James Thomas Howard, Jr. (born August 18, 1954) is a former American football linebacker from Texas Tech University, who played nine seasons in the National Football League He was raised by Thomas James Howard,Sr and Darlene K. Howard in Lubbock, Texas. His son, Thomas Howard, currently plays in the NFL as a linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals. The elder Howard wore the jersey number #52 for the Kansas City Chiefs and #59 for the St. Louis Cardinals. He returned 3 fumble recoveries for touchdowns: one in 1980 against the Denver Broncos, one in 1981 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and one in 1984 against the New England Patriots.