John Wooten facts for kids

John B. Wooten (born December 5, 1936) is a former American football player. He played as a guard for nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Cleveland Browns and Washington Redskins. Wooten played college football for the Colorado Buffaloes. He was chosen in the fifth round of the 1959 NFL draft.

Early Life and School Days

John B. Wooten was born in Riverview, Texas. His family later moved to Carlsbad, New Mexico. He went to schools where students of different races were kept separate until 9th grade. After that, he attended the newly integrated Carlsbad High School.

Wooten started playing high school football in 1952. He became a top player, earning "All-State" honors in both football and basketball. He received offers to play football from several colleges. He decided to attend the University of Colorado at Boulder.

College Football Career

Wooten played college football at the University of Colorado at Boulder. He joined the team in 1955. He was only the second African-American player to join the school's varsity football program.

As a senior, Wooten was recognized as one of the best college players in the country. He was selected to play in the Chicago College All-Star Game. He is thought to be one of the first African-American players to earn "All-America" honors while playing an "interior line" position. These are positions in the middle of the offensive line. He earned a degree in Education in 1959.

College Honors and Awards

Wooten was added to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2012. This is a special place for college football legends. In 1989, he was also named one of 25 members of Colorado's All-Century Team. This team honored the first 100 years of football at the school.

Professional Football Career

Playing for the Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns chose Wooten in the fifth round of the 1959 NFL draft. He was the 53rd player picked overall. He played left guard for the Browns for nine seasons.

During his time with the Browns, he helped block for Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown. Many people think Jim Brown is one of the best running backs in NFL history. Jim Brown led the league in rushing yards for six of the seven seasons that Wooten blocked for him. In 1965, Jim Brown was named the NFL Most Valuable Player.

The Browns won the 1964 NFL Championship Game by beating the Baltimore Colts 27–0. They also played in the 1965 NFL Championship Game but lost to the Green Bay Packers. In 1979, Wooten was named to the Browns All-Time All-Star Team. In 2010, he was added to the Browns Ring of Honor and the Browns Legends program. These are special ways the team honors its greatest players.

Playing for the Washington Redskins

In July 1968, Wooten asked the Browns for a trade after a disagreement with the team. On July 19, 1968, the Browns released him. The Washington Redskins signed Wooten in August 1968. He played his final year in the NFL with them.

Working in Football Front Offices

After he stopped playing football, Wooten worked as a sports agent for a short time. From 1975 to 1979, he became a scout for the Dallas Cowboys. A scout finds new players for the team. In 1980, he was promoted to Director of Pro Personnel. This job involves managing the team's professional players.

In 1992, he moved to the Philadelphia Eagles as Player Personnel. He was promoted to Vice President of Player Personnel in 1994. In 1998, he joined the Baltimore Ravens as Assistant Director of Pro and College Scouting. He worked as a consultant for the Ravens until 2003, before retiring.

Today, he teaches about being a Football General Manager and scouting at an online sports training school called Sports Management Worldwide.

Fritz Pollard Alliance Work

In 2003, Wooten became the Chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance. This group works with the National Football League to help more minority candidates get hired for coaching, scouting, and front office jobs. They work to make sure there are fair chances for everyone.

Personal Life

John B. Wooten lives in Arlington, Texas, with his wife. They have five children and five grandchildren.

Awards and Special Honors

NFL Achievements

• Won the 1964 NFL Championship as a player with the Cleveland Browns.
• Won two Super Bowls as a front office executive: Super Bowl XII with the Dallas Cowboys and Super Bowl XXXV with the Baltimore Ravens.
• Named First Team All-Pro in 1968.
• Selected for the Pro Bowl two times.

Hall of Fame Inductions

• Cleveland Browns Legends (inducted in 2010)
• College Football Hall of Fame (inducted in 2012)

Local and State Recognition

• There is a mural and statue that honors the Cleveland Summit, where Wooten was involved.