{{Short description|American football player (born 1954)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = John Yarno | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | number = 51 | position = Center | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1954|12|17}} | birth_place = Spokane, Washington, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 5 | weight_lb = 251 | high_school = Gonzaga <br> (Spokane, Washington) | college = Idaho (1973–1976) | draftyear = 1977 | draftround = 4 | draftpick = 87 | pastteams = * Seattle Seahawks ({{NFL Year|1977|1982}}) * Denver Gold ({{USFL Year|1984}}) | highlights = * First-team All-American (1976) * Idaho Vandals No. 56 retired | statlabel1 = Games played | statvalue1 = 74 | statlabel2 = Games started | statvalue2 = 62 | statlabel3 = Fumble recoveries | statvalue3 = 3 | pfr = YarnJo20 }}
'''John Richard Yarno, Jr.''' (born December 17, 1954) is an American former professional football center who played with the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected in the fourth round of the 1977 NFL draft by the Seahawks with the 87th overall pick,<ref name="pfbhof">{{Cite web |date=May 3–4, 1977 |title=1977 NFL Draft |url=http://www.profootballhof.com/history/story.jsp?story_id=2011 |publisher=Pro Football Hall of Fame |accessdate=December 18, 2013}}</ref> and played for six seasons, from 1977 through 1982. Yarno played college football for the Idaho Vandals.
==Early life== Born and raised in Spokane, Washington,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-01-31 |title=Spokane's love of Seahawks began in Cheney |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2015/jan/31/spokanes-love-seahawks-began-cheney/ |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=Spokesman.com |language=en}}</ref> Yarno was one of six siblings<ref name="yffob">{{Cite news |date=February 10, 2003 |title=Funerals: John R. "Dick" Yarno, Sr. |page=C7 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=H5FXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oPIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5618%2C9610654}}</ref><ref name="obitjayn">{{Cite web |title=Nevin, Judith Ann (Yarno) (1944-2011) |url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/spokesman/obituary.aspx?pid=153026019 |publisher=Legacy.com |accessdate=December 18, 2013}}</ref> and attended Gonzaga Prep through his junior year. He transferred to Ferris High School for his senior year and graduated in 1973. He was a second-team ("honorable mention") all-city selection at center in the fall of 1972,<ref name="fsphac">{{Cite news |last=Derrick |first=Merle |date=November 18, 1972 |title=Ferris, SP Chronicle's All-City: Honorable Mention Offense |page=11 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LZFYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=aPgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3592%2C823502}}</ref><ref name="ojytatb">{{Cite news |last=Payne |first=Bob |date=November 10, 1976 |title='Obscure' John Yarno thinking ahead to bigs |page=19 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sTtOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oO0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4665%2C3362660}}</ref> when the Saxons won their third consecutive city league championship.<ref name="nksch ">{{Cite news |last=Derrick |first=Merle |date=November 11, 1972 |title=Niksich claims No. 1 after thrilling win |page=11 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aMQSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=a_gDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3903%2C3845395}}</ref> As a senior, Yarno was {{height|ft=6|in=4}} but under {{convert|200|lb|kg|abbr=on}}.<ref name="ydelig">{{Cite news |last=Payne |first=Bob |date=November 12, 1975 |title=Yarnos not delighted by prospect |page=16 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7-9LAAAAIBAJ&sjid=be0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=7194,5208856}}</ref><ref name="yidea">{{Cite news |last=Drosendahl |first=Glenn |date=November 12, 1975 |title=Yarno brothers don't like the idea |page=B1 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=Idaho |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KcheAAAAIBAJ&sjid=STIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4327%2C3203397}}</ref>
==College career== Left-handed and underweight for a center, Yarno was not highly recruited out of high school. He did not receive any offers from Pac-8 schools, only from Idaho and Boise State of the Big Sky conference. Idaho was a better fit for Yarno as it was closer to Spokane, a Division I program, and its offensive coordinator and line coach (Don Matthews) was a former head coach at Ferris and a UI alumnus. He also had familiarity with the college town of Moscow, the longtime residence of his maternal grandfather Lee Gregory, also a {{nowrap|UI graduate.<ref name=ydelig/><ref name="lmtobtgrg">{{Cite news |date=April 1, 1980 |title=Lee B. Gregory |page=7B |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |agency=(obituary) |location=Idaho |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=96tfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tzIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6090%2C101752}}</ref>}} (Yarno's mother, Wanda (1925–62), died when he was not yet eight.)<ref name="spdchdnt">{{Cite news |date=December 11, 1962 |title=Yarno, Wanda Lee |page=17 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |agency=(death notices) |location=Washington |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dadYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Z_cDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5152%2C2326618}}</ref> Yarno selected Idaho, then under fourth-year head coach Don Robbins, who had led Idaho to its then-best record of 8–3 in 1971.
In his freshman season of 1973, the Vandals went 4–7 for the second consecutive year and the coaching staff was dismissed, except for Ed Troxel, who was promoted to head coach. Yarno saw action in every game as a freshman,<ref name=ojytatb/> then became a three-year starter in his sophomore season of 1974 under Troxel and offensive coordinator Dennis Erickson. In his senior season of 1976, Idaho was 7–4 for their first winning season in five years.<ref name=ojytatb/> He was a unanimous selection as the conference player of the year on offense, the first for an interior lineman. Yarno was the first Vandal to be named to the Division I first-team All-American (AP),<ref name="jyle">{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Butch |date=July 29, 1977 |title=John Yarno learns enthusiastically |page=17 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AIowAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0u0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4889%2C4946889}}</ref> which included a prime-time television appearance on the Bob Hope Christmas Special on NBC on Monday, {{nowrap|December 13.<ref name="sdcyarnoaa">{{Cite news |date=December 2, 1976 |title=Yarno named All-American |page=39 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |agency=Associated Press |location=Washington |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rk9OAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5vgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6802,655164&dq=yarno&hl=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=May 26, 1977 |title=Contracts please Yarno |page=44 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Z2EwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vu0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6870,4350315}}</ref><ref name="jyhtb">{{Cite news |last=Payne |first=Bob |date=December 3, 1976 |title=John Yarno:'Hard to believe' |page=33 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iSFOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pO0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6680%2C1215048}}</ref>}} The All-America team was headlined by Heisman Trophy winner Tony Dorsett of {{nowrap|Pittsburgh.<ref name="dorsett">{{Cite news |date=December 3, 1976 |title=Dorsett heads AP's All-America team |page=1B |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |agency=Associated Press |location={Idaho} |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=G6hfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XzIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6230%2C882635}}</ref>}} Yarno was also selected to play in the East–West Shrine Game and the {{nowrap|Senior Bowl.<ref name="shock">{{Cite news |date=December 3, 1976 |title=Selection shocks Yarno |page=1B |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=Idaho |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=G6hfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XzIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2855%2C883531}}</ref>}} The University of Idaho retired his number 56 the following {{nowrap|year.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 6, 2007 |title=Hall of Famers arrive on campus |url=http://www.govandals.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=87178&SPID=10346&DB_OEM_ID=17100&ATCLID=1209325 |publisher=University of Idaho Athletics}}</ref><ref name="gom77jyaa">{{Cite web |date=1977 |title=John Yarno named first team All-American |url=http://issuu.com/uidahodigital/docs/gem1977/48 |publisher=Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook |page=44}}</ref>}}
During his senior season at Idaho, Yarno was listed at {{height|ft=6|in=5}} and {{convert|246|lb|kg|abbr=on}}. His younger brother George (1957–2016) was the nose tackle with neighboring Washington State in Pullman, and the two matched up often in the Battle of the Palouse in 1975 and 1976, both handily won by WSU at {{nowrap|Martin Stadium.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Missildine |first=Harry |date=September 27, 1976 |title=Yarno vs. Yarno: brothers jaw-to-jaw |page=15 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wCBOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=m-0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6506,4857948}}</ref><ref name="tybro">{{Cite news |last=Weaver |first=Dan |date=July 3, 1983 |title=The Yarno brothers |page=D1 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3usRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=re4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=3404%2C1069195}}</ref>}}
==Professional career== Selected in the fourth round (87th overall) of the 1977 NFL draft,<ref name="yaahwk">{{Cite news |date=May 4, 1977 |title=Yarno a Hawk |page=25 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=V_UjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=we0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=2128%2C2259362}}</ref><ref name="hlnwst">{{Cite news |date=May 4, 1977 |title=Hawks like NW stars |page=45 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |agency=Associated Press |location=Washington |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gfpLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8vgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6847%2C1096340}}</ref><ref name="shdvy">{{Cite news |date=May 4, 1977 |title=Seahawks draft Vandals' Yarno |page=1B |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=Idaho |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eJRfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EjEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2415%2C1195615}}</ref> Yarno made the team as a rookie, but saw little action {{nowrap|in 1977.<ref name="ylrts">{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Butch |date=July 28, 1978 |title=Yarno, Long ready to start for Hawks |page=25 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EvZLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8u0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6748%2C5049436}}</ref>}} He played six seasons with the Seahawks, the last five as the starting center, and endured three knee surgeries while a pro. Yarno became the starter in training camp in 1978, but suffered ligament damage to his left knee in the thirteenth game of the regular season, a road win over Oakland in late November.<ref name=yofsa>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1_pLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EvkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3133%2C3604421 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |title=Yarno out for season |date=November 29, 1978 |page=21}}</ref><ref name="yaqr">{{Cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MSJMAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MPkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7384%2C1058627 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |last=Brown |first=Butch |title=Yarno anticipates quick recovery |date=July 18, 1979 |page=21}}</ref><ref name=esylvg>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=905OAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Iu4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=1498%2C3703761 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |last=Yamaguchi |first=Andy |title=After injury, 'easy living' comes harder for John Yarno |date=July 23, 1979 |page=19}}</ref> He regained his starting position for the 1979 season and played every offensive down.<ref name="yhtsgo ">{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Bruce |date=December 12, 1979 |title=Yarno hits goal |page=53 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZJ4SAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LPkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3931%2C4047563}}</ref> Yarno signed a three-year contract in April 1983, but was waived by new head coach Chuck Knox in late August after the acquisition of Blair Bush from Cincinnati.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stalwick |first=Howie |date=August 30, 1983 |title=Yarno caught off-guard |page=19 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6FdWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6-4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6528,8072360}}</ref>
Not picked up by another NFL team in 1983, Yarno and his brother George signed three-year contracts with the Denver Gold of the USFL for the 1984 spring season. After limited playing time at center and tight end in the USFL and no interest from NFL teams in 1984, he decided to retire from pro football in November at age 29.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stalwick |first=Howie |date=November 6, 1984 |title=It's time to leave pros, says Yarno |page=B1 |work=Spokesman Review |location=Spokane, Washington |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dFhWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=B-8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5658,3442441}}</ref>
==Personal life== After his third season in the NFL, Yarno married Sue Damrell in Spokane in June 1980.<ref name="wwwb">{{Cite news |last=Van Sickel |first=Charlie |date=June 11, 1980 |title=Wednesday wandering: Wedding bells |page=20 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1338&dat=19800611&id=1lZOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OfkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2357,3154205}}</ref> They had two children, Julie and Brian, and divorced in 2000. Yarno married Sandy Hurtig in 2003 and they reside in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== * [https://admin.xosn.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17100&ATCLID=1469439 University of Idaho - Vandal Athletics Hall of Fame] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401062217/https://admin.xosn.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17100&ATCLID=1469439 |date=April 1, 2012 }} - John Yarno * [http://www.govandals.com/PhotoAlbum.dbml?ATCLID=1209325&SPSID=87178&SPID=10346&PALBID=13081&DB_OEM_ID=17100&PAGE_ID=&ZID=726014 Go Vandals.com] - photo - John Yarno - # 56 - 1973 or '74 - pre-roof Kibbie Dome field * [http://issuu.com/uidahodigital/docs/gem1977/49 1977 Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho Yearbook] * [http://www.tomandrodna.com/Yarno.jpg John Yarno] - photo - Corner Club - Moscow, ID - 2001-10-19 * {{Footballstats |nfl=2529498 |cfl= |afl= |espn= |cbs= |yahoo= |fox= |si= |pfr=YarnJo20 |dbf=YARNOJOH01 |rotoworld=}}
{{Seahawks1977DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yarno, John}} Category:1954 births Category:Living people Category:Players of American football from Spokane, Washington Category:American football centers Category:Idaho Vandals football players Category:Seattle Seahawks players Category:Denver Gold players