John Brockington
Encyclopedia
John Stanley Brockington (born September 7, 1948 in Brooklyn, New York) is a former American football
running back
. He was the National Football League
's Green Bay Packers
' 1st round draft choice out of the Ohio State University
, and was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year
in 1971.
and fullback
for the Ohio State
Buckeyes
from 1968 to 1970. He was one of the so-called Super Sophomores who led the Buckeyes to an undefeated season and a consensus national championship in 1968. Brockington and the other Super Sophomores finished their college careers with a record of 27-2.
Brockington played at the left halfback position in 1968 and 1969, used primarily as a blocker for fullback Jim Otis
and quarterback
Rex Kern
. In 1970 Brockington moved to the fullback position and was the featured running back
in head coach
Woody Hayes
' offense. Brockington finished his senior season with 1,142 rushing yards, which was at the time an Ohio State single-season record.
Brockington was selected into the Ohio State Football All-Century Team
in 2000, and was elected into the Ohio State Varsity O Hall of Fame
in 2002.
. Brockington was the first NFL player to ever rush for 1,000 or more yards in each of his first three seasons. In 1971 Brockington was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year
by the Associated Press
. Brockington was named All-Pro
in 1971, 2nd Team All-Pro in 1973 and All-NFC
in 1972. Brockington was also selected to 3 consecutive Pro Bowl
s (1971-1973).
His first running mate in the Green Bay backfield was another former Packer first round draft choice, Donny Anderson
. Anderson was traded the following season to the St. Louis Cardinals
for running back MacArthur Lane
. Together, Brockington and Lane formed a dynamic running duo in the backfield, carrying the Packers offense between 1972 and 1974.
With a running style based on his great strength, Brockington epitomized the power running back - a player who preferred to break tackles
and run over defenders rather than run away from them. He was one of the first running backs to combine brute force with speed.
Brockington's success was short-lived, however. After eclipsing 1,000 yards rushing during each of his first three seasons, he never attained the same level. He ran for 883 yards in 1974 and only 434 the following year. This was the result of typical wear-and-tear, the departure of Lane after the 1974 season and changes in the Packers' playbook that did not take advantage of Brockington's abilities. After the first game of the 1977 season, he was released by the Packers and subsequently signed by the Kansas City Chiefs
. He retired following the season.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
. He was the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
's Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
' 1st round draft choice out of the Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
, and was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year
NFL Rookie of the Year Award
Since 1967, the Associated Press has given two annual Rookie of the Year Awards to National Football League players: one for an offensive player and one for a defensive player. These two are often regarded as the "official" awards...
in 1971.
College career
Brockington played halfbackHalfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
and fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
for the Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes
The Ohio State Buckeyes are the intercollegiate sports teams and players of The Ohio State University, named after the state tree, the Buckeye. The Buckeyes participate in the NCAA's Division I in all sports and the Big Ten Conference in most sports...
Buckeyes
Ohio State Buckeyes football
The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state...
from 1968 to 1970. He was one of the so-called Super Sophomores who led the Buckeyes to an undefeated season and a consensus national championship in 1968. Brockington and the other Super Sophomores finished their college careers with a record of 27-2.
Brockington played at the left halfback position in 1968 and 1969, used primarily as a blocker for fullback Jim Otis
Jim Otis
James Lloyd "Jim" Otis is a former college and professional American football running back.-College career:Otis was a fullback for the Ohio State University Buckeyes from 1967-69. He led the team in rushing every year of his college career...
and quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Rex Kern
Rex Kern
Rex William Kern is a former American football player. He played quarterback for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 1968 to 1970, and played professional football in the National Football League at defensive back for the Baltimore Colts and Buffalo Bills...
. In 1970 Brockington moved to the fullback position and was the featured running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
in head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Woody Hayes
Woody Hayes
Wayne Woodrow "Woody" Hayes was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Denison University , Miami University , and Ohio State University , compiling a career college football record of 238–72–10.During his 28 seasons as the head coach of the Ohio...
' offense. Brockington finished his senior season with 1,142 rushing yards, which was at the time an Ohio State single-season record.
Brockington was selected into the Ohio State Football All-Century Team
Ohio State Football All-Century Team
The Ohio State Football All-Century Team was chosen in early 2000 by the Touchdown Club of Columbus. It was selected to honor the greatest Ohio State Buckeyes football players of the 20th century...
in 2000, and was elected into the Ohio State Varsity O Hall of Fame
Ohio State Varsity O Hall of Fame
The Ohio State Varsity "O" Hall of Fame is the athletic hall of fame for The Ohio State University. Its purpose is to recognize individuals who have contributed to the honor and fame of the University in the field of athletics....
in 2002.
Professional career
Brockington was the Green Bay Packers 1st round draft choice, the ninth selection overall, in 19711971 NFL Draft
The 1971 National Football League Draft was held on January 28–29, 1971.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
. Brockington was the first NFL player to ever rush for 1,000 or more yards in each of his first three seasons. In 1971 Brockington was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year
NFL Rookie of the Year Award
Since 1967, the Associated Press has given two annual Rookie of the Year Awards to National Football League players: one for an offensive player and one for a defensive player. These two are often regarded as the "official" awards...
by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
. Brockington was named All-Pro
All-Pro
All-Pro is a term mostly used in the NFL for the best players of each position during that season. It began as polls of sportswriters in the early 1920s...
in 1971, 2nd Team All-Pro in 1973 and All-NFC
National Football Conference
The National Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the American Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL.-Current teams:Since 2002, the NFC has comprised 16 teams,...
in 1972. Brockington was also selected to 3 consecutive Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
s (1971-1973).
His first running mate in the Green Bay backfield was another former Packer first round draft choice, Donny Anderson
Donny Anderson
Garry Don "Donny" Anderson is a former professional American football player who played nine years in the National Football League...
. Anderson was traded the following season to the St. Louis Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
for running back MacArthur Lane
MacArthur Lane
MacArthur Lane is a former professional American football player who was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1st round of the 1968 NFL Draft. A 6'0", 220-lb...
. Together, Brockington and Lane formed a dynamic running duo in the backfield, carrying the Packers offense between 1972 and 1974.
With a running style based on his great strength, Brockington epitomized the power running back - a player who preferred to break tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
and run over defenders rather than run away from them. He was one of the first running backs to combine brute force with speed.
Brockington's success was short-lived, however. After eclipsing 1,000 yards rushing during each of his first three seasons, he never attained the same level. He ran for 883 yards in 1974 and only 434 the following year. This was the result of typical wear-and-tear, the departure of Lane after the 1974 season and changes in the Packers' playbook that did not take advantage of Brockington's abilities. After the first game of the 1977 season, he was released by the Packers and subsequently signed by the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
. He retired following the season.