John Henry Yurchey (November 12, 1917 – June 1, 1994) was an American football quarterback, halfback, and defensive back who played one game in the National Football League (NFL) for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played college football for Duquesne.
 Yurchey in 1939. | |||||||||
| No. 11 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Quarterback, halfback, defensive back | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | November 12, 1917 Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, U.S. | ||||||||
| Died: | June 1, 1994 (aged 76) Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 188 lb (85 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Bridgeville (PA) | ||||||||
| College: | Duquesne | ||||||||
| Undrafted: | 1940 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Yurchey was born on November 12, 1917, in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania. He attended Bridgeville High School there before playing college football at Duquesne University. He saw significant playing time starting as a sophomore, playing the quarterback position. As a senior, he helped the team achieve an undefeated 8–0–1 record, including an upset victory over number one ranked Pittsburgh.[1]
Though Yurchey went unselected in the 1940 NFL draft, he was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers, and appeared in one regular season game. He wore number 11, and played halfback and defensive back. He also made three punts for 121 yards, with two going for 40 yards and one for 41. It would be his only career game.[2][3]
After his brief stint in professional football, Yurchey served as an air traffic controller during World War II, and was a postal clerk at the Bridgeville Post Office for 15 years. He died on June 1, 1994, in Bridgeville, from a heart attack.[4]
References
edit- ^ "Duquesne's Last-Half Surge Topples Pitt, 21-13". The Washington Post. October 22, 1939. p. X1.
- ^ "John Yurchey Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ "John Yurchey Stats". Pro Football Archives.
- ^ "John Yurchey, 76, played quarterback for Dukes in '30s". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. June 3, 1994 – via Newspapers.com.
