Biography

Blessed with blazing speed and true athleticism, John Fitzsimmons, one of the greatest halfbacks ever to wear the green and gold of Bishop Feehan, battled injuries through his early high school career, but in his senior year terrorized defenses of Southeastern Massachusetts like few have done before or since. Shamrock head coach Matt Lanagan summed up Fitzsimmons’ value to the team by saying, “He did it all for us.”  

Fitzsimmons played much of his junior season in 1994 as the backup running back, but he took advantage of increased playing time on Thanksgiving Day by scoring 3 TDs and winning the Balfour Trophy in the Shamrocks’ win over Coyle-Cassidy, capping off an undefeated regular season and the school’s first-ever Super Bowl berth. To kick off his senior season, Fitzsimmons rushed 19 times for 142 yards and a touchdown, while also making an amazing circus catch for another score in a close loss to North Attleboro. The following week, Fitzsimmons took Feehan’s first play from scrimmage 69 yards for a touchdown, opening up a 36-6 win over conference foe Somerset, finishing with 96 yards on 10 carries with 2 touchdowns.

Fitzsimmons was absolutely dominant throughout the 1995 season. The Pawtucket Times described him as a “one-man gang,” as he ran for 168 yards and four touchdowns in a 34-6 Shamrock win over Durfee. Against Attleboro, Fitzsimmons carried 13 times for 110 yards and four touchdowns, this time breaking a 79-yard run. At home against Bishop Stang, he scored two touchdowns on 196 total yards of offense in a 40-16 Shamrock victory.

The senior’s swan song came against Coyle-Cassidy High School on Thanksgiving Day, as the Shamrocks shellacked the Warriors 41-15 to finish with 7 wins and 3 losses.  Fitzsimmons won his second straight Balfour Trophy, scoring five touchdowns by breaking four long touchdown runs as well as a 75-yard kickoff return. For the season, Fitzsimmons tallied 152 points on 25 touchdowns while carrying the ball for 1,217 total yards.  

John’s efforts led to numerous post-season awards, including recognition as a Sun Chronicle and Pawtucket Time All Star, the Boston Globe All-Scholastic Team, and the Eastern Athletic Conference’s Most Valuable Player. Following graduation John scored 3 TDs to earn MVP honors in the 1996 Shriners Football Classic. He later played his college football at the University of Connecticut on full scholarship, and attended minicamp with the Green Bay Packers of the NFL.  He truly did it all.