John Niland

John Hugh Niland (born February 29, 1944) is an American former professional football player who was an offensive guard in the National Football League. He played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes before spending his NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles.

Niland was born in Quincy, Massachusetts, and placed for adoption when he was two years old. He was raised by his adopted family in Amityville, in Suffolk County on Long Island, living in the black community although the family was white. His father was an unemployed alcoholic and his mother made minimum wage, and he began working at age nine for 50 cents and pizza. He learned that he had been adopted at 16, while applying for a driver's license. He attended Amityville Memorial High School, where he was an All-State fullback as a senior, graduating in 1962. During his playing days with the Cowboys, he sent money to the school to fund a scholarship.

Over his professional career, Niland was named to six Pro Bowls and was a three-time All-Pro. In 2021, the Professional Football Researchers Association named him to the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2021.