James Whalen (American football)

James Patrick Whalen, Jr. (born December 11, 1977) is a former American college and professional football player who was a tight end in the National Football League (NFL) for four seasons during the early 2000s. Whalen played college football for the University of Kentucky, and earned All-American honors. He played professionally for the NFL's Dallas Cowboys.

Early years
Whalen was born in Portland, Oregon. He attended La Salle High School in Milwaukie, Oregon.

College career
Whalen attended the University of Kentucky, and played for the Kentucky Wildcats football team from 1996 to 1999. As a senior in 1999, he was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American.

Professional career
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected him in the fifth round (157th overall pick) of the 2000 NFL Draft, and he played for the Dallas Cowboys from 2000 to 2003. He appeared in twenty-six games for the Cowboys and started in six of them.