{{Short description|American football player (born 1949)}} {{for|the writer|John Charles Tarver}}{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography | image = | caption = | position = Running back | number = 36, 49 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1949|01|01}} | birth_place = Bakersfield, California, U.S. | death_date = | height_ft = 6 | weight_lb = 227 | height_in = 3 | draftyear = 1972 | draftround = 7 | draftpick = 166 | undraftedyear = | high_school = Arvin (CA) | college = Colorado | pastteams = * New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|1972|1974}}) * Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|1975}}) | statlabel1 = Rushing attempts-yards | statvalue1 = 162-574 | statlabel2 = Receptions-yards | statvalue2 = 34-214 | statlabel3 = Touchdowns | statvalue3 = 8 | pfr = TarvJo00 | pfrcoach = | cfl = | afl = | HOF = | CollegeHOF = }}
'''John Tarver''' (born January 1, 1949) is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) from 1972 to 1975.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/philadelphia-eagles-1975-yearbook-c/page/90/mode/2up?q=%22John+Tarver%22 |title=Philadelphia Eagles 1975 Yearbook |date=1975 |publisher=Philadelphia Eagles |pages=90 |via=Internet Archive}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=December 16, 2002 |title=Tarvers: Family's successes helpful (Continued from Page E1) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-oregonian-tarvers-familys-successe/176480077/ |access-date=2025-07-12 |work=The Oregonian |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> He played for three seasons with the New England Patriots, and went on to play for the Philadelphia Eagles.<ref name=":0" /> He played college football for the Colorado Buffaloes.
== Early life and education == Tarver was born in Bakersfield, California, as one of nine children.<ref name=":0" /> He was an outstanding athlete at Arvin High School.{{Citation needed|date=July 2025}}
== College career == Tarver played football at Bakersfield Junior College.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=May |first=Mark |date=June 8, 1993 |title=Family project: Shon Tarver inherits limelight vacated by dad |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/longview-daily-news-family-project-shon/176480927/ |access-date=2025-07-12 |work=Longview Daily News |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> He then transferred to the University of Colorado Boulder, where he played football for the Buffaloes.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> In two seasons, Tarver rushed 1,327 yards.<ref name=":0" /> He played in the 1971 Liberty Bowl, the 1972 Bluebonnet Bowl, and the 1972 College All-Star Game.<ref name=":0" /> He was voted the team's "unheralded senior".<ref name=":0" />
== Professional career == He was selected by the New England Patriots in the seventh round (166th overall) of the 1972 NFL draft out of Colorado.{{Citation needed|date=July 2025}} He played four seasons for the Patriots (1972–1974) and the Philadelphia Eagles (1975).<ref name=":0" />
In 1973, Tarver was the second best rusher for the Patriots with 321 yards and four touchdowns, despite being sidelined for five games due to injury.<ref name=":0" />
== Personal life == After retiring from professional football, Tarver worked in insurance and investments.<ref name=":1" /> His son Shon played basketball for the UCLA Bruins.<ref name=":1" /> Another son, Seth, played basketball for the Idaho Stampede.{{Citation needed|date=July 2025}}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Patriots1972DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tarver, John}} Category:American football running backs Category:Colorado Buffaloes football players Category:New England Patriots players Category:Philadelphia Eagles players Category:Players of American football from Bakersfield, California Category:1949 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century American sportsmen