John Simms Kelly
| No. 44 Kentucky Wildcats | |
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| Date of birth | July 8, 1910 |
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| Place of birth | Simstown, Kentucky |
| Date of death | August 17, 1986 (aged 76) |
| Place of death | Lighthouse Point, Florida |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Halfback |
| Weight | 175 lb (79 kg) |
| College | University of Kentucky |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1932 | New York Giants |
| 1933–1937 | Brooklyn Dodgers |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career stats | |
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John Simms "Shipwreck" Kelly (July 8, 1910 – August 17, 1986) was a professional American football player who played halfback in the National Football League; he was also an owner and banker, most prominent in New York City in the 1930s and 1940s. He played five seasons for the New York Giants (1932) and the Brooklyn Dodgers (1933–1937). Kelly became a player-coach and later a player/coach/owner with the Dodgers football club, the successor to the Dayton Triangles, a charter member of the NFL. He gained his nickname from Alvin "Shipwreck" Kelly, who was famous for pole-sitting in the 1920s.
Kelly played college football for the Kentucky Wildcats of the University of Kentucky. In his first year on the freshman team, Kelly rode the bench most of the year. "I knew I could play and that I could run like hell" said Kelly. He finally got a chance against Centre in the season's final game, and scored three touchdowns. The 1929 team lost just a single game, to Wallace Wade's Alabama in a game which Kelly missed. In 1931, Kelly rushed for 1,074 yards averaging 6.3 yards per carry. He was second-team on the AP composite All-Southern team in 1930 and 1931. By Kelly's UK career's end he was dubbed "the fastest man in the South," running a 100-yard dash in 9.8 seconds.
At age 23, Kelly became a player/coach and later a player/coach/owner with the Dodgers football club, which he bought with a partner, Dan Topping. Kelly ran back the team's punts. He also led the league in receptions in 1933.
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