Johnny Clement

Last updated

Johnny Clement
Johnny Clement.jpg
No. 23, 00, 72
Position: Tailback
Quarterback
Personal information
Born:(1919-10-31)October 31, 1919
Stonebluff, Oklahoma, U.S.
Died:December 11, 1969(1969-12-11) (aged 50)
near Mountain City, Tennessee, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:189 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school:Stonebluff
College: SMU
NFL draft: 1941  / round: 4 / pick: 28
Career history
Career NFL statistics
TD–INT:20–39
Passing yards:3,226
Passer rating:47.0
Rushing yards:1,473
Rushing average:3.6
Rushing touchdowns:13
Receptions:2
Receiving yards:28
Stats at Pro Football Reference

John Louis "Johnny Zero" [1] [2] [3] Clement (October 31, 1919 - December 11, 1969) was an American football tailback and quarterback. He played college football for SMU from 1937 to 1940 and professional football for the Chicago Cardinals (1941), Pittsburgh Steelers (1946-1948), and Chicago Hornets (1949). In 1947, he led the NFL with an average of 5.2 yards per rushing carry in 1947, and his 670 rushing yards ranked second in the NFL. His career was cut short by a pinched nerve in his neck.

Contents

Early years

Clement was born in 1919 in Stonebluff, Oklahoma. [4] He attended Eldorado High School in Eldorado, Texas. [5] He later enrolled at Southern Methodist University. [4] He played college football as a halfback for the SMU Mustangs from 1937 to 1940. [6]

Professional football

Chicago Cardinals

Clement was selected by the Chicago Cardinals in the fourth round, 28th overall pick, of the 1941 NFL draft. [7] He appeared in nine games, four as a starter, for the Cardinals during the 1941 season, tallying 690 passing yards and 94 rushing yards. [6]

Military service

After the 1941 season, Clement served as an officer in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He was a B-29 pilot during the war. [8] He also played service football for the 1944 Maxwell Field Marauders football team and 1945 Army Air Forces Training Command Skymasters football team. [9] [10] [11] During the 1944 season, he completed 41 of 107 passes for 534 yards, scored 70 points, and tallied 862 rushing yards on 150 carries (5.7 yards per carry). [10]

Pittsburgh Steelers

Prior to the 1946 season, the Cardinals traded Clement to the Pittsburgh Steelers. [12] Clement had worn the jersey number "zero" while playing football for the military and became known as "Johnny Zero" in 1944. [1] [13] While playing for Pittsburgh, continued to wear the "zero" jersey number. [6]

In 1946, Clement appeared in 11 games, tallying 345 passing yards and 60 rushing yards. [4] [6]

Clement had his best season in 1947. In 10 games, he completed 42 of 123 passes (42.3%) for 1,004 yards, seven touchdowns, and nine interceptions. He also tallied 670 rushing yards on 129 carries (5.2 yards per carry) with four rushing touchdowns. His average of 5.2 yards per carry was the best in the NFL, and his 670 rushing yards ranked second. At the end of the 1947 season, he was selected by the Associated Press for the All-NFL team. [6]

In 1948, Clement appeared in five games, tallying 281 passing yards and 261 rushing yards. [6] His season was cut short when he experienced numbness in his left arm. He had pinched a nerve in his neck in 1946, and the nerve injury recurred and cut short his 1948 season. [8] [14] [15]

Chicago Hornets

In August 1949, having been offered no contract by the Steelers, Clement signed with the Chicago Hornets of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC). [16] He completed 58 of 114 passes (50.9%) for 906 yards, six touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. His 906 passing yards ranked sixth in the AAFC. He also tallied 388 rushing yards (3.7 yards per carry) on 106 carries with five rushing touchdowns. [6]

Later years

Clement and his wife, Anita, had a son, Michael, born in 1948. Clement had been a pilot in World War II and flew his own private plane, a Cessna 210, in the 1960s. In January 1970, Clement was found dead in the wreckage of his Cessna that crashed near Mountain City, Tennessee. The aircraft had been reported missing on December 11, 1969. [5] [2]

References

  1. 1 2 "Invading Commodores Sport Roster Replete With All America Material". Alabama Journal. October 26, 1944. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.("Maxwell's big machine will pin its hopes on their ace passer and runner, 'Johnny Zero' Clement ...")
  2. 1 2 Al Abrams (February 19, 1970). "John 'Zero' Clement". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Perspective Of An Average Steelers Fan: Johnny 'Zero' Clement". Steelers Depot}author=David Orochena. February 1, 2024. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 "Johnny Clement". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  5. 1 2 "Ex-Eldoradoan Dies In Crash". San Angelo Standard-Times. January 30, 1970. p. 2A – via Newspapers.com.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Johnny Clement". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  7. ↑ "1941 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  8. 1 2 Jack Sell (November 6, 1948). "Clement, Steeler Star, Out For Season, Doctor Says: Halfback's Pro Grid Career May Be At End Because of Neck Injury". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. pp. 1, 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Clement Shines As Marauders Wins, 26-7: Maxwell Ace Gallops 81 Yards For Score". Alabama Journal. November 23, 1944. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. 1 2 "Johnny Clement Will Tote Ball for AAFTC This Fall". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. August 5, 1945. p. 2 (section 2) – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ Tony Slaughter (November 29, 1945). "Clement May Quit Cardinals". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Lach Reports To Steelers". Pittsburgh Sun-Telegram. August 6, 1946. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "Maxwell Wins 2nd Game From 4th Infantry, 26-7". The montgomery Advertiser. November 23, 1944. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ "Nerve Injury May End Johnny Clement's Grid Career". Pittsburgh Post-Courier. November 1, 1948. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ Lester J. Biederman (November 6, 1948). "Steelers Lose Clement Punch for Season: Tailback Star Would Risk Lasting Injury If He Continued Play". The Pittsburgh Press. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ "Clement, Ex-Steeler, Expected To Sign With Hornets". Chicago Tribune. August 11, 1949. p. 5 (part 3) – via Newspapers.com.
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