John Hannah

This Albertville Aggie lineman was an All-State and Super All-State in football, outstanding trackman in Alabama with a state record in shot put and discus, and national and Alabama heavyweight wrestling champion.

At the University of Alabama Hannah was a two-time All-American with lineman awards including the Lombardi Trophy, Jacobs Trophy, Walter Camp Award, Lineman of the Year (Miami Quarterback Club) and Southeastern Conference Lineman of the Year (Atlanta QB Club). He played in the college All-Star game and was the fourth person drafted in the 1973 NFL draft.

Hannah was named to the All-Century team at Alabama. He has been inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame.

In one year of participation in wrestling and track & field before concentrating fulltime on football, he was an SEC champion wrestler and SEC champion in the indoor shot put and discus.

As a professional, John played 13 years with the New England Patriots at offensive guard. He was selected All-Pro 10 times, Offensive Lineman of the Year four times, and is the only Patriot to have his number retired. Hannah was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in the first year of his eligibility. In 1999, John Madden chose Hannah to be on his “Millennium Team” and considered him to be the best offensive lineman of all time.

When John signed a contract with the New England Patriots, he donated his entire signing bonus to John Croyle’s Big Oak Ranch. The ranch used the money to build a house and named it “The Hannah House.” It was just one of many charitable causes for big John Hannah, All-American/All-Pro.