John Tarver
| No. 36, 49 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Running back | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | January 1, 1949 Bakersfield, California, U.S. | ||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||
| Listed weight | 227 lb (103 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school | Arvin (CA) | ||||||||
| College | Colorado | ||||||||
| NFL draft | 1972: 7th round, 166th overall pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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John Tarver (born January 1, 1949) is an American former professional football player who was a 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] He played college football for the Colorado Buffaloes.
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 Boulder, 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 selected by the New England Patriots in the seventh round (166th overall) of the 1972 NFL draft out of Colorado.[4] 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
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 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.
- 1 2 3 4 May, Mark (June 8, 1993). "Family project: Shon Tarver inherits limelight vacated by dad". Longview Daily News. Retrieved July 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "1972 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 31, 2026.