He was an outstanding student and athlete in the 1920s and joined the NFL after his junior year. Following his professional football days as a NFL Hall of Fame back, he returned to Collegeville to complete his degree in 1949.

Johnny Blood also taught economics and coached football as John Gagliardi’s immediate predecessor. He was a recipient of the SJU Alumni Achievement Award.

In the movie, actor George Clooney plays Dodge Connolly, the character based on Johnny Blood. In the April 2008 Sports Illustrated, writer Duncan Brantley documents how he turned his curiosity and admiration for Johnny Blood into a feature film. View the full Sports Illustrated article