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Jack Riley
Jack Riley as a wrestler for Northwestern University
Born:(1909-06-13)June 13, 1909
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died:March 22, 1993(1993-03-22) (aged 83)
Kenilworth, Illinois, U.S.
Career information
Position(s)Tackle
CollegeNorthwestern
Career history
As player
1933Boston Redskins
Career highlights and awards
Career stats
Medal record
Men's freestyle wrestling
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 1932 Los Angeles Heavyweight
Collegiate Wrestling
Representing Northwestern Wildcats
NCAA Wrestling Championships
Gold medal – first place 1931 Providence Heavyweight
Gold medal – first place 1932 Bloomington Heavyweight

John Horn Riley (June 13, 1909 – March 22, 1993) was an American football tackle. He played college football at Northwestern University and professionally in the National Football League (NFL) for the Boston Redskins. Riley was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1988. He was also a two-time NCAA wrestling national champion at Northwestern and silver medalist in freestyle wrestling at the 1932 Summer Olympics.

Early life

Riley was born in Chicago and attended New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois, as well as St. John's Northwestern Military Academy in Delafield, Wisconsin.[1] While at St. Johns, he participated in rowing and captained a championship crew in 1927.[1]

College career

Riley attended and played college football at Northwestern University. While he was there, Northwestern had a 20–5–1 record and won two Big Ten Conference championships. He was named an All-American in 1931.[1]

Riley also wrestled at Northwestern and was the NCAA heavyweight champion in 1931 and 1932.[1] He then won a silver medal in wrestling at the 1932 Summer Olympics, behind Swede Johan Richthoff and ahead of Austrian Nickolaus Hirschl.[1]

Professional career

After college, Riley played professional football in the National Football League for the Boston Redskins (later Washington Redskins now Washington Football Team) in 1933.

After football, Riley became a professional wrestler for two years and retired undefeated after 132 professional matches.[1]

Post-sports

Riley entered the United States Marine Corps during World War II and rose to the rank of major.[1] After the war he worked as a manufacturer's representative in Kenilworth, Illinois. Also, from 1948 to 1957, Riley served as the Northwestern University wrestling coach.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Jack Riley". College Football Hall of Fame. Football Foundation. Retrieved December 17, 2008.
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