John B. Corker (born December 29, 1958) is an American former professional

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

player who was a

linebacker Linebacker (LB) is a playing position in gridiron football. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and typically line up three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage and so back up the defensive linemen. They play closer to the line ...

for four seasons in the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...

(NFL), primarily for the

Houston Oilers The Houston Oilers were a professional American football team that played in Houston, Texas, from its founding in 1960 Houston Oilers season, 1960 to 1996 Houston Oilers season, 1996. The Houston Oilers began play as a charter member of the Ame ...

. He also played eight seasons in the

Arena Football League The Arena Football League (AFL) was a professional arena football league in the United States. It was founded in 1986, but played its first official games in the 1987 Arena Football League season, 1987 season, making it the third longest-runnin ...

(AFL). In 2002, Corker was elected into the Arena Football League Hall of Fame. Corker was named Big-8 Defensive Player of the Year in 1978 despite playing in only 7 games prior to tearing ligaments in his knee. He returned in 1979 and was 2nd team All Big-8 and All-American. He also played with the

Michigan Panthers The Michigan Panthers were a professional American football team based in Metro Detroit. The Panthers competed in the United States Football League (USFL) as a member of the Western Conference and Central Division. The team played its home gam ...

and the

Memphis Showboats The Memphis Showboats were an American football franchise in the United States Football League. They entered the league in its expansion in 1984 and made the 1985 playoffs, losing in the semifinal round to the Oakland Invaders. Perhaps the ...

of the

United States Football League The United States Football League (USFL) was a professional American football league that played for three seasons, 1983 through 1985. The league played a spring/summer schedule in each of its active seasons. The 1986 season was scheduled to be ...

. Corker graduated from South Miami High School in 1976 ( South Miami, Florida,) where he played

and

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...

. Corker was named USFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1983 after recording 28.5 sacks in 18 games while playing with the Michigan Panthers. Corker's efforts also led the Panthers to the USFL Championship that same season. After the Panthers merged with the Oakland Invaders before the 1985

USFL The United States Football League (USFL) was a professional American football league that played for three seasons, 1983 through 1985. The league played a spring/summer schedule in each of its active seasons. The 1986 season was scheduled to be ...

season, Corker signed with the Memphis Showboats. One of his defensive mates was future NFL Hall of Famer, Reggie White. Corker finished his 3-year USFL career with 42 sacks in 54 games. In 1994 Corker resurfaced with the

's Miami Hooters playing 7 games for head coach Don Strock.

References

1958 births Living people Players of American football from Miami American football linebackers Oklahoma State Cowboys football players Houston Oilers players Green Bay Packers players Michigan Panthers players Memphis Showboats players Detroit Drive players Miami Hooters players 20th-century American sportsmen {{linebacker-1950s-stub