Jim enrolled at Michigan after earning All-American honors during his high school career in Solon, Ohio. He was also an outstanding scholar during his collegiate career, receiving first-team Academic All-American and Academic All-Big Ten honors in 1969. After completing his Bachelor of Arts degree in economics in 1970, Jim was selected in the second round of the NFL Draft and was a member of three Super Bowl championship teams, including the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins.

He rewrote the Wolverine record book with his offensive expertise as a tight end. A unanimous first-team All-American and team captain in 1969, he was named the team's Most Valuable Player after leading the Wolverines to a Big Ten Conference co-championship and Rose Bowl appearance.

A two-time first-team all-conference pick, Jim twice led Michigan in receptions and yardage. His 119 career receptions and 1,494 career yards continue to rank first all-time among U-M tight ends. Named to Michigan's Hall of Honor in 1994, Jim played under two head coaches during his tenure at Michigan, Bump Elliott and Bo Schembechler.

Following his NFL career, he became a successful construction executive as the co-owner and president of Lotspeich Company and is the owner and president of the production company, MZM Publication, Inc. He serves as the radio color analyst for Miami Dolphins Football on the Dolphin Football Network and is a radio talk show host on a local Miami/Fort Lauderdale station.

Helping the community is important to Jim, who is active with The Shula Foundation for breast cancer research, the Millie Schembechler Foundation for adrenal cancer and The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis.

Jim and his wife Bonnie have three sons, Michael (age 21, current member of Michigan Football team), Mark (age 19) and Nicholas (age 17) and reside in Miami Lakes, Florida.

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