List of Native American sportspeople
This is a list of American sportspeople of Native American ancestry.
American & Canadian Football[]
- Teton Saltes, Oglala, professional football player signed by the New York Jets of the NFL (2021), offensive tackle[1]
- Jim Thorpe (Sac and Fox Nation, 1887–1953), Olympic Gold medalist and football and baseball player. Won titles as both a player and team executive of the Canton Bulldogs.[2][3]
- Tyler Bray, Potawatomi, Chicago Bears, quarterback[4]
- Dane Evans, Wichita, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, quarterback
- Levi Horn, Northern Cheyenne
- Sam Bradford, Cherokee Nation, quarterback, 2010 first overall draft pick and Offensive Rookie of the Year[5]
- Al Hoptowit, American football player
- Wahoo McDaniel, Choctaw-Chickasaw, played for different American Football League (AFL) teams between 1960 and 1968. 1960 AFL Champion.[6][7] Later became a professional wrestler.[8]
- Sonny Sixkiller, Cherokee American football quarterback
- James Winchester, Choctaw,[9] Kansas City Chiefs, long snapper,[4] a Super Bowl LIV champion[10]
Oorang Indians players[]
- Cherokee
- Chippewa
- Arrowhead
- Napoleon Barrel
- Leon Boutwell
- Ted Buffalo
- Xavier Downwind
- Gray Horse
- Joe Guyon
- Ted St. Germaine
- Baptiste Thunder
- Mission
- Mohawk
- Mohican
- Pomo
- Sac and Fox
- Winebago
- Wyandotte
Athletics[]
- Frank Pierce First Native American to represent the United States at the Olympics in 1904
- Ellison "Tarzan" Brown, Narragansett U.S. Olympian/Marathon Runner
- Wilson Charles – Competed in the Decathlon at the 1932 Olympics.[11]
- Ashton Locklear Artistic Gymnast of Lumbee tribe. 2014 World Champion (Team), 2 x 2014 Pan American Champion (Team, Uneven Bars), 2 x 2016 Pacific Rim Champion (Team, Uneven Bars)
- Billy Mills, Oglala Lakota 1964 gold medalist
- Jim Thorpe – Gold medalist in the Decathlon and Pentathlon at the 1912 Olympics.[12]
Baseball[]
- Johnny Bench, Choctaw Hall of Fame catcher with the Cincinnati Reds, two-time MVP
- Chief Bender, Ojibwa Hall of Fame pitcher
- Lou Bruce, Mohawk outfielder for the Philadelphia Athletics[13]
- Dylan Bundy, Cherokee Nation pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels[14]
- Joba Chamberlain, Ho-Chunk pitcher for the Detroit Tigers
- Jacoby Ellsbury, Navajo outfielder for the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. One time All-Star, Gold Glove winner, and two time Word Series champion [15]
- Koda Glover, Cherokee-descent pitcher for the Washington Nationals[16]
- Jon Gray, Cherokee Nation pitcher for the Colorado Rockies[14]
- Ryan Helsley, Cherokee Nation pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals[17]
- Adrian Houser, Cherokee Nation pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers[18]
- Frank Jude (Mille Lacs Ojibwe, 1884–1961), Major League Baseball outfielder[19]
- Ike Kahdot, Potawatomi third baseman for the Cleveland Indians[20]
- Louis Leroy, Stockbridge–Munsee Major League Baseball pitcher[21]
- Kyle Lohse, Nomlaki Major League Baseball pitcher
- Euel Moore, Chickasaw Major League Baseball pitcher[22]
- Chief Meyers, Cahuilla, Major League Baseball catcher
- Robbie Ray, Cherokee-descent pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays[23]
- Louis Sockalexis, Penobscot Major League Baseball player
- Jim Thorpe (Sac and Fox Nation, 1887–1953), Olympic Gold medalist and football and baseball player
- Moses J. Yellow Horse (Pawnee Nation, 1898–1964), first Native American to play in a major league.[24]
Ice Hockey[]
- George Armstrong, Ojibway former NHL player for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Four-time Stanley Cup champion, seven-time All-Star, and Hockey Hall of Fame member
- Aaron Asham, Métis former NHL player for the Pittsburgh Penguins
- Ethan Bear, Ochapowace Nation NHL player for the Edmonton Oilers
- Craig Berube, Cree former NHL player and Stanley Cup winning head coach of the St. Louis Blues
- Jonathan Cheechoo, Cree former NHL player for the San Jose Sharks and Ottawa Senators. One time Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy winner
- Michael Ferland, Cree NHL player for the Vancouver Canucks
- Theoren Fleury, Métis former NHL player for the Calgary Flames and 1989 Stanley Cup champion
- Dwight King, Métis former NHL player for the Los Angeles Kings and two-time Stanley Cup champion
- Brigette Lacquette, Métis player for Team Canada
- Jocelyne Larocque, Cote First Nation player for Team Canada and 2014 Olympic gold medalist
- Jamie Leach, Ojibwe former NHL player for the Pittsburgh Penguins and 1992 Stanley Cup champion
- Reggie Leach, Ojibwe former NHL player for the Philadelphia Flyers, 1975 Stanley Cup champion, and father or Jamie.
- Brandon Montour, Mohawk NHL player for the Buffalo Sabres
- Brandon Nolan, Ojibwe and Maliseet former NHL player for the Carolina Hurricanes
- Jordan Nolan, Ojibwe and Maliseet AHL player. Two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Los Angeles Kings
- Ted Nolan, Ojibwe former NHL player for the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins, former head coach of the Buffalo Sabres and Latvia men's national ice hockey team at the 2014 Olympics. Father of Jordan and Brandon
- Gino Odjick, Algonquin former NHL player for the Vancouver Canucks
- T.J. Oshie, Ojibwe NHL player for the Washington Capitals. Stanley Cup winner and member of the 2014 men's US Olympic hockey team
- Carey Price, Ulkatcho First Nation NHL goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens. Olympic Gold medalist for Canada and Vezina Trophy winner
- Wacey Rabbit, Blackfoot Confederacy ECHL player
- Wade Redden, Métis former NHL player for the Ottawa Senators
- Chris Simon, Ojibwe former NHL player with several teams and 1996 Stanley Cup champion
- Sheldon Souray, Métis former NHL player for the Montreal Canadiens
- Jordin Tootoo, Inuit former NHL player for the Nashville Predators, Detroit Red Wings, New Jersey Devils, and Chicago Blackhawks
- Bryan Trottier, Cree former NHL player for the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins. Seven-time Stanley Cup champion, nine-time All-Star, and Hockey Hall of Fame member
- Zach Whitecloud, Sioux Valley Dakota Nation NHL player for the Vegas Golden Knights
Basketball[]
- Ron Baker, Citizen Potawatomi EuroLeague player, formerly with the New York Knicks
- Ryneldi Becenti – First Native American to play in the WNBA.[25]
- Joe Burton – First Native American to earn a scholarship to a Pac-10 conference.[26]
- Sonny Dove, Wampanoag N.B.A. basketball player Detroit Pistons and New York Nets
- Angel Goodrich, (Cherokee) WNBA basketball player
- Kyrie Irving – American basketball player.[27]
- Bronson Koenig, Ho-Chunk basketball player currently on an NBA two-way contract
- Shoni Schimmel, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, WNBA player
Boxing[]
Cycling[]
- Neilson Powless – first Native American to ride in the Tour de France. Won the 2021 Clásica de San Sebastián.
Golf[]
- Notah Begay III, Navajo PGA Tour golfer
- Rod Curl, (Wintu) PGA tour golfer
- Frank Dufina (Mackinac Bands of Chippewa and Ottawa Indians), professional golfer
Ice skating[]
- Naomi Lang – First Native American woman to compete in the Winter Olympic Games in 2002.[29]
Soccer[]
- Chris Wondolowski – plays as striker for San Jose Earthquakes and the United States national team, and is a member of the Kiowa tribe.[30]
- Stephen Wondolowski – Former American Soccer Defender and is Kiowa.
- Madison Hammond, Navajo and San Felipe Pueblo,[31] is the first Native American to play on the National Women's Soccer League after signing with the OL Reign in 2020. [32]
- Harry Manson
Table tennis[]
- Angelita Rosal – Table tennis player and first woman inducted in the Indian Athletic Hall of Fame in 1973.[33]
Professional wrestling[]
- Gerald Brisco, Chickasaw Nation pro wrestler and WWE talent scout
- Jack Brisco, Chickasaw Nation pro wrestler, former NWA World Champion
- Chris Chavis, Lumbee professional wrestler
- Mickie James, Powhatan-descent professional wrestler
- Edward "Wahoo" McDaniel, Choctaw-Chickasaw professional wrestler, former five-time NWA United States Heavyweight Champion[34]
- Princess Victoria, professional wrestler,
- Nyla Rose, professional wrestler
References[]
- ^ "Teton Saltes signs deal with New York Jets". KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. 2021-05-02. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
- ^ "Canton Bulldogs". Sports Ecyclopedia. 2020-01-06. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
- ^ "Canton Bulldogs". Ohio History Central. 2020-08-04. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
- ^ a b Wells, Lizzie (January 5, 2020). "Are There Any Native American Football Players in the NFL?".
- ^ "Rams QB Bradford picked as NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year". NFL.com. February 4, 2011. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
- ^ Eskenazi, Gerald (April 25, 2002). "Wahoo McDaniel, 63, a Wrestler and a Folk Hero for Fans of the Early Jets". New York Times. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
- ^ "Wahoo McDaniel". NFL.com. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
- ^ "Wahoo McDaniel, 63; Football Player Became Popular Wrestler". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. April 20, 2002. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
- ^ Maxwell, Zach. "Running for Chiefs". Choctaw Nation. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
- ^ World, Eric Bailey Tulsa. "OU football: Family celebration after Super Bowl win exactly how James Winchester's father would have wanted it". Tulsa World.
- ^ "Wilson "Buster" Charles 1972 - Track/Baseball - Oneida". American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
- ^ "Jim Thorpe Biography". Encyclopedia of World Biography. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
- ^ "Louis R. Bruce". University Archives and Records Center. University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
- ^ a b Harding, Thomas (August 15, 2016). "Gray humbled by Cherokee Nation roots". MLB.com. Archived from the original on October 7, 2019. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
- ^ Edes, Gordon (March 11, 2007). "Ellsbury a rare talent". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on August 13, 2019. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
- ^ Kramer, Lindsay (July 6, 2016). "Syracuse Chiefs reliever Koda Glover could be a big name from a very small town". Indian Country Today. Archived from the original on August 13, 2019. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
- ^ Harwood, Rodney (February 10, 2016). "A Proud Cherokee Family with An Ace: St. Louis Cardinals' Pitcher Ryan Helsley". Archived from the original on August 13, 2019. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
- ^ Saxon, Mark (October 4, 2019). "Cardinals' Ryan Helsley, of Cherokee descent, expresses disappointment over Braves' use of Tomahawk Chop". The Athletic. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
Several current major leaguers have Cherokee heritage, including the Milwaukee Brewers' Adrian Houser, who was born in the Native American hospital in Helsley's hometown
- ^ Bohn, Terry. "Frank Jude". Society for American Basketball Research. Archived from the original on October 7, 2019. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
- ^ King, C. Richard (10 March 2015). Native Americans in Sports. Routledge. p. 167. ISBN 978-1-317-46403-7. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
- ^ Powers-Beck, Jeffrey P. (2004). The American Indian Integration of Baseball. U of Nebraska Press. ISBN 978-0-8032-3745-2. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
- ^ Trezza, Joe (February 26, 2020). "Chickasaw heritage helps drive Orioles pitcher". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
- ^ Bindell, Stan (June 21, 2016). "Native American Recognition Day sparks Diamondbacks player's interest in heritage". Navajo-Hopi Observer. Archived from the original on August 13, 2019. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
- ^ Berger, Ralph. "Chief YellowHorse". Society for American Basketball Research. Archived from the original on October 7, 2019. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
- ^ "Prominent American Indian Athletes:Ryneldi Becenti". Mesa Community College. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
- ^ Rosenbaum, Cary (December 3, 2015). "Eight Native ballers you need to know better". Indian Country Today Media Network. Archived from the original on 10 October 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
- ^ Windhorst, Brian (22 August 2018). "Kyrie Irving finds new name and new family on North Dakota reservation". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
- ^ "Kali Reis". WBAN. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
- ^ "Lang, Tchernyshev realize their Olympic dream". Associated Press. 12 January 2002. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
- ^ "Infographic: Chris Wondolowski, Kiowa Soccer Star at the World Cup – ICTMN.com". Archived from the original on 2014-06-20. Retrieved 2019-02-09.
- ^ Cleveland, Parker (20 September 2020). "Sunday Cup-o-American Soccer: News, artificial intelligence, and an important announcement". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
- ^ Evans, Jayda (17 October 2020). "OL Reign's Madison Hammond is the NWSL's first Indigenous player. She wants to make sure she's not the last". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
- ^ Liverti, Rita M. (2004). "Angelitta ROSAL BENGTSSON". In King, C. Richard (ed.). Native Americans in Sports. London: Routledge. p. 262. ISBN 0-76568-054-8.
- ^ "The Betrayal of Chief Wahoo McDaniel (Part One)".
Categories:
- Lists of American sportspeople
- Lists of Native American people
- Native American sportspeople