John Campbell was a linebacker in the NFL from 1963 to 1969. He played for the Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Colts. He made the All-Pro team, which names the best NFL players of a particular year, in the midst of his career. He also sparked a Steelers uniform change.
Teams
Campbell played in the NFL for seven seasons. He started out playing after being drafted in the 11th round by the Vikings in 1963. In 1965 he went to the Steelers, where he played until 1969. That year he went to the Colts. Born in October 1938 in Wadena, Minnesota, Campbell grew up to be 6-foot-3 and weigh 225 lbs. He went to high school in the town of his birth, then attended the University of Minnesota before joining the NFL.
Games
Campbell played in 14 games during each of his first three years in the NFL. During his fourth year he played 13 before jumping back up to 14 the following year. His play time for the Steelers declined after that. In 1968 he played eight games for the Steelers, then three for the team the following year. He added eight more games with the Colts to round out his playing year in 1969, however.
Stats And Achievements
Campbell, a linebacker, had two interceptions for the Steelers in 1966. He had the same number of interceptions in 1967, then had one interception in 1968. In all, his five NFL interceptions netted 78 yards. He also had three kickoff returns during his time in the NFL for a total of 48 yards. Campbell was named to the NFL All-Pro team in 1966 at the age of 28.
Uniform
Campbell had influence off the field as well as on it. Campbell was on the Steelers' executive committee that met with team owners at the time. He asked owner Dan Rooney to do something about the uniform the Steelers wore in 1966. Rooney responded, and incorporated a gold triangle shape at the top of the jersey where the player's name is displayed. The triangle was meant to reflect the shape of the land that is created by the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers flowing into the Ohio River as well as the city's downtown area called the Golden Triangle. The rest of the jersey was black and the numbers were white. The jersey was retired in 1967, however, after the design did not take.
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