List of National Football League Olympians

Last updated

Thorpe race.jpg
Jim Thorpe punting.jpg
Jim Thorpe participating in the decathlon at the 1912 Summer Olympics (top) and punting (bottom)

The following is a list of National Football League players that have participated in the Olympic Games , with the NFL team for which they played (the team closest to the time of the player's Olympic participation), the sport in which they participated, and their medal count. All represented the United States, except for Colin Ridgway, represented Australia in 1956 and Jahvid Best, represented Saint Lucia in 2016. American football has only been played once in 1932 [1] (though a series demonstration college games were played in 1904). [2]

Contents

Players

Summer Olympics

PlayerNFL TeamSportOlympic YearGoldSilverBronzeTotal
Jim Thorpe [3] Canton Bulldogs [4] Athletics 1912 2002
Ollie Matson Chicago Cardinals Athletics 1952 0112
Jack Riley Boston Redskins Wrestling 1932 0101
Bob Hayes Dallas Cowboys Athletics 1964 2002
Sam Francis Philadelphia Eagles [5] Athletics 1936 0000
Ron Brown Los Angeles Rams Athletics 1984 1001
Michael Bates Seattle Seahawks Athletics 1992 0011
Larry Burton New Orleans Saints Athletics 1972 0000
Milt Campbell Cleveland Browns Athletics 1952/1956 1102
Henry Carr New York Giants Athletics 1964 2002
Michael Carter San Francisco 49ers Athletics 1984 0101
Glenn Davis Detroit Lions Athletics 1956/1960 3003
Sam Graddy Denver Broncos Athletics 1984 1102
Jim Hines Miami Dolphins Athletics 1968 2002
Lam Jones New York Jets Athletics 1976 1001
Jess Lewis Houston Oilers Wrestling 1968 0000
Glenn Morris Detroit Lions Athletics 1936 1001
Ray Norton San Francisco 49ers Athletics 1960 0000
James Owens San Francisco 49ers Athletics 1976 0000
Bob Pickens Chicago Bears Wrestling 1964 0000
Colin Ridgway Dallas Cowboys Athletics 1956 0000
Bo Roberson San Diego Chargers [6] Athletics 1960 0101
Clyde Scott Philadelphia Eagles Athletics 1948 0101
Tommie Smith Cincinnati Bengals [6] Athletics 1968 1001
Gerald Tinker Atlanta Falcons Athletics 1972 1001
T.J. Jackson Philadelphia Eagles Athletics 1964 0000
James Jett Los Angeles Raiders Athletics 1992 1001
Jeff Demps [7] Tampa Bay Buccaneers Athletics 2012 0000
John Spellman Providence Steam Roller Wrestling 1924 1001
Jim Bausch Chicago Cardinals Athletics 1932 1001
Gene Vidal Washington Senators [8] Athletics 1920/1924 0000
Harold Muller Los Angeles Buccaneers Athletics 1920 0101
Marquise Goodwin Buffalo Bills Athletics 2012 0000
Nate Ebner New England Patriots Rugby sevens 2016 0000
Jahvid Best Detroit Lions Athletics 2016 0000
Randy Dean New York Giants Handball 1976 0000
Marvin Bracy Seattle Seahawks Athletics 2016 0000
Devon Allen Philadelphia Eagles Athletics 2016/2020 0000

Winter Olympics

PlayerNFL TeamSportOlympic YearGoldSilverBronzeTotal
Herschel Walker Philadelphia Eagles Bobsledding 1992 0000
Johnny Quinn Green Bay Packers Bobsledding 2014 0000
Jeremy Bloom Philadelphia Eagles Freestyle Skiing 2002/2006 0000

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References

  1. The Games of the Xth Olympiad Los Angeles 1932 (PDF). Xth Olympiade Committee of the Games of Los Angeles, U.S.A. 1932. 1933. pp. 739–743. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-04-10. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
  2. "College Football in The Olympics, 1904". Mmbolding.com. Archived from the original on 2012-02-11. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
  3. "Jim THORPE | Olympic Athlete | Stockholm 1912". Olympic.org. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
  4. As part of the American Professional Football Association
  5. His rights were eventually traded to the Chicago Bears
  6. 1 2 These teams were part of the American Football League at the time
  7. "Patriots sign Olympic medalist Jeff Demps to a contract –". Usatoday.com. 2012-08-18. Retrieved 2012-08-23.
  8. As part of the American Professional Football Association