Johnny Sample Memorial Mural

This mural by Mural Arts staff artist Nathaniel Lee celebrates local sports and radio icon Johnny Sample located at the Cobbs Creek Recreation Center in West Philadelphia. Sample settled in Cobbs Creek and raised his family in this Philadelphia neighborhood. The mural depicts three eras of his expansive carrier.

The first section depicts him as a young man playing football as a defensive back for the NY Jets. The tackle he is making in the foreground is shown in the game-play-diagram background, the two figures are the x’s and o’s made real. Sample is the only professional football player to have won all three of these accolades: NFL, AFL, and Super Bowl Championships and these rings are displayed at bottom right. He also played for the Colts, Steelers, and Redskins.

The second section depicts Sample in midlife. He was the number one ranked men’s player by the United States Tennis Association (USTA) in the age 45 and over category for several years.

The third section shows him as a mature sportscaster. He hosted a sports talk-radio show covering the Philadelphia Eagles with deep passion and extensive expertise. He was known to only wear casual workout clothes while hosting his radio show but some artistic license was taken in this mural; he is depicted in a suit to show the elegance and class of his character.

Sample died April 26, 2005 at age of 67.