John Wooten facts for kids

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

Early Life and School

John B. Wooten was born in Riverview, Texas. His family later moved to Carlsbad, New Mexico. He went to schools that were separated by race until the 9th grade. Then, he attended Carlsbad High School, which had recently become integrated.

Wooten started playing high school football in 1952. He was a sophomore at the time. He became an All-State player in both football and basketball. Many colleges wanted him to play football for them. These included Dartmouth College and UCLA. Wooten decided to go to 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 the second African-American player to join the school's varsity football program.

As a senior, Wooten was named an American Football Coaches Association All-America player. This means he was one of the best college players in the country. He also played in the Chicago College All-Star Game. He was one of the first African-American players to earn All-America honors as an interior lineman. Wooten graduated in 1959 with a degree in Education.

College Honors and Awards

John Wooten received several honors for his college career.

• In 2012, he was added to the College Football Hall of Fame.
• In 1989, he was chosen for 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 drafted Wooten in 1959. He was the 53rd player picked overall. He played as a left guard for the Browns for nine seasons.

While with the Browns, Wooten blocked for Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown. Many people think Jim Brown is one of the best running backs ever. With Wooten blocking, Jim Brown led the league in rushing for six of seven seasons. In 1965, Jim Brown was the NFL's 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.

Playing for the Washington Redskins

In 1968, Wooten asked to be traded from the Browns. This happened after a disagreement about a golf event. On July 19, 1968, the Browns released him. The Washington Redskins then signed Wooten in August. He played his final NFL season with them.

Working in the Front Office

After he stopped playing football, Wooten worked as a sports agent for a short time. From 1975 to 1979, he was a scout for the Dallas Cowboys. He was promoted to Director of Pro Personnel in 1980.

In 1992, he joined the Philadelphia Eagles to work in Player Personnel. He became Vice President of Player Personnel in 1994. In 1998, he moved to the Baltimore Ravens. He worked there as Assistant Director of Pro and College Scouting. From 2000 to 2003, he was a consultant for the Ravens before retiring.

Today, he teaches about being a Football General Manager and scouting. He does this for an online sports training school.

Fritz Pollard Alliance

In 2003, Wooten became the Chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance. This group works with the National Football League. They help to make sure that people from minority groups are hired for coaching, scouting, and front office jobs.

Personal Life

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

Awards and Honors

NFL Achievements

• 1964 NFL Champion (as a player with the Cleveland Browns)
• Two-time Super Bowl champion as a front office executive (XII with the Dallas Cowboys, XXXV with the Baltimore Ravens)
• 1966 First Team All-Pro
• Two-time Pro Bowl selection

Halls of Fame

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

Other Honors

• A mural and statue honor the Cleveland Summit. Wooten was part of this important event.