John Tarver
| No. 36, 49 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Running back | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | January 1, 1949 Bakersfield, California, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 227 lb (103 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Arvin (CA) | ||||||||
| College: | Colorado | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1972: 7th round, 166th pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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John Tarver (born January 1, 1949) is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) from 1972 to 1975.[1][2] He played for three seasons with the New England Patriots, and went on to play for the Philadelphia Eagles.[1]
Early life and education
Tarver was born in Bakersfield, California, as one of nine children.[1] He was an outstanding athlete at Arvin High School.
College career
Tarver played football at Bakersfield Junior College.[3] He then transferred to the University of Colorado, where he played football for the Buffaloes.[1][3] In two seasons, Tarver rushed 1,327 yards.[1] He played in the 1971 Liberty Bowl, the 1972 Bluebonnet Bowl, and the 1972 College All-Star Game.[1] He was voted the team's "unheralded senior".[1]
Professional career
He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the 7th round (166th overall) of the 1972 NFL draft out of Colorado. He played four seasons for the Patriots (1972–1974) and the Philadelphia Eagles (1975).[1]
In 1973, Tarver was the second best rusher for the Patriots with 321 yards and four touchdowns, despite being sidelined for five games due to injury.[1]
Personal life
After retiring from professional football, Tarver worked in insurance and investments.[3] His son Shon played basketball for the UCLA Bruins.[3] Another son, Seth, played basketball for the Idaho Stampede.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Philadelphia Eagles 1975 Yearbook. Philadelphia Eagles. 1975. p. 90 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ "Tarvers: Family's successes helpful (Continued from Page E1)". The Oregonian. December 16, 2002. Retrieved July 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d May, Mark (June 8, 1993). "Family project: Shon Tarver inherits limelight vacated by dad". Longview Daily News. Retrieved July 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.