John Louis Clement was born in October 1919. He played college ball at Southern Methodist University. As a sophomore, Clement was noted for his passing in a game against Jock Sutherland’s University of Pittsburgh team in 1938. As a senior, he started at left halfback versus Pitt, which ended in a 7-7 tie.
The Chicago Cardinals drafted Clement in the fourth round of the 1941 draft. He started four of nine games. He came into the game late and threw two touchdown passes in a 21-14 loss to the Eagles. A few days later he received orders to report for military duty from the draft board.