Pre-draft Detroit Lions He went undrafted in the
2000 NFL draft, signing a three-year with the
Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent on April 28, 2000.
2000 season: Rookie season and limited playing time Hall would play his first game of the season in the Week 11 matchup against the
Atlanta Falcons, but wouldn't record a statistic. In the next week against the
New York Giants, he would record his first statistics, sacking quarterback
Kerry Collins and recording 3 tackles. He would play in the last three games of the season, but wouldn't record any statistics, ending his season with one sack.
2001 season: Quality playing time Hall would get more playing time in 2001, playing in 15 of the teams' 16 games. In the first six games of the season, Hall would record ½ sack and 13 tackles including four tackles-for-loss. In the latter half of the season, Hall would improve in play. In the Week 8 matchup against the
San Francisco 49ers, he would record his first fumble recovery. During the
Thanksgiving Day game against the
Green Bay Packers, Hall picked up a fumble and returned it 8 yards for his first career touchdown. His best game of the season would come in the Week 13 game against the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he recorded 3½ sacks, a career high, and 8 tackles including 4 tackles-for-loss. He ended the 2001 season with 4 sacks, 35 tackles including 8-tackles-for-loss, two fumble recoveries including one touchdown, and one pass defended.
2002 season: First starts, improvement in play In the Week 4 matchup against the
New Orleans Saints, Hall scored his second career touchdown when he recovered a fumble and returned it 22 yards for the score; he also recorded a sack and three solo tackles. Hall finished the season with 2 sacks, 49 tackles including 7 tackles-for-loss, two fumble recoveries including one for the score, and three passes defended. His 49 tackles and 7 tackles-for-loss would be the most of any Detroit defensive lineman that season.
2003 season: Re-signing with Detroit On May 28, 2003, Hall re-signed with the Lions for one year as a restricted free agent. In the season opener against the
Arizona Cardinals, Hall recovered a forced fumble and recovery in the 42–24 victory. During a five-week stretch from Week 4 to Week 8, Hall recorded 4 sacks and 22 tackles including six tackles-for-loss. He would finish the season with 4.5 sacks, 62 tackles including eight tackles-for-loss, and two fumble recoveries. His 62 tackles once again led Detroit's defensive lineman.
2004 season: Re-signing to a long-term deal, career season On March 3, 2004, the Lions re-signed Hall to a five-year deal. Lions' president and CEO
Matt Millen said of Hall, "He is a guy who we think can be a strong contributor for us."
St. Louis Rams On March 2, 2007, the Detroit Lions traded James Hall to the St. Louis Rams for a conditional draft selection. After two seasons, he was released but later re-signed by the Rams. Hall would go on to start for rest of his tenure in St.Louis and was fairly productive with Chris Long on the other side. He went on to have 250 combined tackles and 30 sacks in five seasons in St. Louis. He was cut on March 12, 2012. ==NFL career statistics==