John Nolan (tackle)

John Nolan
Personal information
Born:(1926-02-26)February 26, 1926
Glens Falls, New York
Died:July 14, 1996(1996-07-14) (aged 70)
Glens Falls, New York
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:232 lb (105 kg)
Career information
High school:St. Mary's Academy (NY)
College:Holy Cross (1943)
Penn State
Position:Tackle
NFL draft:1948 / round: 3 / pick: 14
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Games:36
Stats at Pro Football Reference

John Joseph Nolan Jr. (February 26, 1926 – July 14, 1996) was an American football tackle.

Nolan was born in 1926 at Glens Falls, New York. He attended high school at St. Mary's Academy in Glens Falls.[1] Playing at right halfback, he led the 1943 St. Mary's team to an undefeated season.[2]

In February 1944, upon reaching age 18, Nolan enrolled at the College of the Holy Cross as part of the V-12 Navy College Training Program.[3] His punting helped lead the 1944 Holy Cross Crusaders football team to a 5–2–2 record.[4]

After World War II, he enrolled at Pennsylvania State University where he starred in both lacrosse and football for the Penn State Nittany Lions.[5][6] Playing at the tackle position, he was co-captain of the 1947 Penn State Nittany Lions football team to an undefeated record and the No. 4 ranking in the final AP poll.[7][8]

He was drafted by the Boston Yanks in the third round (14th overall pick) of the 1948 NFL draft. He in the National Football League (NFL) for the Boston Yanks in 1948, the New York Bulldogs in 1949, and the New York Yanks in 1950. He appeared in a total of 36 NFL games, 14 of them as a starter.[1][9]

From 1957 to 1970, Nolan coached the football, baseball, and basketball teams at his alma mater, St. Mary's Academy in Glens Falls. He compiled a record of 138-63 as the football coach at St. Mary's. From 1970 to 1979, he was employed by the Penn State athletic department with responsibility for equipment and travel for the football team. In 1996, three days after the death of his wife Claire (Hulsebosch), Nolan died at age 70 in Glens Falls.[10][11][12]

  1. ^ a b "John Nolan". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  2. ^ "St. Mary's Ends Season Undefeated, Conquers LaSalle, 19-6". The Post-Star. November 15, 1943. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Navy V-12 Trio Dinner Guests: George and John Nolan Honored; Report Wednesday". The Post-Star. February 29, 1944. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Nolan Is Crusader Star In Game Against Temple". The Post-Star. October 16, 1944. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Harkness, John Nolan Gain Lacrosse Honors". The Post-Star. June 1, 1946. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Nolan Gets Pat". Mount Carmel Item. April 24, 1946. p. 3.
  7. ^ "Homecoming Fete Tonight To Honor Johnny Nolan". The Post-Star. February 3, 1948. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Banquet Fetes Johnny Nolan at Commodore: Co-Captain of Penn State 11 Honored by 75 Friends; Six Speakers". The Post-Star. February 4, 1948. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "John Nolan Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  10. ^ John Purcell (July 16, 1997). "Nolan, legendary St. Mary's coach, dies". The Post-Star. pp. C1, C6 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "John J. Nolan". The Post-Star. July 16, 1996. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "More Than 300 Persons Pay Tribute To John Nolan Jr. at Testimonial". The Post-Star. August 21, 1970. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.