John McCarthy (American football)
Encyclopedia
John Patrick McCarthy was a professional football
player in the National Football League
. He played in the league for just one season in 1944. McCarthy played for "Card-Pitt
", a team that was the result of a temporary merger between the Chicago Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers
. The teams merger was result of the manning shortages experienced league-wide due to World War II
.
McCarthy was brought in as the team's quarterback
after starter Coley McDonough
was drafted into the United States Army
just six days prior to the team's second game. During a game against the Green Bay Packers
, McCarthy's 35 yard-per-punt average emboldened Card-Pitt to release Johnny Martin
.
At the end of the season, the Card-Pitt passers completed just 31 percent of their attempts, with eight touchdown
s and 41 interceptions (a record at the time, and still the third highest total in NFL history). McCarthy threw 13 of those interceptions, and didn’t throw a single touchdown pass. His quarterback rating was an astounding 3.0.
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...
player in 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...
. He played in the league for just one season in 1944. McCarthy played for "Card-Pitt
Card-Pitt
Card-Pitt was the name for the team created by the temporary merger of two National Football League teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Chicago Cardinals, during the 1944 season. The teams were forced to merge, because both had lost many players to World War II military service...
", a team that was the result of a temporary merger between the Chicago Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
. The teams merger was result of the manning shortages experienced league-wide due to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
McCarthy was brought in as the team's 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...
after starter Coley McDonough
Coley McDonough
Coleman Regis "Coley" McDonough was a professional American football quarterback in the National Football League. He played four seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Chicago Cardinals. In 1944 McDonough also played for "Card-Pitt", a team that was the result of a temporary merger between...
was drafted into the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
just six days prior to the team's second game. During a game against the 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...
, McCarthy's 35 yard-per-punt average emboldened Card-Pitt to release Johnny Martin
Johnny Martin (American football)
John Jay Martin was a professional football player in the He played in the league from 1941-1945. Martin played for the Chicago Cardinals, Boston Yanks and "Card-Pitt", a team that was the result of a temporary merger between the Chicago Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers. The teams merger was...
.
At the end of the season, the Card-Pitt passers completed just 31 percent of their attempts, with eight touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s and 41 interceptions (a record at the time, and still the third highest total in NFL history). McCarthy threw 13 of those interceptions, and didn’t throw a single touchdown pass. His quarterback rating was an astounding 3.0.