Toimi Jarvi

Toimi Valentino Jarvi (February 28, 1920 – November 18, 1977) was a Finnish professional American football quarterback and halfback who played two seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Jarvi played with the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers. In addition to football, he played basketball and baseball.

Early life and education Toimi Jarvi was born on February 28, 1920, in DeKalb, Illinois. Jarvi attended DeKalb for high school and Northern Illinois for college. While at Northern Illinois, Toimi played football, basketball, and baseball. He was at Northern Illinois from 1938 to 1941, and was popular as a quarterback and halfback. He would be inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 1988. After his college career, but before his professional career, he was a teacher at Moline. He then was employed as an athletic instructor in Chicago.

Professional career In 1944, Jarvi was given a contract by the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He was one of twelve quarterbacks at the Philadelphia training camp that season, but was one of the few who were able to make the roster. The Eagles played in twelve games that season, but Toimi only appeared in five of them. In his five games he had five rushes for sixteen yards, and one catch for nine yards. On defense he had one interception and on special teams he had two punt returns for twenty-two yards. Jarvi only made one appearance with the Steelers in 1945. He played quarterback in his one-game, going four for ten for fifty yards and three interceptions. In addition to quarterback, Jarvi played halfback, defense, and punter in his second season. His offensive statistics included nine rushes for twenty-four yards; his defensive statistics were one fumble recovery returned minus seventeen yards; and his punting statistics were two punts for sixty-nine yards.