John Galvin (American football)
Encyclopedia
John Blake Galvin, Jr. is a retired American Football
Linebacker
for New York Jets
from 1988-1991.
As his old teammate Doug Flutie
was heading into town with the rest of the New England Patriots
in November, 1988, John Galvin was quoted by the New York Times reporter Gerald Eskenazi;
The Jets kept New England scoreless in the First Half, but eventually lost 14-13.
The New York Times describes Galvin's trade back to the Jets for the 1990 season;
In his 4-year, 52-game NFL career he had two fumble recoveries.
, and played football for Lowell High School
from 1979-1983.
under head coach Jack Bicknell
as a Four Year Letterman from 1984–1987, and graduated with a degree in Speech Communications.
In week 8 of Galvin's senior year, he ripped into the 14th ranked Tennessee Volunteers
offense with 8 tackles, 1 sack, and an interception, as BC upset the Vols 20-18.
In the mid-2000, Galvin started "Lowell Junior High Football", a free football program for pre-high schoolers, in the Lowell area, who were above the size cutoff or could not afford to play in the other leagues.
According to the Lowell Sun
's March 2, 2010 article by Christopher Scott; In the Winter of 2010, Galvin was asked to be one of eleven member committee to choose the next Lowell High School football head coach.
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...
Linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for 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...
from 1988-1991.
NFL career
John was a NFL Special Teams standout:- In his rookie, 1988 season with the New York Jets, he racked up 25 special teams tackles (3rd on the team).
As his old teammate Doug Flutie
Doug Flutie
Douglas Richard "Doug" Flutie is a former American and Canadian football quarterback. Flutie played college football at Boston College, and played professionally in the National Football League, Canadian Football League, and United States Football League...
was heading into town with the rest of the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
in November, 1988, John Galvin was quoted by the New York Times reporter Gerald Eskenazi;
...The way John Galvin talked about Doug Flutie, the little guy the Jets will face Sunday seemed almost human.
He's not the player he was in college, said Galvin, who played with Flutie at Boston College. He took over a game in college. Sometimes I didn't even know if he needed the rest of the team.
This anticipation that something spectacular can happen at any moment has surrounded Flutie in the pros.
Galvin should know. He was in the Orange Bowl, where Flutie outdueled Bernie Kosar and threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to Gerald Phelan as time expired for a 47-45 victory over Miami...
The Jets kept New England scoreless in the First Half, but eventually lost 14-13.
- In his one year with the Minnesota VikingsMinnesota VikingsThe Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
in 1989, he had 7 special teams tackles.
The New York Times describes Galvin's trade back to the Jets for the 1990 season;
GALVIN A JET AGAIN
John Galvin, a linebacker who was a special-teams player for the Jets in 1988, rejoined the club Saturday after he was waived by the Minnesota Vikings, with whom he spent last season. Galvin played for Boston College for four years, and wound up there as the starting right outside linebacker. That is a position that has proved hardest to fill for the Jets this summer. The club's new linebacker coach is Monte Kiffin, who coached Galvin last year with the Vikings. Galvin's immediate role will probably will be on special teams and as a backup linebacker.
- In 1990 he led the New York Jets team with 21 coverage tackles, with a season high of 4 tackles in week 1 vs. Cincinnati BengalsCincinnati BengalsThe Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
, and earned the game ball in week 15 vs. New England PatriotsNew England PatriotsThe New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
with 3 tackles.
- In Galvin's 1991 season with the Jets, he played in 9 games, and recorded one fumble recovery.
In his 4-year, 52-game NFL career he had two fumble recoveries.
Early years
John Galvin was born July 9, 1965 in Lowell, MassachusettsLowell, Massachusetts
Lowell is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 106,519. It is the fourth largest city in the state. Lowell and Cambridge are the county seats of Middlesex County...
, and played football for Lowell High School
Lowell High School (Lowell, Massachusetts)
Lowell High School is a single-campus public high school located in downtown Lowell, Massachusetts. The school is a part of Lowell Public Schools...
from 1979-1983.
College years
John attended Boston CollegeBoston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
under head coach Jack Bicknell
Jack Bicknell
-Professional:-External links:...
as a Four Year Letterman from 1984–1987, and graduated with a degree in Speech Communications.
- In 1984, Galvin's Freshman Year, Heisman TrophyHeisman TrophyThe Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
winner Doug FlutieDoug FlutieDouglas Richard "Doug" Flutie is a former American and Canadian football quarterback. Flutie played college football at Boston College, and played professionally in the National Football League, Canadian Football League, and United States Football League...
led the '84 BC Eagles1984 Boston College Eagles football teamThe 1984 Boston College Eagles football team represented the Boston College Eagles in the 1984 NCAA Division I-A football season.-Schedule:The Eagles finished the season with a 9-2-0 record. Doug Flutie gained national attention in 1984 when he quarterbacked the Eagles to victory in a high-scoring,...
to a great 10-2 season topped with the "Miracle in Miami," and a win in the Cotton Bowl Classic.
- In 1985, his Sophomore year, BC went 4-8.
- In 1986, his Junior year, the team went 9-3, and a win over GeorgiaGeorgia Bulldogs footballThe Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
in the Hall of Fame Bowl.
- In 1987, John's Senior year, the Eagles went 5-6, and was one of four players drafted to the NFL, including teammates; Bill RomanowskiBill RomanowskiWilliam Thomas "Bill" Romanowski is a former American football player. He was born in Vernon, Connecticut. A linebacker, he graduated from Rockville High School in 1984, Boston College in 1988 , and then went on to a 16-year career in the NFL, playing for the San Francisco 49ers , Philadelphia...
, Dave WidellDave WidellDavid Harold Widell, Jr. is a former American football guard and tackle who played 11 seasons in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Atlanta Falcons. He was a part of the Atlanta Falcons' Super Bowl XXXIII losing team...
and Dave NugentDavid Nugent (American football)David Michael Nugent is a former professional American football defensive lineman for the New England Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League....
.
In week 8 of Galvin's senior year, he ripped into the 14th ranked Tennessee Volunteers
1987 Tennessee Volunteers football team
The 1987 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Vols won the Kickoff Classic over the Iowa Hawkeyes. Led by head coach Johnny Majors, the Volunteers won the .-Schedule:...
offense with 8 tackles, 1 sack, and an interception, as BC upset the Vols 20-18.
Later years
In 1993, John Galvin was inducted into the Lowell High School's Athletic Hall of Fame.In the mid-2000, Galvin started "Lowell Junior High Football", a free football program for pre-high schoolers, in the Lowell area, who were above the size cutoff or could not afford to play in the other leagues.
According to the Lowell Sun
Lowell Sun
The Sun is a daily newspaper based in Lowell, Massachusetts, United States, serving towns in Massachusetts and New Hampshire in the Greater Lowell area and beyond. Its circulation is about 50,000...
's March 2, 2010 article by Christopher Scott; In the Winter of 2010, Galvin was asked to be one of eleven member committee to choose the next Lowell High School football head coach.