Ralph Jarvis

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Ralph Jarvis

| number = 67, 92, 93, 98

| position = Defensive end

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|6|1}}

| birth_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 4

| weight_lb = 255

| high_school = Glen Mills
(Glen Mills, Pennsylvania)

| college = Temple (1984–1987)

| draftyear = 1988

| draftround = 3

| draftpick = 78

| pastteams =

Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|1988}})*
New York Jets ({{NFL Year|1988}})
Ottawa Rough Riders ({{CFL Year|1988}})
New York Jets ({{NFL Year|1989}})*
Buffalo Bills ({{NFL Year|1989}})*
Calgary Stampeders ({{CFL Year|1989}})
Indianapolis Colts ({{NFL Year|1989}})*
Buffalo Bills ({{NFL Year|1990}})*
Indianapolis Colts ({{NFL Year|1990}})
Tampa Bay Storm ({{AFL Year|1992}}–{{AFL Year|1993}})
Massachusetts Marauders ({{AFL Year|1994}})
Milwaukee Mustangs ({{AFL Year|1995}}–{{AFL Year|1998}})
Arizona Rattlers ({{AFL Year|1998}})
New Jersey Red Dogs ({{AFL Year|1999}})

| highlights =

ArenaBowl champion (1993)
First-team All-Arena (1995)
2× Second-team All-Arena (1994, 1996)

| statlabel1 = Fumble recoveries

| statvalue1 = 1

| pfr = J/JarvRa20

| afl = 809

}}

Ralph A. Jarvis (born June 1, 1965) is an American former professional football defensive end who played one season with the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 1988 NFL draft after playing college football at Temple University. Jarvis also played in the Arena Football League (AFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL).

Early life and college

Ralph A. Jarvis was born on June 1, 1965, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/j/jarv00800.html | title=Ralph Jarvis | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=13 May 2025}} He attended Germantown High School in Philadelphia for two years but did not play football. He then played high school football at the juvenile detention center Glen Mills Schools, located in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune/172284564/ | title=Bears open new avenues for former dead-end kid | work=Chicago Tribune | date=April 26, 1988 | accessdate=13 May 2025 | author=Kiley, Mike | pages=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune/172284664/ 5]}} He had previously played street basketball growing up.

Jarvis was a member of the Temple Owls of Temple University from 1984 to 1987. He only played in three game his junior year due to being suspended by head coach Bruce Arians for missing classes.

Professional career

Jarvis was selected by the Chicago Bears in the third round, with the 78th overall pick, of the 1988 NFL draft.{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JarvRa20.htm | title=Ralph Jarvis | publisher=Pro Football Reference | accessdate=13 May 2025}} After being drafted by the Bears, Jarvis stated that he wanted to find the judge who sent him to Glen Mills schools and thank him. He officially signed with the team on May 17. He was waived on August 29, 1988.{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/transactions/j/jarv00800.html | title=Ralph Jarvis Transactions | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=13 May 2025}}

Jarvis was claimed off waivers by the New York Jets on August 30, 1988. He was released on September 14, 1988, before appearing in any games for the team.

On September 20, 1988, Jarvis signed with the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League (CFL).{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vicksburg-post/172281923/ | title=Transactions | work=The Vicksburg Post | date=September 21, 1988 | accessdate=13 May 2025 | pages=D2}} He dressed in four games for the Rough Riders during the 1988 CFL season. On October 21, 1988, it was reported that he had been released.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-phoenix/172281953/ | title=Transactions | work=Star-Phoenix | date=October 21, 1988 | accessdate=13 May 2025 | pages=E6}}

Jarvis signed a futures contract with the Jets on November 21, 1988. He was released on May 31, 1989.

He was signed by the Buffalo Bills on June 12, 1989, but later released on September 5, 1989.

Jarvis signed with the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL on September 11, 1989. He dressed in one game for the Stampeders, posting one tackle and one fumble recovery, before being released on September 18, 1989.

Jarvis was signed to the practice squad of the Indianapolis Colts on October 11, 1989. He was released by the Colts on December 26, 1989.

He signed with the Bills again on February 6, 1990, but was later waived on August 20, 1990.

Jarvis was claimed off waivers by the Colts on August 22, 1990. He was released on September 3 and then signed to the team's practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster on October 19, 1990, and played in eight games for the Colts that year. Jarvis became a free agent after the 1990 season.

Jarvis played in nine games for the Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena Football League (AFL) in 1992, recording seven solo tackles, three sacks, one pass breakup, and six receptions for 55 yards and three touchdowns.{{cite web | url=https://www.arenafan.com/players/809/ | title=Ralph Jarvis | publisher=ArenaFan.com | accessdate=13 May 2025}} He was an offensive lineman/defensive lineman during his time in the AFL as the league played under ironman rules. Jarvis appeared in six games in 1993, totaling two solo tackles, one assisted tackle, and seven catches for 99 yards and one touchdown. On August 21, 1993, the Storm won ArenaBowl VII against the Detroit Drive by a score of 51–31.{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/1993arfltb.html | title=1993 Tampa Bay Storm (Arena) | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=13 May 2025}}

Jarvis played in all 12 games for the Massachusetts Marauders of the AFL during the 1994 season, accumulating 15 solo tackles, five assisted tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles, two pass breakups, and eight receptions for 56 yards and three touchdowns. The Marauders finished the year with an 8–4 record and lost in the semifinals to the Orlando Predators by a score of 51–42.{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/1994arflmas.html | title=1994 Massachusetts Marauders (Arena) | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=13 May 2025}} Jarvis was named second-team All-Arena for his performance during the 1994 season.{{cite web | url=https://www.arenafan.com/players/?page=players&player=809&pageview=bio | title=Ralph Jarvis - Awards | publisher=ArenaFan.com | accessdate=13 May 2025}}

Jarvis appeared in all 12 games for the AFL's Milwaukee Mustangs in 1995, recording ten solo tackles, seven assisted tackles, six sacks, one forced fumble, two pass breakups, three blocked kicks, four receptions for 78 yards and one touchdown, and one kick return for a three-yard touchdown. The Mustangs finished the season 4–8.{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/1995arflmil.html | title=1995 Milwaukee Mustangs (Arena) | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=13 May 2025}} Jarvis earned first-team All-Arena honors for the 1995 season. He played in all 14 games for Milwaukee in 1996, totaling 24 solo tackles, five assisted tackles, 8.5 sacks, one forced fumble, 14 pass breakups, two blocked kicks, and three catches for 19 yards and one touchdown. The Mustangs finished the season 10–4 and lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Albany Firebirds.{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/1996arflmil.html | title=1996 Milwaukee Mustangs (Arena) | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=13 May 2025}} Jarvis was named second-team All-Arena for the 1996 season. He appeared in all 14 games for the Mustangs for the second straight season in 1997, recording eight solo tackles, seven assisted tackles, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble, seven pass breakups, four blocked kicks, and two receptions for 37 yards as Milwaukee went 8–6.{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/1997arflmil.html | title=1997 Milwaukee Mustangs (Arena) | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=13 May 2025}} He played in six games for the Mustangs in 1998, accumulating three solo tackles, two assisted tackles, one sack, one fumble recovery, and one catch for four yards. He was inactive for two weeks during the 1998 season after his father died.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic/172283539/ | title=Rattlers trade for pass rusher | work=The Arizona Republic | date=June 18, 1998 | accessdate=13 May 2025 | author=Obert, Richard | pages=C3}}

On June 17, 1998, Jarvis was traded to the Arizona Rattlers for Bryan Hooks and Kevin Knox. Jarvis appeared in six games for the Rattlers that year, posting four solo tackles and four assisted tackles.

Jarvis signed with the New Jersey Red Dogs of the AFL on March 18, 1999.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bradenton-herald/172283734/ | title=Transactions | work=The Bradenton Herald | date=March 19, 1999 | accessdate=13 May 2025}} He played in three games during his final AFL season in 1999 and recorded one interception.