John Huarte

Memphis Southmen

John Huarte started at quarterback only in his senior season at Notre Dame, but it was a great season. He completed 114 of 205 pass attempts for 2,062 yards and 16 touchdowns, leading Notre Dame to a 9-1 season and a third-place finish in the 1964 national championship polls. Huarte was a consensus All-American and winner of the Heisman Trophy as the nation's best collegiate player.

However, Huarte was not highly regarded by professional scouts and was chosen in th second round of New York Jets of the American Football League. Unfortunately for Huarte, the Jets also drafted Joe Namath and he was released and picked up by the Boston Patriots. Huarte played for Boston through 1967, spent 1968 with the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles, was with the AFL's Kansas City Chiefs in 1970 and 1971, and finished his NFL career with the Chicago Bears of the in 1972. As a professional, he completed just 19 of 48 passes for 230 yards and 1 touchdown.

Following his NFL career, Huarte joined the Memphis Southmen/Grizzlies. John Huarte had carried the load at quarterback and future Dallas Cowboy starter, Danny White, was his back-up and made his major contribution as one of the league’s best punters. Huarte led the powerful Southmen, who had relocated from Toronto prior to the start of the WFL's inaugural season, to a 17-3 regular season record before losing to Florida in the playoffs. The potent offense scored 45 points or more in six game that season, including a 60-8 plastering of the Hawaiians on August 21, 1974.

WFL Career Statistics

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