Jay Novacek

Infobox NFLretired


|caption=
position=Tight End
number=84
birthdate=birth date and age|1962|10|24
Martin, South Dakota
debutyear=1985
finalyear=1996
draftyear=1985
draftround=6
draftpick=158
college=Wyoming
teams=
* St. Louis / Phoenix Cardinals (1985-1989)
* Dallas Cowboys (1990-1996)
stat1label=Receptions
stat1value=422
stat2label=Receiving Yards
stat2value=4,630
stat3label=Touchdowns
stat3value=30
nfl=NOV103822
highlights=
* 5x Pro Bowl selection (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995)
* 5x All-Pro selection (1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995)
HOF=
CollegeHOF=

Jay McKinley Novacek (born October 24, 1962 in Martin, South Dakota) is a former American football tight end in the NFL who played for the St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals (1985-1989) and the Dallas Cowboys (1990-1995). Novacek was a five time Pro Bowler, who was selected to play each year from 1991 through 1995.

Early life

Novacek played high school football in Gothenburg, Nebraska and college football at the University of Wyoming. He was selected to the Kodak All-American football team in 1984 after setting an NCAA record for receiving yards per receptions by a tight end. He had 83 career receptions for 1,536 yards and 10 touchdowns. Novacek also competed in track and field for the University of Wyoming. He won the Western Athletic Conference decathlon championship, earning All-American honors. He also set UW records for decathlon points, 7,615, and in the pole vault, 16'4". [ [http://www.uwyo.edu/notablealumni/displayalum.asp?notablealumid=502 University of Wyoming: Notable Alumni ] ]

NFL career

In the 1985 NFL Draft, Novacek was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the sixth round. After spending five seasons with the Cardinals, he signed with the Dallas Cowboys as a Plan B free agent. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9407E0D91338F935A25754C0A961958260 Haley and Novacek Retire - New York Times ] ] Novacek was a key contributor for Dallas in the early 1990s, assisting them to 3 Super Bowl wins in four seasons. In those games, he recorded a combined total of 17 receptions for 148 yards and 2 touchdowns. Novacek, who hadn't played a game since Super Bowl XXX in 1996, officially retired from the NFL on July 15, 1997 due to a lingering back injury. In his 11 seasons, Novacek recorded 422 receptions for 4,630 yards and 30 touchdowns.

Post-NFL Career

Novacek currently serves as spokesperson for the Alltel Wireless “Yards 4 Youth Football” program in West Texas. For every yard gained by 11 high school football teams in the region, Alltel will donate $1 to each school’s corresponding youth football organization. Each week, an additional $500 will be donated to youth football programs across West Texas on behalf of the “Yards 4 Youth Football Player of the Week” and “Team of the Week."

Jay also co-stars in commercials for friend Bob Lovell of Home Marketing Services in Dallas, TX.

Novacek currently owns his own private hunting ranch called Jay Novacek's Upper 84 Ranch in Brady, Nebraska.

Novacek was commemorated for his 2008 induction into the College Football Hall of Fame at half-time of the Wyoming Cowboys game on 9/13/08.

External links

* [http://wyomingathletics.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/050108aaa.html Wyoming Athletics] College Football Hall of Fame story
* [http://wyomingathletics.collegesports.com/genrel/wyo-hof.html University of Wyoming] Athletics Hall of Fame - inducted 1993
* [http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=NOVACJAY01 Novacek's stats]
* [http://www.footballcamps.com/default.asp?page=20&camp=2 Jay Novacek Football Camp]
* [http://www.upper84.com The Upper 84 Ranch]

References