John Sterling (American football)

Last updated
John Sterling
No. 33
Position: Running back
Personal information
Born: (1964-09-15) September 15, 1964 (age 59)
Altus, Oklahoma, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:203 lb (92 kg)
Career information
High school: Altus (Oklahoma)
College: Central Oklahoma
Undrafted: 1987
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Games played:2
Rushing attempts:5
Rushing yards:20
Player stats at PFR

John Sterling (born September 15, 1964) is a former American football running back who played for the Green Bay Packers in the National Football League (NFL). He played in two games with the Packers during the 1987 NFL season as a replacement player after the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) went on strike for 24 days. Sterling played college football for the University of Central Oklahoma where he was named as an honorable mention All-American by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in 1987.

Contents

Early life and college

John Sterling was born on September 15, 1964, in Altus, Oklahoma. He graduated from Altus High School before attending the University of Central Oklahoma, where he played running back for the Central Oklahoma Bronchos football team. [1] During Sterling's first season and a half with the Bronchos, he saw limited playing time. However, halfway through the 1985 season, he took over as a starter. That year he was the team's second leading rusher and scored nine touchdowns. During the 1986 season, he set a career high for yards in a game, rushing for 213 yards and three touchdowns against Abilene Christian University. Sterling was noted for his speed, with his coaches believing it gave him a shot to continue playing football professionally. [2] In 1987, Sterling was named as an honorable mention on the NAIA All-America team after rushing for 879 yards on 122 carries during the season. [3]

Professional career

Sterling was not drafted in the 1987 NFL draft. He signed with the Green Bay Packers but was released shortly before the start of the 1987 NFL season. [4] After the second week of the season, the NFLPA went on strike. The third week of the season was cancelled, but weeks 4, 5 and 6 were played with replacement players. [5] Sterling was signed back to the Packers roster on October 10 as a replacement player, the day before the week 5 game against the Detroit Lions. Prior to signing with the Packers, Sterling was also on the Denver Broncos replacement team. [6] He played two games for the Packers, rushing five times for 20 yards. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barry Sanders</span> American football player (born 1968)

Barry Sanders is an American former football running back who played for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) for 10 seasons. Sanders led the league in rushing yards four times and in rushing touchdowns once, establishing himself as one of the most elusive runners in the history of the NFL with his quickness and agility, despite being only 5 ft 8 in tall and weighing 203 lbs. Sanders played college football for the Oklahoma State Cowboys. As a junior in 1988, he compiled what is widely considered the greatest individual season by a running back in college football history, rushing for 2,628 yards and 37 touchdowns in 11 games. He won the Heisman Trophy and was unanimously recognized as an All-American.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reggie Cobb</span> American football player and scout (1968–2019)

Reginald John Cobb was an American professional football player who was a running back for seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers, leading the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in touchdowns his freshman year. A second-round selection in the 1990 NFL draft, he initially played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, registering his best season in 1992 when he rushed for over a thousand yards and scored nine touchdowns. He was later a member of the inaugural roster of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Kenneth Earl Davis is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the TCU Horned Frogs and was selected in the second round of the 1986 NFL Draft. He played in the NFL for the Green Bay Packers (1986–1988) and the Buffalo Bills (1989–1994).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jermaine Gresham</span> American football player (born 1988)

Jermaine Gresham is an American former professional football player who was a tight end in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners, earning first-team All-American honors in 2008. He was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eddie Hinton (American football)</span> American football player (born 1947)

Edward Gerald Hinton is an American former professional football wide receiver who played for six seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Hinton spent four seasons with the Baltimore Colts, including their 1970 Super Bowl winning season, and one season each with the Houston Oilers and New England Patriots. He played college football at the University of Oklahoma.

Jon Charles Naekauna Francis is former American football player. He is the son of former Green Bay Packer Joe Francis, and half-brother of Detroit Lions 2007 second-round draft pick Ikaika Alama-Francis.

Anthony Harrison is a former American football safety who played for the Green Bay Packers in the National Football League (NFL). He played in three games with the Packers during the 1987 NFL season as a replacement player after the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) went on strike for 24 days. Harrison played college football for the Georgia Institute of Technology before his professional career.

The Snow Bowl is the name of a National Football League (NFL) game played on December 1, 1985, between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Green Bay Packers. Played at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, it is well known for its poor weather conditions, including heavy snow before and during the game. Only 19,856 fans were in attendance, with over 36,000 "no-shows", making it the least attended game in Lambeau Field history up to that point; about two-thirds of the stadium was empty. The entire stormed dropped over 14 inches (36 cm) of snow, before, during and after the game. The game itself saw the Packers dominate the Buccaneers en route to a 21–0 victory. Despite four turnovers, the Packers offense gained 512 total yards on 31 first downs, with the Buccaneers recording only 65 yards on 5 first downs. Packers' wide receiver James Lofton received passes totaling over 100 yards from quarterback Lynn Dickey by halftime. Packers defensive end Alphonso Carreker sacked Buccaneers quarterback Steve Young a then team-record four times.

Lavale Alvin Thomas is a former American football running back. He played college football for the Fresno State Bulldogs and later had stints with the Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers. He appeared in two National Football League (NFL) games, both for the Packers, with one being as a replacement player during the 1987 NFL strike and the other being in the 1988 season.

Lee Elmer Weigel is a former American football running back. He played college football for the Wisconsin–Eau Claire Blugolds and later had stints with the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He appeared in two games for the Packers as one of the replacement players during the 1987 NFL strike.

Chuck Compton is a former American football defensive back who played for the Green Bay Packers in the National Football League (NFL). He played in two games with the Packers during the 1987 NFL season as a replacement player after the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) went on strike for 24 days. Compton played college football for Boise State University before his professional career.

Ralph Earhart was a halfback in the National Football League (NFL). Earhart was born on March 29, 1923, in Milburn, Oklahoma. He attended Lefors High School where he played football, basketball and track-and-field. Earhart's football team's were successful, reaching various local title games and winning the district title during his senior year. However, it was revealed that Earhart had played high school basketball prior to attending Lefors, meaning he was ineligible for sports his senior year. The football team forfeited their games and district title that season.

Bobby Jack Floyd was a fullback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears. Floyd was born on December 8, 1929, in Paris, Texas, where he attended Paris High School. After high school, he attended Paris Junior College and then Texas Christian University (TCU) where he played college football. At TCU, Floyd was named to the All-Conference team and played in the 1952 Cotton Bowl Classic.

Wylie Dewayen Turner is an American former professional football player in the National Football League (NFL). Turner was born on April 19, 1957, in Dallas, Texas, where he attended W. T. White High School. In high school, he played football and ran track-and-field. Although he signed a letter of intent with Texas Southern University, he ended up going to Angelo State University so that he could run track-and-field and play for their football team. He started out as a running back, but was converted to cornerback. He was also the team's kick returner, leading college football in return yard average in 1977, which included a 104-yard return for a touchdown. Turner became an accomplished college track-and-field runner, competing in the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes. He was the NAIA champion at 200-meters in 1977.

Chester "Chet" Winters is an American former football running back. He played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners and later was a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL), as well as the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League (USFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Oklahoma Bronchos football</span> College football team (University of Central Oklahoma)

The Central Oklahoma Bronchos football team represents the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) in college football. The team is a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA), which is in Division II of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Bronchos football program began in 1902 and has since compiled over 600 wins, two national championships, and 27 conference championships. As of 2022, the Bronchos are ranked fifth in NCAA Division II for wins. In 1962, the Bronchos went 11–0 on the season and defeated Lenoir–Rhyne University (NC) 28–13 in the Camellia Bowl to claim its first NAIA national championship. Twenty years later, Central Oklahoma defended its home turf and defeated Colorado Mesa University 14–11 in the NAIA national championship game to take its second title and finish the season with a 10–2 record. Despite its rich history in football, Central Oklahoma has struggled beginning in the late 2000s. The program has not participated in the NCAA Division II playoffs since 2003. The Bronchos play their home games at Chad Richison Stadium, a 12,000-seat football stadium built in 1965, and remodeled in 2022. The Bronchos have enjoyed nine undefeated home seasons and are 5–1 in playoff games at Wantland Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sterling Shepard</span> American football player (born 1993)

Sterling Clay Shepard is an American football wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oklahoma. Shepard was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jalen Hurts</span> American football player (born 1998)

Jalen Alexander Hurts is an American football quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He began his college football career with the Alabama Crimson Tide, leading the team to consecutive College Football Playoff National Championship appearances in 2016 and 2017. After being benched for Tua Tagovailoa during Alabama's victory in the latter championship, Hurts spent one season as a backup in 2018. He played his final season with the Oklahoma Sooners, leading them to an appearance in the 2019–20 College Football Playoff.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Robinson (running back)</span> American football player (born 1998)

James Robinson is an American football running back for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Illinois State and signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2020, and was traded to the New York Jets in 2022. In 2020, Robinson broke the National Football League (NFL) record for most scrimmage yards of any undrafted rookie.

Christian Justus Watson is an American football wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at North Dakota State, and was selected by the Packers in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft.

References

  1. 1 2 "John Sterling Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  2. Sherman, Mike (September 26, 1986). "CSU Fullback Turns In Sterling Performance". The Daily Oklahoman (clipping). p. N10. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Central State Kicker Academic All-America For Third Year in Row". Tulsa World (clipping). January 29, 1987. p. C3. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Sterling Cut By Packers". The Daily Oklahoman (clipping). Associated Press. August 26, 1987. p. 30. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  5. "NFL labor history since 1968". ESPN.com. Associated Press. March 3, 2011. Archived from the original on January 11, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  6. Oates, Tom (October 10, 1987). "There's a catch to these Lions". Wisconsin State Journal (clipping). p. 3-3. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023 via Newspapers.com.