Frank Sweeney's pro football career may have been a short one, but his legal career in Ohio spanned parts of five decades. A guard / tackle, out of Xavier University in Cincinnati, Sweeney turned down an offer from the Pittsburgh Steelers and followed a Musketeer coach to Ottawa, where he played for the Rough Riders in 1956. Following the 1956 season, Sweeney was drafted into the U.S Army and so missed the 1957 season.  Sweeney resigned with Ottawa in September of 1958 and played at least one game, replacing an ijured Hardiman Cureton.

After football, Sweeney got a job with Allstate Insurance in his native Cleveland, Ohio, and worked his way through law school at night. He joined the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's office and was appointed to a county judgeship in 1970. Sweeney served in various county and state courts until he was elected to the Ohio Supreme Court in 1993. He sat on the state's highest court until his retirement in 2004.

Frank Sweeney died April 10, 2011 in Lakewood, OH.

[Bio by Mark Estap]

Sweeney Signs With Ottawa - April 25. 1956

Sweeney Shifted to Tackle by Ottawa - September 6, 1956

Sweeney Gets Ride From Police After Ottawa Win - September 17, 1956

Sweeney Draws Praise for his Blocking - October 27, 1956

Sweeney Returns to Ottawa from Army - September 5, 1958

Sweeney In Lineup For Ottawa Replacing Injured Hardiman Cureton - September 10, 1958

Sweeney Replaced in LIneup by Hardiman Cureton - September 20, 1958

Francis (Frank) Sweeney in the Supreme Court of Ohio

Justice Sweeney Fough for the Underdogs - April 11, 2011

Former Supreme Court Justice Francis Sweeney Sr. Has Died - April 11, 2011

No official games played stats were kept in the East until 1960.  Sweeney appears to have played one game in 1958.

Sweeney in his playing days

Sweeney in his Ohio Supreme Court days