Born on January 17, 1933 in Warrentown, Georgia, and was a collegiate All-America selection at Illinois in both 1953 and 1954. He led the NCAA in rushing in 1953 with 1256 yards. Named captain of the team in 1954, Caroline was ruled ineligible to play for academic reasons in 1955 and instead decided to play professionally in Canada.  J.C. initially signed with the Argonauts for $15,000 and played with them through September. They then stunned the Big Four when he was placed on waivers (Coach  Bill Swiacki claimed he wasn’t good enough as a defensive back). Neither Hamilton or Ottawa could afford the salary, and so he was picked up by the defending champion Alouettes. Caroline continued to play well as the replacement for longtime Lark halfback Chuck Hunsinger (and perhaps, more importantly, the “goat” of the 1954 Grey Cup game). The Alouettes played in the Grey Cup again that year, and the bad luck the position seemed to carry held out as Caroline was knocked unconscious after tackling Eskimo Johnny Bright on a sweep. Despite his good success offensively and defensively playing in the Big Four, Caroline preferred to return to the US after the 1955 season. Caroline was drafted 82nd overall in  the 1956 NFL draft and joined the Chicago Bears  as part of an arrangement with the Alouettes that saw them get lineman Ed Nickla in return for the release of Caroline. Caroline  played for 10 years as a NFL defensive back. In that long career, he was noted for many things, but perhaps is best known for intercepting Johnny Unitas’ first pass attempt and returning it for a touchdown. J.C. Caroline was inducted into the College Hall of Fame in 1980.

NFL Stats For J.C. Caroline

J.C. Caroline Signs With Als - September 29, 1955