports and then a sports radio talk show host at KNUS and KOA radio in Denver, Colorado. He also served as an academic coach in the National Football Foundation’s Play It Smart program, which provided educational counseling and mentoring to football players in at-risk high schools. Jim served at Jefferson High School and Alameda High School in Denver; in 2004, Jefferson High School dedicated their football field to Jim, naming it Jim Turner field.

In spring 1964, Jim met the love of his life, Mary Kay Roettger, at a swimming pool in Crockett, CA, and proposed to her 10 days later just before leaving for Jets training camp. They married June 5, 1965, and went on to have three daughters, Lisa, Chris and Alison. Just prior to his death, Jim and Mary Kay celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary.

Jim’s hobbies included cycling, racquetball, woodworking, landscaping, and he loved fishing in Whitefish, Montana, with Mary Kay’s parents, Carl and Jean. He settled into a life of retirement and devotion to his three daughters and eight grandkids. He and Mary Kay spent weekends on the sidelines of his grandkids’ games and activities, loved family time and challenging his grandkids to water fights, and enjoyed cooking the turkey and his famous stuffing on his favorite holiday, Thanksgiving.

Jim was predeceased by his parents Bethel and Bayard, his siblings Paul, Eddie, Pat and Jack. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Mary Kay, his daughters Lisa, Chris and Alison, son-in-law Geoff, and his grandkids Chase, Natalia, Walker, Ryder, Tigist, Noah, Christian and Genevieve (and countless dogs, cats, birds and gerbils that he said he didn’t want but they each ended up as his favorites).

The family will be holding a private celebration of life, with trips to Jim’s special places. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Denver Broncos Alumni Charities.  

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