Card: Ultimate WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 2012, C/o The Dallas Cowboys
Sent: 4/26 Received: 5/2 (7 days)
Failure: TTM 2010, C/o The Dallas Cowboys
The Garrett family has a long history in the NFL starting with their father, Jim, who had served in the league as a scout for almost 40 years. The boys, Jason, Judd, and John have all experienced a measure of NFL success, and all of them spent time playing in the WLAF during the early 1990s making their legacy quite unique.
John finished his career at Princeton leading all the receivers his senior season with 45 receptions for 617 yards and 2 touchdowns. He quickly signed with the Cowboys in 1988, eventually landing on the practice squad of the Cincinnati Bengals the next season where he made 2 receptions for 29 yards. John would later spend time in the off-season, with Buffalo Bills as well in 1991.
That year, all 3 brothers decided to play in the inaugural season of the World League of American Football. John ended up being drafted by the San Antonio Riders in the second round of the WR positional draft, to catch passes from his brother, Jason. (Judd was drafted by the Monarchs.) The Riders however had a rocky season, and injuries and inconsistencies eventually saw Jason split time with Mike Johnson at quarterback. John finished the season though tied for 3rd on the Riders with 23 receptions. He’d also catch the last TD of Riders season from his brother Jason, during the final game in a loss to the Knights. It is at this point that I am unsure if he was injured or cut before the 1992 season was underway. I do know he was at training camp for the Riders, and played in their scrimmage versus the Ohio Glory, (as evidenced in the card pictured above,) who were the replacement franchise for the Skyhawks from the 1991 season.
He then returned to the NFL spending the next 12 seasons, with the Bucs, Bengals, and Cardinals in a variety of coaching postions. 2004 saw Garrett jump into the college ranks working for Virginia Cavaliers under Al Groh. After a successful time with the Cavs John was reunited with his brothers Jason and Judd on the Dallas Cowboys in 2007.
I had sent to all three brothers in the past thinking that perhaps I could get them all in one envelope back in 2010. Unfortunately I didn’t have any success and I assume that it is lost. I rarely send out to more than one player in one envelope anymore. It just increases the chance that you won’t get anything back at all. John had only one card, but turned this around care of the Cowboys in roughly one week signing it with a bible inscription from Colossians 3:23- “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human.” It’s a great card, and although a heavy percentage of Ultimate cards suffered from cutting issues, overall I really liked the design and style of what they were doing at the time.
Rec 23 Yds 386 Avg 16.8 Td 3 Lg 48