Six inductees to join County’s best

The Fairfield County Sports Hall of Fame announced its class of inductees, naming six prominent sports figures into its three wings, bringing the number of sports figures recognized in its 16 years of existence to 103.

The Hall of Fame, which is overseen by the Fairfield County Sports Commission, Inc., will honor this class at a later date. The Commission has postponed its annual Sports Night gala dinner until 2021. The class of 2020 honorees are:

Jackie Robinson Professional Wing: Matt Barnes (Bethel), John Sullivan (Greenwich)

James O’Rourke Amateur Wing: Jim Fitzsimmons (Fairfield), Barbara Reinalda (Stratford)

J. Walter Kennedy

Community Service Wing: Don Foust (Stamford), Dianne Nolan (Fairfield)

Sullivan concluded his stellar 10-year NFL career in 2019 as the starting center for the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII. While his team lost that NFL title game to the New England Patriots, it did not tarnish Sullivan’s pro football experience, as the only low point of that longtime journey was losing the entire 2015 season to a serious back injury. After being selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the sixth round of the 2008 draft, following his college days at Notre Dame as a four-year starter and senior captain, he quickly became a force on the team’s offensive line. In ’09 he moved into a regular starting role and made 93 starts in the 109 games he played for the

Vikings through the 2014 campaign. He was one of the top graded centers in the league in pass protection and played a key blocking role in the success of running back Adrian Peterson.

Sullivan was named to the Pro Football Writers All-Pro team in 2012. The back problem then wiped out all of 2015, followed the next year by accepting a backup position with just one start after signing with Washington. His decision to leave the team to join the Rams proved wise, as he took over as a starter there in 2017, then started in all 19 games in their run to becoming NFC champions. When the Greenwich High graduate decided to end his pro football life his career totals were 153 games played, plus eight more in postseason, and 132 starts including the playoffs.