Johnny Drake facts for kids
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| Position: | Fullback / Halfback | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | March 27, 1916 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
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| Died: | March 26, 1973 (aged 56) Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 213 lb (97 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Bowen (Chicago) | ||||||
| College: | Purdue | ||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1937 / Round: 1 / Pick: 10 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||
John William "Zero" Drake (March 27, 1916 – March 26, 1973) was a talented American football player. He played as a running back for the Cleveland Rams in the National Football League (NFL). Before becoming a professional, he played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers. Johnny Drake was a top player, chosen early in the 1937 NFL Draft. He even led the league in scoring touchdowns for two years!
Contents
Who Was Johnny Drake?
John William Drake was born in Chicago, Illinois, on March 27, 1916. He was known by his nickname, "Zero." He grew up to be a strong football player. Johnny passed away in Detroit, Michigan, on March 26, 1973.
High School and College Years
Johnny Drake went to Bowen High School in Chicago. After high school, he played college football at Purdue University. He was a star player there. In 1936, he was named to the First-team All-Big Ten team. This meant he was one of the best players in his college conference.
Johnny Drake's NFL Career
In 1937, Johnny Drake was chosen in the NFL Draft. This is where professional teams pick new players. He was the 10th player picked overall. The Cleveland Rams chose him, and he was their very first draft pick ever! He played for the Rams from 1937 to 1941.
Playing for the Cleveland Rams
As a running back, Johnny Drake was very important to the Rams. He was known for his strong running. He helped his team gain many yards on the field. He played both as a fullback and a halfback. These positions are key for running the ball and scoring.
Top Achievements and Awards
Johnny Drake was one of the best players in the NFL during his time. He led the entire league in touchdowns in both 1939 and 1940. This means he scored more touchdowns than anyone else!
He also received several important awards:
- In 1940, he was named First-team All-Pro. This means he was considered one of the best players in the whole league.
- He was also an NFL All-Star three times, from 1938 to 1940. This shows how consistently good he was.
Johnny Drake finished his career with 1,700 rushing yards. He scored 24 touchdowns in total. His average gain per run was 3.2 yards. He was a true football legend of his era.
