Jim Van Pelt
| No. 24 Michigan Wolverines | |
Van Pelt in 1957 against Minnesota at old Memorial Stadium
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| Date of birth | November 11, 1935 |
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| Place of birth | Chicago, Illinois |
| Career information | |
| Status | Retired |
| CFL status | International |
| Position(s) | QB |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) |
| Weight | 187 lb (85 kg) |
| College | Michigan |
| High school | Evanston Township |
| NFL draft | 1958 / Round: 5 / Pick: 55 |
| Drafted by | Washington Redskins |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1958–1959 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers |
| CFL West All-Star | 1959 |
James S. Van Pelt (born November 11, 1935) is a former American and Canadian Football player. He played at the quarterback position for the University of Michigan from 1955 to 1957. He played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League in 1958 and 1959. He led the Blue Bombers to consecutive Grey Cup championships and set league records with seven touchdown passes in a game, a 107-yard touchdown pass, and 22 points scored in the 1958 Grey Cup championship game. His professional football career ended in 1960 when he was drafted into the United States Air Force for a three-year term of service.
Van Pelt attended Evanston Township High School. He was Evanston's starting quarterback in his junior and senior years (1952 and 1953), and has been inducted into the Evanston Township High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
After graduating from high school, Van Pelt enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1954. He played in the quarterback position in 22 games for Michigan during the 1955, 1956 and 1957 football seasons. He was the starting quarterback for the 1957 Michigan Wolverines football team that opened the season 4-1, including a victory over USC, but finished with a 5-3-1 record. In Michigan's four wins in the first half of the 1957 season, Van Pelt completed 21 of 31 passes for 315 yards and three touchdowns. Prior to the 1957 Northwestern game, Van Pelt was bed-ridden with the flu, but despite the illness, he led the Wolverines to a 34-14 win. Van Pelt completed three of four passes in the game for 66 yards and two touchdowns, including a 45-yard touchdown pass to Gary Prahst. He also ran for a touchdown and successfully kicked three extra points. In a 24-7 win over Minnesota, Van Pelt was responsible for 18 of Michigan's points as he threw two touchdown passes (including a 37-yard completion to Bowers), kicked a field goal and added three extra points.
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