John Elliott (defensive lineman)
Encyclopedia
John Elliott was an American college and Professional Football
defensive tackle. He played collegiately
for the University of Texas, and in 1967 was drafted by the American Football League
's New York Jets
. As a rookie
, he started
for the Jets in their defeat of the Oakland Raiders
in the 1968 AFL Championship Game, and then in the third AFL-NFL World Championship Game
, helping them defeat the heavily favored Baltimore Colts
in one of the AFL's greatest games. He played for the AFL's Jets through 1969, and then for the National Football League
Jets from 1970 through 1973. Elliott played for the New York Stars of the World Football League
in 1974. John Elliott died of cancer at MD Anderson Hospital in Houston on November 11, 2010.
Professional football
In the United States and Canada, the term professional football includes the professional forms of American and Canadian gridiron football. In common usage, it refers to former and existing major football leagues in either country...
defensive tackle. He played collegiately
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for the University of Texas, and in 1967 was drafted by the American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
's New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. As a rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
, he started
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
for the Jets in their defeat of the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the 1968 AFL Championship Game, and then in the third AFL-NFL World Championship Game
Super Bowl III
Super Bowl III was the third AFL-NFL Championship Game in professional American football, but the first to officially bear the name "Super Bowl". This game is regarded as one of the greatest upsets in sports history...
, helping them defeat the heavily favored Baltimore Colts
History of the Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional football team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They play in the AFC South division of the National Football League. They have won 3 NFL championships and 2 Super Bowls....
in one of the AFL's greatest games. He played for the AFL's Jets through 1969, and then for 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...
Jets from 1970 through 1973. Elliott played for the New York Stars of the World Football League
World Football League
The World Football League was a short-lived gridiron football league that played in 1974 and part of 1975. Although the league's proclaimed ambition was to bring American football onto a worldwide stage, the farthest the WFL reached was placing a team – the Hawaiians – in Honolulu, Hawaii. The...
in 1974. John Elliott died of cancer at MD Anderson Hospital in Houston on November 11, 2010.