Sid Justin

Sidney Arthur Justin, sometimes spelled Sydney Justin (born August 14, 1954), is an American former professional football defensive back, singer and songwriter. He played for the Los Angeles Rams, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and Baltimore Colts after playing college football at Los Angeles Southwest and Long Beach State. He also played for the minor league Southern California Rhinos and was briefly with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs, as well as the Los Angeles Express of the United States Football League (USFL). Following his football career, Justin was a member of several vocal groups, including Shalamar and The Miracles.

Early life and education Justin was born on August 14, 1954, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He attended Crenshaw High School in Los Angeles, California, being a gymnast rather than a football player. Justin started attending Los Angeles Southwest College in 1973 after his graduation from Crenshaw and was convinced by his friends to begin playing football.

Professional football and coaching career Justin went unselected in the 1977 NFL draft. He spent the entire 1977 season as a free agent. Justin went on to appear in 13 games for the Rams that year, recording one interception and making an 80-yard blocked field goal return touchdown, the only score of his career, before being placed on injured reserve in mid-December due to a pulled hamstring suffered on the blocked field goal return. While he was on injured reserve, the Rams went on to be runners-up in Super Bowl XIV against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Justin was waived by the Rams on August 13, 1980, and was then claimed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was waived by Tampa Bay on August 25. He traveled to Canada and signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL) on September 6. Justin played two games for the Blue Bombers, posting one interception return for two yards before being released at the end of the month.

Justin returned to the NFL and signed with the Buffalo Bills in February 1981. He was placed on injured reserve on August 17 and was released on August 31. He joined the Baltimore Colts for the 1982 season. Justin made the team and was the starting right cornerback to begin the season. He appeared in a total of five games, two as a starter, before suffering a cracked vertebrae which sidelined him for the rest of the season. Justin was waived by the Colts in March 1983.

Justin had a brief stint with the Kansas City Chiefs after being waived by the Colts, but was released in July. In October, he was signed by the Los Angeles Express of the United States Football League (USFL) for the 1984 season, joining his brother Tyrone who also played for the Express. He was released on January 21, 1984.

After ending his playing career, Justin became a coach. He began as an assistant to Harold Daniels at Harbor Junior College, before becoming a coach at Westchester High School in Los Angeles.

Music career Justin liked music from a young age, and participated in several talent shows in high school. After high school, he worked for a time with singer Candi Staton and performed for several movie soundtracks, including the songs "Shout" and "Shama Lama Ding Dong" in Animal House. He also worked with Hawk Wolinski in producing the soundtrack for Wildcats. Justin worked with Babyface and L.A. in producing the album Circumstantial Evidence, which featured the song "Love's Grown Deep" that placed number one on charts in Asia for five (Listed as six on Justin's website.) He has performed with them at numerous locations over many years, later being joined by his brother Kerry. He and The Miracles have made appearances on various television shows, including Good Morning America, Today, George & Alana, Home & Family, The Pat Bullard Show, and Donny & Marie, among others.

Later and personal life Justin is also an artist; he attended Otis Art Institute and was taught by Charles W. White and Ernie Barnes. He and Tyrone appeared as extras in the television series 1st & Ten.

Justin published a book on how to play defensive back, titled The Lost Art, in June 2016. He is a Christian.