Shipwreck Kelly (American football)

John "Shipwreck" Kelly
No. 44
PositionHalfback
Personal information
Born(1910-07-08)July 8, 1910
Simstown, Kentucky, U.S.
DiedAugust 17, 1986(1986-08-17) (aged 76)
Lighthouse Point, Florida, U.S.
Listed weight175 lb (79 kg)
Career information
CollegeKentucky
Career history
1932New York Giants
1933–1937Brooklyn Dodgers
Awards and highlights
Stats at Pro Football Reference 

John Simms "Shipwreck" Kelly (July 8, 1910 – August 17, 1986) was an American professional football player who was a halfback in the National Football League (NFL); he was also an owner and banker, most prominent in New York City in the 1930s and 1940s. He played five seasons for the New York Giants (1932) and the Brooklyn Dodgers (1933–1937). Kelly became a player-coach and later a player/coach/owner with the Dodgers football club, the successor to the Dayton Triangles, a charter member of the NFL. He gained his nickname from Alvin "Shipwreck" Kelly, who was famous for pole-sitting in the 1920s.