John Armstrong (American football)

John Earl Armstrong (born July 7, 1963) is a former professional American football defensive back who played with the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL) in 1987.

John Armstrong
Personal information
Born: (1963-07-07) July 7, 1963
Calhoun City, Mississippi, U.S.
Height:5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight:190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
College:Richmond
Position:Defensive back
NFL Draft:1986 / Round: 11 / Pick: 286
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics
Games:3
Player stats at PFR

Armstrong played multiple positions for the Bruce High School football team, as well as basketball and track and field, before going on to Northwest Mississippi Community College.[1] There he earned junior college All-American status as the team won a national junior college championship.[2][3][1]

After two years, he joined the football team of the University of Richmond, where he majored in physical education.[2][4] He became a starting cornerback during his senior year in 1985 and ranked among the top punt and kickoff returners in the country.[3]

In the 1986 NFL Draft, Armstrong was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the 11th round.[5][6] He was released from the team on August 19.[7] Armstrong signed with the Buffalo Bills in 1987 and played with the team in the preseason, but was placed on waivers on August 31.[8][9]

He rejoined the team as a non-roster replacement player during the 1987 National Football League Players Association strike. On September 23, he was interrogated and harassed at a hotel by striking Bills players, including Greg Bell, Joe Devlin, Sean McNanie and Fred Smerlas, for playing as a strikebreaker.[10] He appeared in three games for Buffalo, starting two.[11] He signed with the Atlanta Falcons in 1988, but was cut in August before the season began.[12][13]

References
  1. Baker, Lee (November 4, 1985). "John Armstrong". The Clarion-Ledger. p. 37. Retrieved July 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. O'Connor, John (October 26, 1985). "Happy returns". Richmond Times-Dispatch. p. 27. Retrieved July 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. O'Connor, John (October 26, 1985). "Armstrong leads in returns". Richmond Times-Dispatch. p. 32. Retrieved July 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "University of Richmond Player of the Week". Richmond Times-Dispatch. September 26, 1985. p. 52. Retrieved July 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "1986 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
  6. "Team-by-team draft picks". South Bend Tribune. April 30, 1986. p. 12. Retrieved July 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. The Associated Press (August 20, 1986). "Vikings cut 6, waive 10". Winona Daily News. p. 9. Retrieved July 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. Roberts, Rich (August 23, 1987). "Ed Luther Has Long Second Half". Los Angeles Times. p. 76. Retrieved July 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Transactions". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. September 1, 1987. p. 27. Retrieved July 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. Pitoniak, Scott (September 24, 1987). "Confrontation spices strike". Democrat and Chronicle. p. 33. Retrieved July 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "John Armstrong statistics at Pro-Football-Reference". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  12. "Falcons Cuts". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. August 30, 1988. p. 65. Retrieved July 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. "Falcons". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. August 30, 1988. p. 70. Retrieved July 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
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