Johnny Sample facts for kids

Johnny Sample (born John B. Sample Jr., June 15, 1936 – April 26, 2005) was an amazing American football player. He played as a defensive back in both the National Football League (NFL) and the American Football League (AFL).

Johnny Sample played for several teams. These included the Baltimore Colts (1958–1960), Pittsburgh Steelers (1961–1962), and Washington Redskins (1963–1965) in the NFL. Later, he joined the New York Jets (1966–1968) in the AFL.

He is famous for winning three major football championships. He won an NFL championship, an AFL championship, and a Super Bowl. This is a very rare achievement in professional football.

Sample started his career with a big win. In his first season, he helped the Colts win the 1958 NFL Championship Game. This game was so exciting it became known as "The Greatest Game Ever Played."

He ended his career with another huge victory. In his final season, he helped the Jets win the AFL Championship. Then, they beat the Colts in Super Bowl III in 1969. Sample even made an interception in that game, helping the Jets win 16–7.

In between these wins, Sample also won the 1959 NFL Championship Game. He scored a touchdown by returning an interception 42 yards. The Colts beat the Giants 31–16 that year.

Growing Up and College Years

Johnny Sample grew up in Cape Charles, Virginia. His dad, John B. Sample, was a barber, and his mom, Evlyn Sample, was a stenographer. He went to Northampton County High School.

He then attended Maryland State College. This school is now known as the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Johnny was a talented athlete in four different sports there. He played football, baseball, basketball, and even gymnastics.

In football, he was a "Little All-American." He helped his college team, the Hawks, achieve an amazing record of 28 wins, 1 loss, and 1 tie. They also won two Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) championships.

As a halfback and kicker, he ran for 2,381 yards. He scored 37 touchdowns and made 42 extra points. He also kicked four field goals. Johnny graduated in 1958 with a degree in physical education.

In 1958, Johnny Sample was the first player from a historically black university to play in the Chicago College All-Star Game. This was a special game between college rookies and the NFL champions.

Professional Football Highlights

Johnny Sample played 11 seasons in professional football. He was a very good defensive player. He made 41 interceptions during his career. He returned these interceptions for a total of 460 yards. He also scored four touchdowns from these interceptions.

He also recovered 13 fumbles, gaining 61 yards from them. On special teams, he was excellent at returning kicks. He returned 68 punts for 559 yards and one touchdown. He also returned 60 kickoffs for 1,560 yards and another touchdown.

His best year was 1961 when he played for the Steelers. That season, he intercepted a career-high eight passes. He returned them for 141 yards and scored a touchdown. He also led the entire NFL in punt return yards that year.

Life After Football

After his football career, Johnny Sample stayed busy. In 1970, he wrote an autobiography about his experiences.

He also became very good at tennis. For several years, he was ranked as the number one men's player. This was in the age 45 and over category by the United States Tennis Association (USTA).

In the 1980s and 1990s, he worked as a tennis official. He was a linesman and even a chair umpire. He worked at major tennis tournaments. These included the U.S. Open, Wimbledon, the French Open, and the Australian Open.

In 1977, he was honored by his college. He was inducted into the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hawk Hall of Fame.

Johnny Sample also hosted a talk-radio show in Philadelphia. He passed away on April 26, 2005, in Philadelphia. He was survived by a son and two daughters.

See also

• List of American Football League players