John Searl Howell (December 4, 1915 – June 28, 1946) was a halfback in the National Football League (NFL).

Howell was born on December 4, 1915, in Omaha, Nebraska.

[1] He was struck and killed by lightning on June 28, 1946, in Scottsbluff, Nebraska.

[2] Howell was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the ninth round of the 1938 NFL draft and played that season with the team.

[3] He played at the collegiate level at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.