John Wilbur (American football) facts for kids

John Leonard Wilbur (born May 21, 1943 – died December 9, 2013) was a professional American football player. He played as an offensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams, and Washington Redskins. He also played for The Hawaiians in the World Football League (WFL). John Wilbur played college football at Stanford University.

Early Life and College Football

John Wilbur grew up in Los Angeles, California. He went to Alexander Hamilton High School. After high school, he chose to go to Stanford University in 1961. He wanted to study law and had a special scholarship for being an Eagle Scout.

At Stanford, he became a starter on the football team in his second year. He played for three years as a starter. He played different positions like offensive guard, offensive tackle, and defensive end. In one game, he made 13 tackles as a defensive end. He earned a degree in history from Stanford.

Professional Football Career

John Wilbur had a long career playing professional football for several teams.

Dallas Cowboys

The Kansas City Chiefs picked John Wilbur in the sixth round of the 1965 AFL Draft. This allowed them to draft him before he finished college. However, in 1966, he decided to sign with the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL instead.

As a rookie, he almost quit training camp but was convinced to stay. He tried out for different positions like guard, defensive end, and offensive tackle. He mostly played on special teams and as a backup offensive tackle.

He was part of the Cowboys team that played in the famous 1967 NFL Championship Game, also known as "The Ice Bowl." In 1968, he became the starting right guard for the team.

John Wilbur was known for being outspoken. He was a Player Representative for the Cowboys in the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA). This group works to protect the rights of football players. He also helped organize security for a big music festival with some of his teammates.

In June 1970, the Cowboys traded him to the St. Louis Cardinals. But John Wilbur said he would retire if he had to play for them. So, the Cardinals traded him to the Los Angeles Rams instead.

Los Angeles Rams

With the Los Angeles Rams, John Wilbur was a backup right guard. He played mostly on special teams. His coach there was George Allen, who is a famous coach.

In 1971, John Wilbur was part of a big trade. He and several other players were traded from the Rams to the Washington Redskins.

Washington Redskins

When John Wilbur joined the Washington Redskins, he was reunited with coach George Allen. He became a starting right guard for the Redskins from 1971 to 1973. He helped the team reach Super Bowl VII.

He is also known for being one of the first players to sew the sleeves of his jerseys tight. This style was later copied by many other players in the league.

During his time with the Redskins, John Wilbur was interested in politics. He supported a political candidate named George McGovern. He also became good friends with a young reporter named Hunter S. Thompson. John Wilbur was also named the treasurer for the NFLPA.

The Hawaiians (WFL)

In 1974, John Wilbur left the NFL to play for the Hawaiians. This team was part of a different league called the World Football League (WFL). The next year, he was a player and also helped coach the offensive line.

Philadelphia Eagles

On May 17, 1976, John Wilbur signed with the Philadelphia Eagles. However, he retired from football before the season even started on September 6.

Life After Football

While playing for the Dallas Cowboys, John Wilbur earned a master's degree in business from the University of California, Los Angeles.

He also loved rugby football and played for a rugby club in Hawaii after his NFL career. He continued to enjoy the social side of the game for many years.

John Wilbur passed away on December 9, 2013. After his death, doctors studied his brain and found that he had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). This is a brain disease caused by repeated hits to the head. He is one of many former NFL players who have been diagnosed with CTE after they died.

John Wilbur had three children: Nathan, Dione, and Lindsey. He also had four grandchildren.