John "Big Train" Moody
 | |
| No. 55, 44, 84, 64[1] | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Fullback |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | July 15, 1917 Manchester, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died: | 1995 (aged 77 or 78) |
| Height: | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
| Weight: | 230 lb (104 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Freeport (Freeport, Pennsylvania) |
| College: | Morris Brown |
| NFL draft: | 1942: undrafted |
| Career history | |
| |
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
John Clifford "Big Train" Moody (July 15, 1917 – 1995), also nicknamed Big Six,[2] was an American football fullback. He played college football at Morris Brown College, and professionally for the Los Angeles Mustangs of the Pacific Coast Professional Football League and the Montreal Alouettes of the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union (IRFU). He was inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame in 2022.
Early life
John Clifford Moody was born on July 15, 1917, in Manchester, Georgia.[1] He moved to Pennsylvania at an early age.[3] He attended Freeport High School in Freeport, Pennsylvania.[1]
College career
Moody played for the Morris Brown Wolverines of Morris Brown College from 1939 to 1941 as a fullback and placekicker.[2][3] He was capable of kicking the ball with either foot.[3] He scored 109 points in 1940, helping the Wolverines win the Black college national championship.[3][2] His 290 career points set a black college record.[2][3]
Professional career
Moody then served in the United States Army during World War II.[3][1] On November 16, 1942, he played for the Fort Knox Armoraiders in a charity game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.[4] He rushed for 60 yards as Fort Knox lost 28–0.[4] Moody played for the Los Angeles Mustangs of the Pacific Coast Professional Football League in 1943 and kicked one field goal.[1] On January 1, 1945, in the Spaghetti Bowl in Italy, Moody scored two touchdowns and two extra points to help the Fifth Army beat the Twelfth Air Force by a score of 20–0.[5]
Moody started all 12 games for the Montreal Alouettes of the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union (IRFU) in 1946, scoring one rushing touchdown, one passing touchdown, one field goal, and four rouges.[1] The Alouettes finished the year with a 7–3–2 record and lost in the IRFU final to the Toronto Argonauts.[6]
In June 1947, it was reported that Moody had signed with the New York Yankees of the All-America Football Conference.[7] He was released in early September 1947 after suffering knee problems.[8][9]
Personal life
Moody died in 1995.[3] He was inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame in 2022.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d e f "JOHN MOODY". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e "Black College Football Hall Of Fame Class Of 2022 To Be Inducted On Saturday Night". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g Ledbetter, D. Orlando (January 5, 2022). "Morris Brown has two going into Black College Football Hall of Fame". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
- ^ a b Sell, Jack (November 16, 1942). "Steelers Swamp Fort Knox, 28 to 0". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. pp. 18, 20. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
- ^ Sell, Jack (January 3, 1945). "John Moody Starred In Canteen Benefit". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 11. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
- ^ "1946 Montreal Alouettes (IRFU)". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
- ^ "A Yank?". New Pittsburgh Courier. June 14, 1947. p. 15. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
- ^ "Buddy and Californian make Yanks; Big Train, Harris out". Los Angeles Tribune. September 6, 1947. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
- ^ "Wolves In Gallant Finale". New Pittsburgh Courier. November 1, 1947. p. 14. Retrieved August 5, 2025.