lit a candle 15 Sept 2026My dad watched John O'Leary play for Nebraska back in the day. He'd talk about those games like they were yesterday. Dad's gone now too, but I'm glad he got to see great athletes like that.
Their story
John Harold O'Leary was born on 10 July 1954 in the New York area (Port Washington / Mineola) to Alice and John O'Leary, and grew up with siblings Timmy, Lisa and Dennis. He attended Holy Cross High School in Queens, where his athleticism as a running back drew college attention.…
John Harold O'Leary was born on 10 July 1954 in the New York area (Port Washington / Mineola) to Alice and John O'Leary, and grew up with siblings Timmy, Lisa and Dennis. He attended Holy Cross High School in Queens, where his athleticism as a running back drew college attention. Recruited to the University of Nebraska, he lettered for the Cornhuskers in the mid-1970s. In 1974 a fractured jaw interrupted his season, yet he still finished among Nebraska's leading rushers. As a senior starter in 1975 he shared the backfield with Tony Davis, rushed for 644 yards and seven touchdowns, and earned offensive player of the week honors after an 88-yard outing against Indiana.
The Chicago Bears selected O'Leary in the 12th round of the 1976 NFL Draft (330th overall). After a brief NFL stint he found his professional home in the Canadian Football League with the Montreal Alouettes from 1977 to 1979. Over three CFL seasons he appeared in 47 games, rushing for more than 2,100 yards and scoring 17 touchdowns. In 1977 he helped Montreal win the Grey Cup, a championship he later recalled with pride. Teammates and fans remembered a hard-running back who also contributed as a receiver out of the backfield.
After football O'Leary settled in Omaha, Nebraska, with his wife Peggy (Reid) O'Leary. They raised three children, Shannon, Tara and TJ, and became grandparents. Family remembrances describe a man whose identity reached beyond the field into marriage, parenting and the friendships formed through sport. He remained linked to Nebraska football culture and to the Alouettes' late-1970s championship era.
O'Leary died on 6 September 2026 at the age of 72. Visitation and a vigil were held on 13 September at St. Robert Bellarmine Church in Omaha, with a funeral Mass the following morning. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Dennis, and is survived by Peggy, their children and grandchildren, and by his brother Timmy and sister Lisa. Sports obituaries and roundups, including notices carried by outlets such as Cleveland.com, Yahoo Sports and NJ.com, marked the passing of a Grey Cup champion who had begun as a New York schoolboy star and a Nebraska I-back.
His career bridged two professional leagues and two countries' football traditions. From Holy Cross to Memorial Stadium, from Soldier Field's draft board to Olympic Stadium in Montreal, O'Leary left a compact but clear record: resilience after injury, championship football in Canada, and a family life rooted in Omaha. Those who followed Nebraska and the Alouettes remember the yards and the Grey Cup; those closest to him remember the husband, father and grandfather behind the jersey.
Biography adapted from Roeder Mortuaries / Omaha World-Herald via Legacy; Pro Football Archives; University of Nebraska Athletics huskers.com; sports death notices including Cleveland.com, Yahoo Sports and NJ.com.
In their own words
“His love of football and determination carried him into a professional career.”
Roeder Mortuaries / Legacy family obituary summary of his path from Nebraska to the pros
“In 1977, he helped the Alouettes capture the Grey Cup, an accomplishment he was always proud to share through the stories and memories of his playing days.”
Roeder Mortuaries / Legacy obituary
Beautiful way to put it. That kind of dedication doesn't fade.