From Gridiron Glory to Olympic Silver: The Unstoppable John DeWitt

On October 29, 1881, a legend was born in Phillipsburg, New Jersey: John DeWitt. While many know him as an Olympic silver medalist in the hammer throw, his football exploits at Princeton University are legendary, earning him a place among the sport’s all-time greats. Even the “Father of American Football,” Walter Camp, considered DeWitt so exceptional that he named him to an all-time All-America team. DeWitt’s incredible athletic versatility and his penchant for game-changing plays made him arguably the most outstanding player in Princeton history.

The NFF recounts a great story about DeWitt on their website. Things didn’t look good for the Princeton Tigers in their annual battle with Yale. Their 10-game winning streak was in jeopardy when the Bulldogs scored the first points of the season against the Tigers. The Elis were about to increase their 6-0 lead as Ledyard Mitchell set to drop-kick a field goal. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, John De Witt made a run. He caught the ball in mid-air and raced 70 yards for a Tiger touchdown, then kicked the conversion to tie the game at 6-6. Late in the contest, De Witt struck again, this time on a 53-yard field goal which provided the winning points in an 11-6 Princeton victory. Princeton finished the season at 11-0-0 and won the national championship, due mainly to the efforts of this drop-kick specialist.

DeWitt was a great all-around athlete; he even competed in the hammer throw for the United States at the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, winning the silver medal! John DeWitt was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954.

Accolades & Accomplishments

• Game-Changing Heroics: In the annual rivalry game against Yale, with Princeton’s 10-game winning streak and national title hopes on the line, Yale scored first. John DeWitt turned the tide by blocking a field goal attempt, catching the ball mid-air, and racing 70 yards for a touchdown. He then kicked the crucial conversion point to tie the game.
• Drop-Kick Specialist: DeWitt secured the 11-6 victory over Yale late in the contest with a monumental 53-yard drop-kicked field goal.
• National Champion: His heroics largely secured an 11-0-0 record for the Tigers and the National Championship for Princeton that season.
• All-Time All-America: Named to an all-time All-America team by the legendary Walter Camp.
• College Football Hall of Fame: Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954.
• All-Around Athlete: Beyond the gridiron, DeWitt won a silver medal in the hammer throw for the United States at the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis.

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