Ken Novak

Last updated

Ken Novak
Novak-Ken-1977.jpg
Novak in 1977
No. 74
Position: Defensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1954-07-03) July 3, 1954 (age 70)
Willowick, Ohio, U.S.
Height:6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Weight:268 lb (122 kg)
Career information
High school: Villa Angela-St. Joseph
College: Purdue
NFL draft: 1976  / round: 1 / pick: 20
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:23
Starts:2
Sacks:1
Fumble recoveries:2
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Ken Novak (born July 3, 1954) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) in the 1970s. He played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers and was selected by the Baltimore Colts in the 1976 NFL draft.

Contents

Biography

Early years

Ken Novak was born July 3, 1954 in Willowick, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland, where he attended Saint Mary Magdalene grade school. He went to St. Joseph High School, a private preparatory school in suburban Cleveland, where he earned six athletic letters participating in football, basketball, and track and field. [1] He was the Ohio State discus champion in 1972, recording a throw of 179–6. [2]

College career

He received an athletic scholarship from Purdue University where he became a standout defensive lineman. During his three years of varsity eligibility — 1973, 1974, and 1975 — Novak started in 31 of 33 games, making a total of 229 tackles, including 87 during his senior year. [1]

Big Ten Conference sportswriters named him Lineman of the Year in 1974 and he was named to Football Writers of America and Sporting News All-America teams as a senior in 1975. [1]

Professional career

Strong enough to bench-press 475 pounds, the 6-foot-7 Novak was regarded as a top tier professional football prospect and was selected by the Baltimore Colts of the National Football League (NFL) in the first round of the 1976 NFL draft. He was the 20th overall pick from the 1976 talent pool.

Novak was unable to crack the Colts' starting roster, however, and was limited to a reserve role as a defensive tackle. He saw action in 11 games off the bench for the Colts in 1976, recording a quarterback sack among his six solo tackles during this rookie year. [2]

During the 1977 season he was similarly filled mostly a reserve role, contributing just 8 tackles (4 solo) and a fumble recovery in the 12 games in which he saw action. [2]

Unable to live up to the lofty expectations of his draft position, the Colts released Novak on August 29, 1978, just ahead of the 1978 season. [3] He remained a free agent until signed by the Cleveland Browns on December 15 of that year — just two days before the final game of the season, in which he did not play. [3]

The Browns released Novak on August 6, 1979, and he was claimed the next day on waivers by the Minnesota Vikings. [3] He did not report, however, and was on retired reserve for the entire 1979 NFL season. [3] He was reinstated on May 20, 1980, [3] but did not play in the NFL again.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike McCormack (American football)</span> American football player and coach (1930–2013)

Michael Joseph McCormack Jr. was an American professional football player, coach, and executive in the National Football League (NFL). He played as an offensive tackle with the Cleveland Browns from 1954 through 1962 and served as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Colts, and Seattle Seahawks. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1984.

Richard Blair Modzelewski was an American football defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins, Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants, and the Cleveland Browns. He also served as interim head coach of the Browns in the final game of the 1977 season. Modzelewski was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scott Kooistra</span> American football player (born 1980)

Daniel Scott Kooistra [KOO-struh] is an American former professional football offensive tackle. He played college football at North Carolina State and was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the seventh round of the 2003 NFL draft. Kooistra was also a member of the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens and Minnesota Vikings.

Kelly Don Butler is an American former professional football offensive lineman. He was selected by the Detroit Lions in the sixth round of the 2004 NFL draft. He played college football at Purdue.

Johnie Earl Cooks was an American professional football player who was a linebacker for 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Cooks was selected by the Baltimore Colts as the second overall pick in the 1982 NFL draft. He played from 1982 to 1991 for the Colts, New York Giants, and Cleveland Browns. He was a member of the Giants when they defeated the Buffalo Bills 20–19 in Super Bowl XXV. Cooks played college football for the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Richard Barry Krauss is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Dutton (defensive lineman)</span> American football player (born 1951)

John Owen Dutton is an American former professional football player who was a defensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL) for the Baltimore Colts and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roy Hilton</span> American football player (1943–2019)

Roy Lee Hilton was an American football defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) from 1965 through 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Sandusky</span> American football player and coach (1925–2006)

John Thomas "Sandy" Sandusky, Jr. was an American football player and coach. He played seven seasons as an offensive and defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) during the 1950s for the Cleveland Browns and the Green Bay Packers before starting a 36-year career as an assistant coach. He was head coach of the Baltimore Colts for part of the 1972 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ricky Thompson</span> American football player (born 1954)

Ricky Don Thompson is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the Baltimore Colts, the Washington Redskins, and the St. Louis Cardinals. He played college football at Baylor University and was drafted in the eighth round of the 1976 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Simonson</span> American football player (born 1952)

David Arnold Simonson is a former professional American football player who played in the National Football League (NFL) for five different teams over a four season career running from 1974 to 1977.

David Michael Nugent is an American former professional football defensive lineman for the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dennis Nelson (American football)</span> American football player (born 1946)

Dennis Ray Nelson is a former professional American football player who played tackle for seven seasons for the Baltimore Colts and the Philadelphia Eagles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chick Jagade</span> American football player (1926–1968)

Harry Charles "Chick" Jagade Jr. was an American football fullback and linebacker who played collegiately for the Indiana University Hoosiers. He broke into professional football in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) in 1949 playing for the Baltimore Colts before embarking on a five year career in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sisto Averno</span> American football player (1925–2012)

Sisto Joseph "Joe" Averno was an American football guard and linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the original Baltimore Colts (1950) and the franchises which succeeded it, including the New York Yanks (1951), Dallas Texans (1952), and the second iteration of the Baltimore Colts (1953–1954).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1974 Michigan Wolverines football team</span> American college football season

The 1974 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan in the 1974 Big Ten Conference football season. In their sixth year under head coach Bo Schembechler, the Wolverines compiled a 10–1 record, outscored opponents 324 to 75, and were ranked #3 in final AP Poll. Michigan won the first ten games of the 1974 season in convincing fashion, including blowout victories over Colorado (31-0), Navy (52-0), Minnesota (49-0), and Purdue (51-0). In the final game of the season, #2 Michigan faced #3 Ohio State. The Wolverines lost by a score of 12-10, as place-kicker Mike Lantry missed a last-minute field goal that would have given Michigan a victory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Paea</span> New Zealand-born American football player (born 1988)

Stephen Paea is a New Zealand former player of American football who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oregon State Beavers, earning consensus All-American honors in 2010. He was selected by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft, and also played for the Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns, and Dallas Cowboys.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carl Davis (American football)</span> American football player (born 1992)

Carl Davis is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes and was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the third round of the 2015 NFL draft. Davis has also been a member of several other NFL teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jihad Ward</span> American football player (born 1994)

Jihad Ward is an American professional football linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Illinois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ron Fernandes</span> American football player (1951–2023)

Ronald Michael Fernandes was a professional football player who was a defensive lineman for three seasons with the Baltimore Colts of the National Football League (NFL).

References

  1. 1 2 3 Wilt Browning (ed.), Baltimore Colts 1977 Media Guide. Baltimore, MD: Baltimore Colts Football Club, 1977, p. 39.
  2. 1 2 3 Jim Husbands (ed.), Baltimore Colts 78 Media Guide. Baltimore, MD: Baltimore Colts Football Club, 1978; p. 38.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Howard M. Balzer (ed.), Football Register: 1980 Edition. St. Louis, MO: The Sporting News, 1980; p. 276.