Jack Riley (American football)
John Horn Riley (June 13, 1909 – March 22, 1993) was an American football tackle. He played college football at Northwestern University and professionally in the National Football League (NFL) for the Boston Redskins. Riley was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1988. He was also a two-time NCAA wrestling national champion at Northwestern and silver medalist in freestyle wrestling at the 1932 Summer Olympics.
 Jack Riley as a wrestler for Northwestern University | |
| Born: | June 13, 1909 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Died: | March 22, 1993 (aged 83) Kenilworth, Illinois, U.S. |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Tackle |
| College | Northwestern |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1933 | Boston Redskins |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Honors | 1931 All-America Team |
| Career stats | |
| |
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's freestyle wrestling | ||
Representing  United States | ||
Olympic Games
 | ||
.svg.png.webp){kind=icon} | 1932 Los Angeles | Heavyweight |
| Collegiate Wrestling | ||
| Representing Northwestern Wildcats | ||
| NCAA Wrestling Championships | ||
.svg.png.webp){kind=icon} | 1931 Providence | Heavyweight |
| 1932 Bloomington | Heavyweight |
Early life
Riley was born in Chicago and attended New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois, as well as St. John's Northwestern Military Academy in Delafield, Wisconsin.[1] While at St. Johns, he participated in rowing and captained a championship crew in 1927.[1]
College career
Riley attended and played college football at Northwestern University. While he was there, Northwestern had a 20–5–1 record and won two Big Ten Conference championships. He was named an All-American in 1931.[1]
Riley also wrestled at Northwestern and was the NCAA heavyweight champion in 1931 and 1932.[1] He then won a silver medal in wrestling at the 1932 Summer Olympics, behind Swede Johan Richthoff and ahead of Austrian Nickolaus Hirschl.[1]
Professional career
After college, Riley played professional football in the National Football League for the Boston Redskins (later Washington Redskins now Washington Football Team) in 1933.
After football, Riley became a professional wrestler for two years and retired undefeated after 132 professional matches.[1]
Post-sports
Riley entered the United States Marine Corps during World War II and rose to the rank of major.[1] After the war he worked as a manufacturer's representative in Kenilworth, Illinois. Also, from 1948 to 1957, Riley served as the Northwestern University wrestling coach.[1]
References
- "Jack Riley". College Football Hall of Fame. Football Foundation. Retrieved December 17, 2008.