Northeastern University Athletics

John Lapsley was elected to the Hall of Fame for his accomplishments in the sport of football.

Lapsley captained the 1953 team and was a starter on the 1951 undefeated team. He was an All New England selection as a senior in '53 and was drafted into the National Football League in 1954. He played one season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, until a knee injury suffered against the Chicago Bears prematurely ended his professional career as a defensive lineman. Before Lapsley made it to the NFL, he was an athlete and student at Northeastern, where he took full advantage of NU's career opportunities for both football and academia. When playing football no longer seemed realistic in the wake of mounting knee injuries, Lapsley made an easy pivot to the stratum of teaching and coaching. Lapsley supplemented his liberal arts degree from Northeastern with a Masters Degree in Education and Administration, which he earned from Boston University in 1958. Lapsley went on to become principal of the Briscoe Middle School in Beverly, Mass., was Chairman of the Mayor's Task Force on Education in 1985. He also served as a member of the Curriculum Advisory Board of the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

Lapsley also has served the community. He received the Beverly YMCA Award for Outstanding Service to Youth in 1970, and was an active member of the St. Joseph's Holy Name Society in Roxbury.