John McNally
Encyclopedia
John Victor "Blood" McNally (November 27, 1903 – November 28, 1985) was an American football
player who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
.
McNally was an intelligent and unathletic youth who graduated from high school at age 14. He blossomed into an athlete while at Saint John's University
in Collegeville, Minnesota, where he became the captain of the basketball team and a letterman in track, baseball, and football, all in his junior year.
Using the alias "Johnny Blood" — an alias that became his nickname — McNally was able to play professional football without losing his college eligibility.
for 14 seasons, with five different teams. In his prime, McNally was 6'1" and 188 lbs., known for his speed, agility, and pass-catching ability. He got his professional start in 1925 with the Milwaukee Badgers
, where he became famous as the "Vagabond Halfback" for his off-the-field behavior and spontaneity. In 1926 and 1927 he played for the Duluth Eskimos, and in 1928 he played with the Pottsville Maroons
.
Between 1929 and 1936 he played with the Green Bay Packers
, with whom he won four championships. In 1937, he moved on to the Pittsburgh Steelers
(then called the Pirates), where on his first play he ran back a kick 92 yards for a touchdown. He ended his NFL career in 1939 as the head coach of the Pirates. One day in 1941, McNally took a day off from his coaching duties for the Kenosha Cardinals minor league football team and played one game with the Buffalo Tigers of the third American Football League. From 1950-1952, he coached football at Saint John's where he amassed 13-9 record during his three year stint. When leaving Saint John's, he told incoming head coach John Gagliardi
that "nobody can win at Saint John's." Gagliardi has gone on to become the winningest head coach in college football regardless of division and still coaches at Saint John's today.
In the Second World War, McNally served as a cryptographer in India
. He returned to Saint John's at age 42 to finish his economics degree and write a textbook on the subject.
McNally was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
in 1963.
Johnny Blood's life and career are the basis for the character Dodge Connolly in the movie Leatherheads
. The character was played by George Clooney
.
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 who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
.
Early life
A native of New Richmond, WisconsinNew Richmond, Wisconsin
New Richmond is a city in St. Croix County, Wisconsin, United States. Its population was 8,375 as of the 2010 census.-History:New Richmond was founded in 1857. In August 2007, the town celebrated its sesquicentennial....
McNally was an intelligent and unathletic youth who graduated from high school at age 14. He blossomed into an athlete while at Saint John's University
College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University
The College of Saint Benedict , for women, and Saint John's University , for men, are partnered liberal arts colleges respectively located in St. Joseph and Collegeville, Minnesota, USA. Students attend classes and activities together, and have access to the resources of both campuses...
in Collegeville, Minnesota, where he became the captain of the basketball team and a letterman in track, baseball, and football, all in his junior year.
"Johnny Blood"
With one year of college eligibility left, McNally and a friend decided to join a professional football team. While passing by a movie theater, McNally saw the title of the film Blood and Sand on the marquee. He turned to his friend and said, "That's it. You be Sand. I'll be Blood."Using the alias "Johnny Blood" — an alias that became his nickname — McNally was able to play professional football without losing his college eligibility.
Career highlights
McNally played in the National Football LeagueNational 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...
for 14 seasons, with five different teams. In his prime, McNally was 6'1" and 188 lbs., known for his speed, agility, and pass-catching ability. He got his professional start in 1925 with the Milwaukee Badgers
Milwaukee Badgers
The Milwaukee Badgers were a professional American football team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, that played in the National Football League from 1922 to 1926. The team played its home games at Athletic Park, later known as Borchert Field, on Milwaukee's north side...
, where he became famous as the "Vagabond Halfback" for his off-the-field behavior and spontaneity. In 1926 and 1927 he played for the Duluth Eskimos, and in 1928 he played with the Pottsville Maroons
Pottsville Maroons
The Pottsville Maroons were an American football team based in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1920, they went on to play in the National Football League for four seasons, from 1925–1928...
.
Between 1929 and 1936 he played with 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...
, with whom he won four championships. In 1937, he moved on to 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...
(then called the Pirates), where on his first play he ran back a kick 92 yards for a touchdown. He ended his NFL career in 1939 as the head coach of the Pirates. One day in 1941, McNally took a day off from his coaching duties for the Kenosha Cardinals minor league football team and played one game with the Buffalo Tigers of the third American Football League. From 1950-1952, he coached football at Saint John's where he amassed 13-9 record during his three year stint. When leaving Saint John's, he told incoming head coach John Gagliardi
John Gagliardi
John Gagliardi is an American football coach. He is currently the head football coach at Saint John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota, a position he has held since 1953. From 1949 to 1952, he was the head football coach at Carroll College in Helena, Montana. With a career record of...
that "nobody can win at Saint John's." Gagliardi has gone on to become the winningest head coach in college football regardless of division and still coaches at Saint John's today.
Later in life
McNally's spontaneous and bizarre behavior didn't stop with his football career. On one occasion, out of boredom, he climbed to the top of a train, walked to the engineer's car, dropped through the ceiling, and spent the rest of the trip entertaining the drivers.In the Second World War, McNally served as a cryptographer in India
China Burma India Theater of World War II
China Burma India Theater was the name used by the United States Army for its forces operating in conjunction with British and Chinese Allied air and land forces in China, Burma, and India during World War II...
. He returned to Saint John's at age 42 to finish his economics degree and write a textbook on the subject.
McNally was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
in 1963.
Johnny Blood's life and career are the basis for the character Dodge Connolly in the movie Leatherheads
Leatherheads
Leatherheads is a 2008 American sports comedy film from Universal Pictures directed by and starring George Clooney. The film also stars Renée Zellweger, Jonathan Pryce and John Krasinski and focuses on the early years of professional American football....
. The character was played by George Clooney
George Clooney
George Timothy Clooney is an American actor, film director, producer, and screenwriter. For his work as an actor, he has received two Golden Globe Awards and an Academy Award...
.