John Wooten became a professional football icon for Carlsbad the moment he was drafted into the NFL in 1959. Wooten was born December 5, 1936, in Riverview, Texas. In 1938, his parents moved to Carlsbad to pursue better opportunities. His mother, Henrietta, was a domestic worker, and his father worked for the City. Wooten attended Carlsbad High School and in 1952, during his sophomore year, he started playing football for Coach Ralph Bowyer. As a high school athlete he earned All-State honors in football and basketball. After receiving offers from five different schools, Wooten went on to play football for the University of Colorado at Boulder. He was the second black varsity player in the history of the collegiate football program at the University of Colorado. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2012.

In 1959, Carlsbad residents rejoiced when Wooten became a 5th round pick in the NFL draft. He played guard for the Cleveland Browns for nine seasons where he blocked for the legendary running back Jim Brown. Brown led the league in rushing for six of the seven seasons Wooten served as one of his blockers. While with the Browns he played in the Pro Bowl, was named to the Browns All-Time All-Star Team, was inducted into the Browns Ring of Honor and to the Browns Legends program. Wooten also helped his team win the 1964 NFL Championship.

He then spent his final year as a player with the Washington Redskins. After working for several pro teams in various capacities, Wooten became the Chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, an advocacy group that works with the NFL as it relates to minority hiring in coaching, scouting, and front office positions. John Wooten currently resides in Arlington, Texas.