Sample had the distinction of beginning and ending his career with championship wins in two of the most famous games in professional football history, and winning an NFL championship, an AFL championship, and a world championship.
In his rookie season, he won an NFL championship ring with the Colts in their victory over the New York Giants in the 1958 NFL Championship Game, which became known as "The Greatest Game Ever Played".
In his final season, he helped the Jets win the AFL Championship against the Oakland Raiders, and then to defeat the Colts in the third AFL-NFL World Championship (Super Bowl III) in January 1969, recording an interception in the Jets' 16–7 win. He is the only professional football player to have won all three: an NFL, AFL, and Super Bowl championship.
In between, Sample won another championship in the 1959 NFL Championship Game, scoring a touchdown on a 42-yard interception return in the Colts' 31–16 victory over the Giants.
Sample grew up in Cape Charles, Virginia, the son of John B. Sample, a barber, and Evlyn Sample, a stenographer.[1] He went to Northampton County High School.[2] He attended Maryland State College, now the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, where he was a four-sport athlete in football, baseball, basketball and gymnastics. In football, he was named a Little All-American and in three seasons led the Hawks to a record of 28–1–1 and two Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) championships. In three years as a halfback and kicker, he totaled 2,381 rushing yards, 37 touchdowns, 42 conversions, and four field goals. He graduated in 1958 with a degree in physical education.[3]
Sample in 1958 was said to be the first player from a historically black university to participate in the College All-Star Game, an annual exhibition held between professional rookies and the reigning NFL champion.[4]
Professional career
Sample finished his 11 professional football seasons with 41 interceptions, which he returned for 460 yards and four touchdowns. He also recovered 13 fumbles, returning them for 61 yards. On special teams, he returned 68 punts for 559 yards and a touchdown, along with 60 kickoffs for 1,560 yards and a touchdown. His most outstanding year was 1961 for the Steelers, when he intercepted a career-high eight passes for 141 return yards and one touchdown and led the NFL in punt return yards.[5]
After football
After his playing career ended, in 1970 Sample released a very outspoken autobiography, Confessions of a Dirty Ballplayer.[6]
He later became known in tennis—he was the No. 1-ranked men's player by the United States Tennis Association (USTA) in the age 45 and over category for several years.[7] During the 1980s and 1990s, he became a tennis official, a linesman, and even a chair umpire at bigger and bigger men's and women's events including the U.S. Open, Wimbledon, the French Open, and the Australian Open.[8]
In 1977, he was inducted into the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hawk Hall of Fame.
He also hosted a talk-radio show in Philadelphia. Sample died April 26, 2005, at Misericordia Hospital in Philadelphia. He was survived by a son and two daughters. He was preceded in death by one son.[4]
^. FamilySearch. Archived from the original on 2016-03-08. Retrieved 2014-11-13.
^Longman, Jeré. "Jets' Johnny Sample: A Forefather of Trash Talk". Retrieved 12 July 2018.
^(PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-01-22. Retrieved 2014-11-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ abLongman, Jeré. "Jets' Johnny Sample: A Forefather of Trash Talk". Retrieved 12 July 2018.
^"Johnny Sample Stats - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
^"Remembering NFL Pioneer Johnny Sample - Los Angeles Sentinel". 13 May 2010. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
^Bell, Harold. "Johnny Sample: A Dirty Football Player & a Stand-Up Brother". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
^"Archives - Philly.com". articles.philly.com. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
May 20, 2023
johnny, sample, john, sample, june, 1936, april, 2005, american, football, defensive, back, played, national, football, league, baltimore, colts, 1958, 1960, pittsburgh, steelers, 1961, 1962, washington, redskins, 1963, 1965, american, football, league, york, . John B Sample Jr June 15 1936 April 26 2005 was an American football defensive back who played in the National Football League NFL for the Baltimore Colts 1958 1960 Pittsburgh Steelers 1961 1962 and Washington Redskins 1963 1965 and in the American Football League AFL for the New York Jets 1966 1968 winning three league championships Johnny SampleNo 47 44 24Position Defensive backPersonal informationBorn 1936 06 15 June 15 1936Cape Charles Virginia U S Died April 26 2005 2005 04 26 aged 67 Philadelphia Pennsylvania U S Height 6 ft 1 in 1 85 m Weight 203 lb 92 kg Career informationHigh school Overbrook Philadelphia Pennsylvania College Maryland StateNFL Draft 1958 Round 7 Pick 79Career historyBaltimore Colts 1958 1960 Pittsburgh Steelers 1961 1962 Washington Redskins 1963 1965 New York Jets 1966 1968 Career highlights and awardsSuper Bowl champion III 2 NFL champion 1958 1959 AFL champion 1968 5 Second team All Pro 1960 1961 1965 1966 1968 UPI First team All Pro 1961 Career NFL statisticsGames played 125Interceptions 41Total touchdowns 6Player stats at NFL com PFRSample had the distinction of beginning and ending his career with championship wins in two of the most famous games in professional football history and winning an NFL championship an AFL championship and a world championship In his rookie season he won an NFL championship ring with the Colts in their victory over the New York Giants in the 1958 NFL Championship Game which became known as The Greatest Game Ever Played In his final season he helped the Jets win the AFL Championship against the Oakland Raiders and then to defeat the Colts in the third AFL NFL World Championship Super Bowl III in January 1969 recording an interception in the Jets 16 7 win He is the only professional football player to have won all three an NFL AFL and Super Bowl championship In between Sample won another championship in the 1959 NFL Championship Game scoring a touchdown on a 42 yard interception return in the Colts 31 16 victory over the Giants Contents 1 Early life 2 Professional career 3 After football 4 See also 5 ReferencesEarly life EditSample grew up in Cape Charles Virginia the son of John B Sample a barber and Evlyn Sample a stenographer 1 He went to Northampton County High School 2 He attended Maryland State College now the University of Maryland Eastern Shore where he was a four sport athlete in football baseball basketball and gymnastics In football he was named a Little All American and in three seasons led the Hawks to a record of 28 1 1 and two Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association CIAA championships In three years as a halfback and kicker he totaled 2 381 rushing yards 37 touchdowns 42 conversions and four field goals He graduated in 1958 with a degree in physical education 3 Sample in 1958 was said to be the first player from a historically black university to participate in the College All Star Game an annual exhibition held between professional rookies and the reigning NFL champion 4 Professional career EditSample finished his 11 professional football seasons with 41 interceptions which he returned for 460 yards and four touchdowns He also recovered 13 fumbles returning them for 61 yards On special teams he returned 68 punts for 559 yards and a touchdown along with 60 kickoffs for 1 560 yards and a touchdown His most outstanding year was 1961 for the Steelers when he intercepted a career high eight passes for 141 return yards and one touchdown and led the NFL in punt return yards 5 After football EditAfter his playing career ended in 1970 Sample released a very outspoken autobiography Confessions of a Dirty Ballplayer 6 He later became known in tennis he was the No 1 ranked men s player by the United States Tennis Association USTA in the age 45 and over category for several years 7 During the 1980s and 1990s he became a tennis official a linesman and even a chair umpire at bigger and bigger men s and women s events including the U S Open Wimbledon the French Open and the Australian Open 8 In 1977 he was inducted into the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hawk Hall of Fame He also hosted a talk radio show in Philadelphia Sample died April 26 2005 at Misericordia Hospital in Philadelphia He was survived by a son and two daughters He was preceded in death by one son 4 See also EditList of American Football League playersReferences Edit United States Census 1940 pal MM9 3 1 TH 1971 27752 4117 36 FamilySearch org FamilySearch Archived from the original on 2016 03 08 Retrieved 2014 11 13 Longman Jere Jets Johnny Sample A Forefather of Trash Talk Retrieved 12 July 2018 Archived copy PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2015 01 22 Retrieved 2014 11 13 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link a b Longman Jere Jets Johnny Sample A Forefather of Trash Talk Retrieved 12 July 2018 Johnny Sample Stats Pro Football Reference com Pro Football Reference com Retrieved 12 July 2018 Remembering NFL Pioneer Johnny Sample Los Angeles Sentinel 13 May 2010 Retrieved 12 July 2018 Bell Harold Johnny Sample A Dirty Football Player amp a Stand Up Brother Bleacher Report Retrieved 12 July 2018 Archives Philly com articles philly com Retrieved 12 July 2018 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Johnny Sample amp oldid 1152002672, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
