J. R. Niklos
Encyclopedia
John Russell Niklos II is an American football
fullback
who has also played Corner, Safety, Linebacker, Tight End, Fullback, H-Back, and Tailback in his collegiate and professional career. J.R. played High School football and track for Thomas Worthington High School
where he was an All American in both Track and Football. J.R. won the indoor track state championship in the 200 and 4x400 and his 4x400 team also won the Ohio state championship and placed second in the nation at the National Championship. He was all state, all region and all district for Football as well as Honorable Mention All American. Safety was his first position as a collegiate athlete, at The Ohio State University. Niklos played one season for the Buckeyes and soon thereafter transferred to Western Illinois University
where he was a 3 time All American Tight End. J.R. finished his career at Western Illinois statistically as the top Tight End in W.I.U. history.
.
He was placed on Seattle Seahawks
practice squad. The St. Louis Rams
moved J.R. to the active roster due to the retirement of former Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch
He then was a member of the St. Louis Rams
between 2002 and 2005 where Mike Martz labeled him "The Fastest Fullback In The NFL". [9] He then played a season in Germany with NFL Europa and won a World Bowl with the Frankfurt Galaxy
. Due to the cancellation of NFL Europa, Niklos returned to the United States, and signed with the Cleveland Browns
. Niklos also spent time with the Oakland Raiders
and was on Injured Reserve with the Kansas City Chiefs
. Now Co-owner of Acceleration Sports Performance in Naperville, Illinois.
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...
fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
who has also played Corner, Safety, Linebacker, Tight End, Fullback, H-Back, and Tailback in his collegiate and professional career. J.R. played High School football and track for Thomas Worthington High School
Thomas Worthington High School
Thomas Worthington High School is located in Worthington, Ohio, TWHS has historically been among the top performing high schools in Ohio in terms of academics. The school was formerly named Worthington High School until the 1991 opening of Worthington Kilbourne High SchoolThomas Worthington is the...
where he was an All American in both Track and Football. J.R. won the indoor track state championship in the 200 and 4x400 and his 4x400 team also won the Ohio state championship and placed second in the nation at the National Championship. He was all state, all region and all district for Football as well as Honorable Mention All American. Safety was his first position as a collegiate athlete, at The Ohio State University. Niklos played one season for the Buckeyes and soon thereafter transferred to Western Illinois University
Western Illinois University
Western Illinois University is a public university founded in 1899 as Western Illinois State Normal School. Like many similar institutions of the time, Western Illinois State Normal School focused on teacher training for its relatively small body of students. As the normal school grew, it became...
where he was a 3 time All American Tight End. J.R. finished his career at Western Illinois statistically as the top Tight End in W.I.U. history.
Pro career
After college, Niklos went undrafted and signed a free agent contract with the Seattle SeahawksSeattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
.
He was placed on Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
practice squad. The St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
moved J.R. to the active roster due to the retirement of former Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch
Eric Crouch
Eric Eugene Crouch is an American quarterback for the Omaha Nighthawks. He also is a TV sports analyst and recreational equipment vendor....
He then was a member of the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
between 2002 and 2005 where Mike Martz labeled him "The Fastest Fullback In The NFL". [9] He then played a season in Germany with NFL Europa and won a World Bowl with the Frankfurt Galaxy
Frankfurt Galaxy
The Frankfurt Galaxy was a professional American football team that originally played in the World League of American Football and later in the resurrected NFL Europe. The team was based in Frankfurt, Germany and played in the Commerzbank-Arena, formerly called the Waldstadion.-History:In 1991, the...
. Due to the cancellation of NFL Europa, Niklos returned to the United States, and signed with the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Niklos also spent time with the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and was on Injured Reserve with the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
. Now Co-owner of Acceleration Sports Performance in Naperville, Illinois.