Pro football Olympians

Thorpe's Olympic success made him one of the most popular athletes of the 20th century.

Three members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame primed their successful pro football careers with Olympic triumphs. The most famous may be Jim Thorpe, a member of the Hall of Fame’s Charter Class of 1963, who won Olympic gold medals in the Decathlon and Pentathlon in the 1912 Olympic Games held in Stockholm, Sweden. During the Games’ closing ceremony when Thorpe was presented his gold medals, King Gustav V of Sweden commented to the champion, "You, sir, are the greatest athlete in the world." Thorpe’s response was a simple, “Thanks, King.”

Thorpe’s Olympic victories elevated him into one of the most iconic and popular symbols of the 20th Century. Pro football benefitted greatly from Thorpe’s popularity when he signed with the Canton Bulldogs in 1915. Then, the newly formed National Football League (then known as the American Professional Football Association) tabbed Thorpe as the league’s first president in 1920. Thorpe’s presence gave the young league instant credibility.

Dallas Cowboys receiver “Bullet” Bob Hayes, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2009, is the only man in professional sports history to earn an Olympic gold medal and a Super Bowl ring.  Hayes’ gold medal-winning performance in the 100 meters competition at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan earned him the title as "World's Fastest Human."  His time of 10.05 seconds tied the World Record at the distance and set a new Olympic record. Hayes also delivered a vital performance at the competition as the anchor of U.S. team’s 400-meter relay team which took home the gold after a world-record performance of 39.06 seconds.

Hayes went on to terrorize defensive backs in the NFL. As a rookie in 1965 he led the Dallas Cowboys with 46 receptions for 1,003 yards and 12 TDs. His effort earned him a Pro Bowl nod. Hayes accumulated 7,414 yards and 71 touchdowns during his 11-year career. His touchdown catch total remains a Cowboys' club record.

Running Back Ollie Matson, who led the nation in rushing and touchdowns as a senior at the University of San Francisco in 1951, was the third overall selection of the Chicago Cardinals in the 1952 NFL Draft. But before Matson embarked on his Hall of Fame career, he prepared for his Pro Bowl rookie campaign by competing in the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland. Matson won a silver medal in the 1,600-meter relay and a bronze in the 400 meters.

After Matson’s sensational rookie season, military service during the Korean War interrupted his playing career. After a year of duty, Matson returned to the Cardinals and was an All-NFL performer for several years. He is a member of the Hall of Fame’s Class of 1972.

Here is a list of notable professional football players who competed in the Olympics:

Jim Thorpe, 1912 Summer Olympic Games, Stockholm Sweden – Track and Field – Two Gold Medals (Pentathlon, Decathlon)
Ollie Matson, 1952 Summer Olympic Games, Helsinki, Finland – Track and Field – One Silver Medal (4x400 Relay), One Bronze Medal  ( 400 Meters)
Glenn Davis, 1956 Summer Olympic Games, Melbourne, Australia; 1960 Summer Olympics, Rome, Italy – Track and Field –  Three Gold Medals (400 Meter Hurdles in 1956; 400 Meter Hurdles and 4x400 Relay in 1960).

Hayes earned the nickname "World's Fastest Human."