John "Johnny O" Olszewski, Class of 1949
Johnny Olszewski was a stand out running back for the St. Anthony College Prep Saints in 1946 and 1947 when he was an all-team CIF player. In 1948, “Johnny O” along with quarterback Bill Mais and halfbacks John Peterson and Dean O’Hare carried the Saints into the CIF Championship game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum against Santa Barbara using a tie-breaker after the game on the field ended in a 7-7 tie.
After graduating from St. Anthony in 1949, Johnny Olszewski (pronounced O-SHEF-Ski) and the entire Saints backfield headed up to University of California to join the Bears. They played in some of the biggest games in the Golden Bears storied history and in 1952 were privileged to play for arguably the best Cal football coach ever - Pappy Waldorf. While playing for Cal Berkeley, Johnny O ran for a career 2,504 yards and was an all Pacific Conference pick and All-American in 1952.
In 1953 Olszewski was drafted into the NFL in the first round, fourth pick overall, by the Chicago Cardinals beginning a 10 year professional football career. Johnny O played for the Cardinals from 1953 – 1957 earning Pro Bowl honors in both 1953 and 1955 and Western Conference first team honors in 1956.
After being dealt to the Washington Redskins in 1958 Johnny O became the ‘Skins primary back for three seasons and was first and only player in Redskin history to wear the number “0”. In 1961 Olszewski played for the Detroit Loins and completed his career in 1962 with the AFL Denver Broncos.
For his ten year pro career, Johnny gained 3,320 yards averaging almost 4 yards per carry and hauled in 104 receptions for 988 yards. He was inducted into the Cal Hall of Fame in 1993 and was named to the Sigma Nu’s All-Century Professional Football team.
Olszewski is the uncle of Oakland Raider Quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo who is the son of St. Anthony alums Tina (Young) and Manu Tuiasosopo from the Class of 1975.
