By Darin In the mid-1950s, few sights were more intimidating to a Big Ten quarterback than the massive presence of Calvin “Cal” Jones anchoring the Iowa line. A player of immense strength and unshakable character, Jones didn’t just break through offensive lines—he broke barriers. As the first African American to ever win the Outland Trophy, he paved the way for generations of linemen to follow, leaving a legacy at the University of Iowa that remains literally retired in the rafters.
Football Bio
February 7, 1933 – Steubenville, Ohio – The great Calvin Jones, who played guard for the Iowa Hawkeyes, took his first breath on this date. The NFF reports that Cal was named to 22 different All-America teams during his collegiate playing days.
Jones earned the honor of receiving the Outland Trophy as a senior in 1955. Voters of the National Football Foundation selected Cal Jones to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1980. Cal played pro ball in the CFL for one season before he tragically perished in a plane crash in Canada in December of 1956.
Conclusion
Calvin Jones was a titan of the “Golden Era” of Iowa football, a man whose dominance on the field was matched only by his academic and social leadership. Though his life was tragically cut short at just 23 years old, his impact on the sport is immortalized through his retired number 62—one of only two such honors in Hawkeye history. He remains the gold standard for Iowa linemen, remembered not just for the 22 All-America teams he made, but for the courage and excellence he displayed every time he buckled his chin strap.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- Outland Trophy Winner (1955 – First African American recipient)
- 2-time Consensus First-Team All-American (1954, 1955)
- 3-time First-Team All-Big Ten Selection (1953, 1954, 1955)
- College Football Hall of Fame Inductee (Class of 1980)
- No. 62 Retired by the University of Iowa (One of only two retired numbers)
- 10th Place in Heisman Trophy Voting (1955)
- First College Football Player on the cover of Sports Illustrated (September 27, 1954)
- WIFU All-Star (1956 – Winnipeg Blue Bombers)
- Iowa Varsity Club Hall of Fame Charter Member
