1978 Profile: John Mendenhall

Defensive Tackle

No. 64

Grambling

"Happier as a Giant last year than he'd been in a while. Mendenhall demanded to be traded in both 1975 and 1976. He played too well in 1974 for the Giants to consider such a demand.

Mendenhall is more unpredictable off the field than on, where's he's quick and knowledgeable, though not exceptionally big. He constantly wonders aloud when the Giants are going to get a better offense.

Born in Cullen, Louisiana, he's another former Grambling football hero. He was a close personal friend of defensive end Jack Gregory in his first few seasons, and he and Gregory are the only remaining defensive starters from as far back as 1972."

-John Jeansonne, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1978 Edition)

"John has enjoyed an awesome career with the Giants. He won due recognition in 1974 when he was named to the UPI All-NFC team, to the New York Daily News All-NFL first team and to the Pro Football Writers' All-NFL second unit. A starter since his rookie year, he was named to the All-Rookie team that season.

He was an AP Little All-American. He excelled in the 1972 College All-Star Game.

John combines great strength with quickness and agility and usually requires double-teaming."

-1978 Topps No. 75

Because of a good defense, an easy schedule and the improvement of quarterback Joe Pisarcik, many fans think the Giants have an outside chance of sneaking into the playoffs this year. However, Giant defensive tackle John Mendenhall says: "We're all right, but not good. We're just an average team with an average defensive line. We have no All-Pros, no one you can call a superstar. It will be just another season."

-from Notes, Quotes & Comments, Football Digest (December 1978)