From Winthrop to Washington: The Kennedys' Roots in Harvard Football

Before wearing the mantle of a political dynasty, John F. Kennedy ’40 and his brothers were better known around Winthrop House for donning pads on the football field.

John, who would eventually become the nation’s 35th president, is primarily remembered for his achievements in government, contributions to civil rights, and impact on American culture. However, his success started during his undergraduate years at Harvard College.

The Winthrop House alumnus was a prolific student and avid participant in campus activities, to put it lightly. Kennedy worked hard to overcome his “frail” physique and earned spots on various sports teams — including swim, sail, and golf – for which he was inducted into the Harvard Varsity Club’s Hall of Fame posthumously. Meanwhile, Kennedy was also a Crimson business editor and member of both the Hasty Pudding and Spee Club. Concluding his academic career, he graduated cum laude with a degree in Government, focusing on international affairs.

Kennedy’s biggest what-if from his time at Harvard was football, however. In his sophomore year, Kennedy was forced to depart the junior varsity team after rupturing a disk in his spine — a health issue that would plague him through his presidency and later life.

After his days at Harvard, America’s youngest president remained loyal to the Crimson: John often cheered on the squad from the Oval Office and was even spotted attending a match at Harvard Stadium just one month before his assassination. His devotion to football ultimately earned him the 1961 National Football Foundation Gold Medal.

But Winthrop House’s connection to football and the Kennedy family reaches far beyond John. His brother Robert F. Kennedy ’48, who served as the 64th United States attorney general and senator for New York, was a varsity football letterman. Robert joined the team as a junior following naval service in the Second World War, assuming the positions of left end and right end.

Standing at only 5’10” and 165 pounds, RFK may have been on the smaller side, but he made up for it with grit. After breaking his leg in practice, Robert endured his painful injury to come on as a substitute in the ensuing Harvard-Yale game, earning his letter while wearing a cast.

“[Robert] was not the typical size to make the Harvard football team, but after the practices he would go back to the field,” said his brother Edward M. “Ted” Kennedy ’54-56 in a 1998 Crimson profile. “He would keep on throwing the football and working on his technique and plays until he could master them. He made the team and earned his letter.”

Robert’s devotion to Winthrop House and football continued long after graduating from the College. Aspiring to secure victory for his beloved house, he returned to campus to compete in Winthrop’s 1953 game against Yale’s Davenport College, resulting in a triumph.

Also from Winthrop House, Ted was yet another Kennedy brother to suit up in a Harvard football jersey — and he was arguably the best athlete. The former Massachusetts senator earned his varsity letter as a star end, possessing the physical attributes John and Robert did not — Ted was listed as 6’2” and 200 pounds in his senior year.

Kennedy caught Harvard’s only touchdown in 1955’s iteration of The Game and ranked second on the team in receptions that season. Although he was later offered a professional tryout with the Green Bay Packers, Ted declined to focus on his political career, which he jokingly described as “another contact sport.”

The eldest Kennedy brother, Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. ’38, also played football and lived in Winthrop House, though he did not earn a varsity letter. Joe Jr. additionally participated in rugby while studying at Harvard.

Fast forward to the present day, Winthrop’s Lions continue to carry on the Kennedys’ athletic legacy, dominating in all levels of sports. The house won the 2025 Straus Cup – Harvard’s annual intramural sport championship – and has claimed the prestigious interhouse competition 18 times throughout its existence.

As Housing Day approaches, Winthrop’s newest residents will certainly inherit a sporting history generations in the making.

— Staff writer Jason Deng can be reached at [email protected].

— Staff writer Kai I. Russell can be reached at [email protected].