J. C. Caroline

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J. C. Caroline
No. 25
Position:Cornerback
Personal information
Born:(1933-01-17)January 17, 1933
Warrenton, Georgia, U.S.
Died:November 17, 2017(2017-11-17) (aged 84)
Urbana, Illinois, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school:Booker T. Washington
(Columbia, South Carolina)
College:Illinois (1953–1954)
NFL draft:1956 / Round: 7 / Pick: 82
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Interceptions:24
Interception yards:405
Fumble recoveries:6
Defensive touchdowns:3
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

James C. Caroline (January 17, 1933 – November 17, 2017) was an American football player in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini, where he played as a halfback and was a consensus All-American in 1953. After a year in the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts and the Montreal Alouettes, Caroline played for ten seasons in the NFL with the Chicago Bears. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1980.

Playing career

Caroline played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini as a halfback, where he lettered in 1953 and 1954. Caroline led the nation in rushing with 1,256 yards in 1953 as a sophomore, and was named All-American.[1] The next year, he was ruled ineligible to play due to academic reasons, so instead of returning to college his senior year, Caroline chose to play Canadian football.

He initially signed with the

1956 NFL Draft
.

Beginning in 1956, Caroline had a ten-year career with the Bears.[1] Playing primarily as a cornerback, Caroline finished his career with 24 interceptions and six total touchdowns—two rushing, one receiving, one fumble recovery, and two on interceptions. Caroline intercepted Johnny Unitas's first NFL career pass attempt and returned it for a touchdown. He was a two-way player for the Bears' 1956 Western Conference champions and a cornerback on the 1963 NFL championship team.

Honors and later life

After his professional football career, Caroline moved to Urbana, Illinois coached the Urbana High School football team in 1982 and taught physical education at Urbana Middle School.

Caroline was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1980.

He was portrayed by actor

.

His grandson Jordan Caroline is a basketball player at Nevada. J.C. Caroline died in 2017.[1]

See also

  • List of college football yearly rushing leaders

References

  1. ^ a b c Ryan, Shannon (March 21, 2018). "Nevada's Jordan Caroline, the son and grandson of Illinois legends, never got a call from 'dream school'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 13, 2018.

External links