John Gillen (American football)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Arlington Heights, Illinois, U.S.
| No. 53, 54, 55, 57 | |
|---|---|
| Position | Linebacker |
| Personal information | |
| Born | November 5, 1958 Arlington Heights, Illinois, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 227 lb (103 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | St. Viator (Arlington Heights) |
| College | Illinois |
| NFL draft | 1981: 5th round, 116th overall pick |
| Career history | |
| Stats at Pro Football Reference | |
John Francis Gillen Sr.[1] (born November 5, 1958) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for the St. Louis Cardinals and New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL), as well as the Chicago Blitz and the Arizona Outlaws of the United States Football League (USFL).[2] He played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini.[3]
Gillen was born in Arlington Heights, Illinois, and attended St. Viator High School,[3] where he lettered in football, basketball, and track. He was the MVP of his high school football team and was honored as an all-state linebacker. He graduated from the school in 1977.[4]
College years
From 1977 to 1981, Gillen was a starter at middle linebacker for the Illinois Fighting Illini.[5] He led the team in tackles for three years and was the defensive captain for two. In 1980, he received All-Big Ten honors and was voted the most valuable defensive player at Illinois. He played in the 1981 Senior Bowl.[4]