Johnny Bailey
Encyclopedia
Johnny Lee Bailey born in Houston, Texas, was an American football
running back
. He was a part of Houston's Yates High School
football team when it won the 1985 5A state championship.
Bailey was drafted out of Texas A&I University (now named Texas A&M University–Kingsville
) in the 1990 NFL Draft
by the Chicago Bears
. While at Texas A&I, Bailey was the first, and so far only, player to be a three-time winner of the Harlon Hill Trophy
, which is given to the best player in Division II college football
. He played for the Bears for two years before going on to the Arizona Cardinals
for two years, as well as playing for the Los Angeles Rams and St. Louis Rams
. During his NFL career he played in 81 games and scored nine touchdowns. Bailey died on August 20, 2010 after battling pancreatic cancer.
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...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
. He was a part of Houston's Yates High School
Yates High School
Jack Yates Senior High School is a secondary school located at 3703 Sampson in the Third Ward in Houston, Texas with a zip code of 77004. Yates High School handles grades nine through twelve and is part of the Houston Independent School District ....
football team when it won the 1985 5A state championship.
Bailey was drafted out of Texas A&I University (now named Texas A&M University–Kingsville
Texas A&M University–Kingsville
Texas A&M University–Kingsville is a U.S. national university with a multicultural student body that is 62 percent Hispanic and includes students from 35 states and 43 foreign countries...
) in the 1990 NFL Draft
1990 NFL Draft
The 1990 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 22–23, 1990...
by the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. While at Texas A&I, Bailey was the first, and so far only, player to be a three-time winner of the Harlon Hill Trophy
Harlon Hill Trophy
The Harlon Hill Trophy is an award in American college football given to the individual selected as the most valuable player in NCAA Division II. The award is named for former University of North Alabama and National Football League player Harlon Hill...
, which is given to the best player in Division II college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
. He played for the Bears for two years before going on to the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
for two years, as well as playing for the Los Angeles Rams and 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,...
. During his NFL career he played in 81 games and scored nine touchdowns. Bailey died on August 20, 2010 after battling pancreatic cancer.