Jon Arnett

Jon Dwane "Jaguar Jon" Arnett (April 20, 1935 – January 16, 2021) was an American professional football player. He was a first-team All-American out of USC and was chosen in the first round, second pick overall, of the 1957 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams.

Arnett was a prototype of the modern National Football League all-purpose back, a game-breaker who excelled on runs from scrimmage, pass receptions and kick returns. In 10 seasons, he was selected five consecutive times to the Pro Bowl (1957–1961) before chronic knee pain reduced his effectiveness. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001.

Arnett was known to teammates as "The Cat" He later attributed much of his success on the gridiron to his gymnastics background. The All-Southern California Board of Football, working through the Helms Athletic Association, named Arnett to the first team of the Los Angeles All-City prep football team as well as Player of the Year.

1954: 96 carries for 601 yards and 7 TD. 3 catches for 104 yards and 2 TD. 1955: 141 carries for 672 yards and 11 TD. 6 catches for 154 yards and 3 TD. 1956: 99 carries for 625 yards and 6 TD. 2 catches for 38 yards.

During his sophomore season, USC was granted a bid to the 1955 Rose Bowl despite a second-place finish in the Pacific Coast Conference, owing to UCLA being ruled ineligible. Arnett acquitted himself well, finishing with 123 yards gained on just nine carries, including a 70-yard scamper in the fourth quarter. The Trojans fell by a 20–7 score nonetheless.

Professional career Arnett was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the first round of the 1957 NFL draft (No. 2 overall), one of two backs picked ahead of the legendary Syracuse Jim Brown in the order. His initial contract signed with the Rams was a one-year deal for $15,000. The most he ever made in a single season during his ten-year career was $37,000. Largely robbed of the fluidity which made his open-field running a constant big play threat for the Rams, the veteran came to be viewed as expendable by the team in the run-up to the 1964 season. In the 3-for-1 trade the Rams received four-year starting guard Roger Davis, center Joe Wendryhoski, a veteran of the Canadian Football League, and rookie defensive back Frank Budka. !! 123 !! 85 !! 964 !! 3,833 !! 4.0 !! 80 !! 26 !! 222 !! 2,290 !! 10.3 !! 75 !! 10

Life after football Arnett was married in June 1959 to a former USC classmate and Rose Parade princess, Yvonne Flint of Pasadena.

During his NFL years Arnett worked in the off-season as a stock and bond broker for the firm of Hayden, Stone & Co. of Beverly Hills.

Arnett was inducted into the USC Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001 as a member of the USC Trojans.