Freddie James: key obituary facts
Is Freddie James dead? Yes. Freddie James died on October 29, 2026, at age 89.
Cause of death: Freddie James's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Freddie James known for?
He was an American football coach.
More about Freddie James
Born: 1 January 1937.
Gender: male.
Occupation: American football player, American football coach.
Nationality: United States.
Freddie James, an American high school football coach who led David W.
Carter High School in Dallas, died October 29, 2026, aged 89. He played college football at Prairie View A&M University under coach Billy Nicks in the late 1950s.
After college, James worked for a couple of years at a steel plant and later as a physical therapist in Houston. Nicks recommended him for high school coaching, and James took over Carter’s program in 1982. In his first season, the Cowboys advanced to the Class 5A state semifinals. Carter won the state championship in 1988 after a dominant season, but the title was later forfeited because of eligibility violations. The school was barred from the state playoffs in 1989 after James used an ineligible player; Carter returned to the semifinals in 1990. James retired after the 1995 season. In 14 seasons at Carter, he led the Cowboys to a 123–22–3 record, while his overall coaching record was 147–28–4. His work made the program a nationally recognized power. In 1996, he was part of the inaugural class inducted into the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame. James was portrayed by Julius Tennon in the 2004 film Friday Night Lights and by Charles S. Dutton in the 2015 film Carter High, which depicted the team’s 1988 season.