| Toimi Jarvi | |
| Number: | 32 |
| Position: | Quarterback, Halfback |
| Birth Date: | 28 February 1920 |
| Birth Place: | DeKalb, Illinois, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Height Ft: | 6 |
| Height In: | 0 |
| Weight Lbs: | 200 |
| High School: | DeKalb (IL) |
| College: | Northern Illinois |
| Undraftedyear: | 1944 |
| Pastteams: | |
| Statlabel1: | Games played |
| Statvalue1: | 6 |
| Statlabel2: | Rushing yards |
| Statvalue2: | 40 |
| Pfr: | JarvTo20 |
Toimi V. Jarvi (February 28, 1920 – November 18, 1977) was a Finnish professional American football quarterback and halfback who played two seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Jarvi played with the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers. In addition to football, he played basketball and baseball.
Toimi Jarvi was born on February 28, 1920, in DeKalb, Illinois. Jarvi attended DeKalb for high school and Northern Illinois for college. While at Northern Illinois, Toimi played football, basketball, and baseball. He was at Northern Illinois from 1938 to 1941, and was popular as a quarterback and halfback.[1] He would be inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 1988.[2] After his college career, but before his professional career, he was a teacher at Moline.[3] He then was employed as an athletic instructor in Chicago.
In 1944, Jarvi was given a contract by the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He was one of twelve quarterbacks at the Philadelphia training camp that season, but was one of the few who were able to make the roster.[3] However, Jarvi played halfback instead of quarterback, as the Eagles already used Roy Zimmerman and Allie Sherman at the quarterback position.[4] The Eagles played in twelve games that season, but Toimi only appeared in five of them. In his five games he had five rushes for sixteen yards, and one catch for nine yards.[5] On defense he had one interception and on special teams he had two punt returns for twenty-two yards.[5] He was traded after the season to the Pittsburgh Steelers for John Butler.[6] Jarvi only made one appearance with the Steelers in 1945. He played quarterback in his one game, going four for ten for fifty yards and three interceptions.[5] He also made a lateral which was caught and became a sixty-five yard touchdown.[7] In addition to quarterback, Jarvi played halfback, defense, and punter in his second season. His offensive statistics included nine rushes for twenty-four yards; his defensive statistics were one fumble recovery returned minus seventeen yards; and his punting statistics were two punts for sixty-nine yards.[5] He did not make any more appearances after the game.
Jarvi died on November 18, 1977, in Chicago, Illinois, at the age of 57.[8]