John Nisby
{{Short description|American football player (1936–2011)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox gridiron football person
| name =
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1936|9|9}}
| birth_place = San Francisco, California, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2011|2|6|1936|9|9}}
| death_place = Stockton, California, U.S.
| team =
| number = 65, 62
| status =
| position1 = Guard
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lb = 235
| high_school = Edison (Stockton, California)
| college = San Joaquin Delta College
Pacific
Oregon
| NFLDraftedYear = 1957
| NFLDraftedRound = 6
| NFLDraftedPick = 70
| NFLDraftedTeam = Green Bay Packers
| playing_years1 = 1957–1961
| playing_team1 = Pittsburgh Steelers
| playing_years2 = 1962–1964
| playing_team2 = Washington Redskins
| career_highlights =
| ProBowls = 3
| NFL = NIS553722
| DatabaseFootball = NISBYJOH01
}}
John Edward Nisby (September 9, 1936 – February 6, 2011) was an American football guard in the National Football League (NFL). He played professionally for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Redskins, and was one of the first African American players to play for the Washington Redskins.
Early life
Nisby was born in San Francisco, California, and attended Edison High School in Stockton, California.{{cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=NISBYJOH01 |title=John Nisby |publisher=databaseFootball.com |accessdate=October 26, 2013 |url-status=usurped |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029190316/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=NISBYJOH01 |archivedate=October 29, 2013 }} He played college football at San Joaquin Delta College and at the University of the Pacific. He earned his master's degree from the University of Oregon.{{cite web|url= http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary-print.aspx?n=John-Nisby&lc=2457&pid=148450949&mid=4548414|title= In Memory of John E. Nisby |publisher=Frisbie Warren & Carroll Mortuary| accessdate= October 26, 2013}}
Professional career
Nisby was drafted in the sixth round (70th pick overall) of the 1957 NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers.{{cite web|url= https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/N/NisbJo00.htm |title= John Nisby|publisher=Pro-Football-Reference.com| accessdate= October 26, 2013}} He played for eight seasons in the NFL, and was named to the Pro Bowl in 1959, 1961, and 1962.{{cite news|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/steelers/2011/02/13/Obituary-John-Nisby-Pro-Bowl-guard-former-Steeler/stories/201102130164|title= Obituary: John Nisby / Pro Bowl guard, former Steeler|publisher =Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|accessdate= October 26, 2013|first=Bill|last=Brink|date=February 13, 2011}} While playing for the Steelers, Nisby worked with the Pittsburgh Courier to work for equal employment policies in companies that did business with the Steelers.{{cite news|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/steelers/2011/02/13/Obituary-John-Nisby-Pro-Bowl-guard-former-Steeler/stories/201102130164|title= Obituary: John Nisby / Pro Bowl guard, former Steeler|publisher =Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|accessdate= October 26, 2013|first=Bill|last=Brink|date=February 13, 2011}}{{cite web|url= http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110209/A_NEWS21/302099989/0/a_news775|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131029185522/http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110209/A_NEWS21/302099989/0/a_news775|url-status= dead|archive-date= October 29, 2013|title= John E. Nisby Obituary|publisher= Recordnet.com|accessdate= October 26, 2013}}
In 1962, Nisby became one of the first African American players (along with Bobby Mitchell and Leroy Jackson) to play for the Washington Redskins, the last team in the NFL to integrate.{{cite web | work=ESPN.com | url=https://www.espn.com/page2/wash/s/2002/0305/1346021.html | title=Civil Rights on the Gridiron | access-date=2008-12-24}} That year, Nisby and Mitchell became the first black Washington Redskins players to be named to the Pro Bowl.{{cite web|url= http://bleacherreport.com/articles/607238-nfl-pioneer-john-nisby-was-a-hero-to-all |title= NFL Pioneer John Nisby Was A Hero To All |publisher=bleacher report| accessdate= October 26, 2013}}
Life after the NFL
When the Redskins released Nisby in 1964, he retired from football and became Director of the "College Readiness Program" at San Joaquin Delta College.{{cite web|url= http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary-print.aspx?n=John-Nisby&lc=2457&pid=148450949&mid=4548414|title= In Memory of John E. Nisby |publisher=Frisbie Warren & Carroll Mortuary| accessdate= October 26, 2013}} He was also a City Councilman in Stockton, California.{{cite news| url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11042/1124753-100.stm | work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | title=John Nisby, Pro Bowl guard for Steelers in '60s, dies | date=October 26, 2013}} In 1987, Nisby was made a member of the Stockton Black Sports Hall of Fame.{{cite web|url= http://africanamericanathleteshalloffame.com/|title= The African American Athletes Hall of Fame of Stockton "SERVANTS" African American Athletes Hall of Fame of StocktonWarren & Carroll Mortuary| accessdate= October 26, 2013}}
Nisby died on February 6, 2011, in Stockton.{{cite web|url= http://www.oldestlivingprofootball.com/johnedwardnisby.htm |title= Ohn Nisby |publisher=OldestLivingProFootball.com| accessdate= October 26, 2013}}
References
{{reflist|2}}
{{Packers1957DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nisby, John}}
Category:American football offensive guards
Category:Pacific Tigers football players
Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players
Category:Washington Redskins players
Category:Eastern Conference Pro Bowl players