Johnny Butler (running back)

For other people named John Butler, see John Butler (disambiguation).

Johnny Butler
Date of birthSeptember 14, 1918
Place of birthKnoxville, Tennessee, U.S.
Date of deathApril 1963 (aged 44)
Career information
Position(s)Halfback, tailback
US collegeTennessee
NFL draft1942 / round: 7
Career history
As player
1943Phil-Pit Steagles (NFL)
1944Card-Pitt (NFL)
1944Brooklyn Tigers (NFL)
1945Philadelphia Eagles
1946Bethlehem Bulldogs (AFL)
Career stats
Games played26
Starts15
Rushing yards517 (3.1 average)
Receiving yards186 (23.3 average)
Touchdowns6

John William Butler (September 14, 1918 – April 1963) was a professional football player in the National Football League (NFL). Butler played for four different NFL franchises during his four year career, finishing up in 1946 with the Bethlehem Bulldogs of the fledgling American Football League.

Biography

Early years

Johnny Butler was born September 14, 1918, in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Collegiate career

Prior to playing professionally, Butler played football at the college level while attending the University of Tennessee from 1939 to 1941. As a sophomore in 1939, Butler ran 56 yards for a touchdown against the University of Alabama.

Butler's Tennessee team was extremely successful during his three years on the varsity, appearing in the 1939 Rose Bowl, 1940 Sugar Bowl, and 1941 Orange Bowl.[1]

Professional career

Butler was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1942. He would go on to play for both Steelers merged teams ("Steagles" in 1943; "Card-Pitt" in 1944).

In 1943 Butler was drafted into the military due to World War II, however he was physically disqualified for duty. He then made his first start with the "Steagles" one day after being ruled 4-F by his draft board for poor eyesight and bad knees.

During the 1944 season, Butler was fined $200 by co-coaches Walt Kiesling and Phil Handler for what they characterized as "indifferent play". He was then put on waivers and was soon claimed by the Brooklyn Tigers.

In 1945, he played his final season in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles.

In 1946 Butler signed to play with the Bethlehem Bulldogs of the American Football League, after Bulldogs owner Bob Sell purchased his contract from the Eagles for an undisclosed sum.[1]

Death and legacy

John Butler died in April 1963 at the age of 44.

He was elected into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 1997.

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b "Bethlehem Bulldogs Sign Up Six More Football Players for Next Fall," Allentown Morning Call, April 5, 1946; p. 30.

Sources

  • Forr, James (2003). "Card-Pitt: The Carpits" (PDF). Coffin Corner. Vol. 25, no. 3. pp. 1–8. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 22, 2012 – via Professional Football Researchers Association.
  • Steagles: When the Steelers and Eagles were One in the Same
  • Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame
  • Tennessee Football History
  • John Butler's NFL profile
  • Johnny Butler's obituary