The Johns Hopkins Blue Jays football team represents Johns Hopkins University in the sport of American football. The Blue Jays compete in Division III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as members of the Centennial Conference. Johns Hopkins has fielded a team since 1882. Johns Hopkins has won or shared 13 Centennial Conference titles since the 2002 season, including 10 straight titles through the 2018 season.
History Hopkins' first team was assembled in 1881, and spent an entire year training and learning a version of the game. Their sport, which was closer to rugby, was played in Druid Hill Park. After the training, the team planned a two-game 1882 season. The squad had to play the season under the title of the Clifton Athletic Club, due to the school's policy on the sport of football. The first was a practice game with the Baltimore Athletic Club, played on October 7. The Hopkins team lost the contest 4–0. The following game was their first true game, to be played against the Naval Academy.Patterson (2000), p. 3Bealle, Morris Allison (1951). Gangway for Navy: The Story of Football at the United States Naval Academy, 1879–1950
Seasons
Postseason appearances NCAA Division III The Blue Jays have made fourteen appearances in the NCAA Division III playoffs, with a combined record of 18–14.
2005 First Round Thiel L, 3–28 2009 First RoundSecond RoundQuarterfinals Hampden–SydneyThomas MoreWesley (DE) W, 23–7W, 31–29L, 0–12 2011 First Round St. John Fisher L, 12–23 2012 First RoundSecond Round Washington & JeffersonMount Union W, 42–10L, 13–55 2013 First Round Wesley (DE) L, 24–29 2014 First RoundSecond Round RowanHobart W, 24–16L, 21–24 2015 First RoundSecond Round Western New EnglandWesley (DE) W, 52–20L, 37–42 2016 First RoundSecond Round Randolph–MaconMount Union W, 42–21L, 21–28 2017 First Round Washington & Jefferson L, 28–31 2018 First RoundSecond RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinals MITFrostburg StateRPIMount Union W, 49–0W, 58–27W, 37–14L, 20–28 2021 First RoundSecond Round SalisburyMount Union W, 45–20L, 35–45 2023 First RoundSecond RoundQuarterfinals Western ConnecticutUnion (NY)Randolph–Macon W, 62–20W, 39–17L, 36–39 2024 Second RoundThird RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinals Grove CityDePauwMary Hardin–BaylorMount Union W, 17–14W, 14–9W, 17–10L, 37–45 2025 Second RoundThird RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinals SpringfieldSalisburySusquehannaWisconsin–River Falls W, 34–14W, 45–13W, 40–10L, 41–48
Notable players
Bill Stromberg earned a B.A. from Hopkins in 1982 and became one of the most decorated athletes in the history of Johns Hopkins, making him "arguably the best football player in Johns Hopkins history." He is considered one of the best wide receivers in NCAA Division III history as the holder of six national and 13 school records. Stromberg was inducted into the Johns Hopkins Hall of Fame and then elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004, and was, as of 2017, the only Hopkins football player to be inducted there. Hopkins constructed a new baseball field and athletic facilities which was named Stromberg Stadium in 2014 in his honor.
After graduation, Stromberg signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles, played a few preseason games before pulling a hamstring, and was ultimately cut before the 1982 season began. He became the CEO of Baltimore-based asset management firm T. Rowe Price in 2016.
Wide Receiver and National Lacrosse Hall of Famer Joe Cowan was drafted by the Baltimore Colts in 1969.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore was a wide receiver for the Blue Jays while in college.
Notes
D3Football.com rankings are available from 2003. Coaches' Poll started to be released in 1999.
References
External links