Career end 1970 Games played: 127 Position Center, Linebacker | Name E. Holub Nominations Heisman Trophy Role American football center | |
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Date of birth: (1938-01-05) January 5, 1938 (age 78) College: Texas Tech
Height: 6 ft. 4 in. Weight: 236 lbs. NFL draft: 1961 / Round: 2 / Pick: 16
(By the Dallas Cowboys) AFL draft: 1961 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6 Education Texas Tech University, Lubbock High School | ||
Place of birth: Schulenburg, Texas | ||
E. J. Holub: Football Linebacker and Center
Emil Joseph Holub (born January 5, 1938) is a former American football center and linebacker in the American Football League (AFL) and the National Football League (NFL). In college, he played for Texas Technological College (now Texas Tech University).
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Early years
E.J. Holub graduated from Lubbock High School in 1957 and went on to attend Texas Technological College. As a member of the Texas Tech Red Raiders, Holub was a two-time All-American center, in 1959 and 1960. He was the first player in Texas Tech football history to have his jersey number (55) retired. He was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Honor at Texas Tech. He was also inducted into the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Indiana in 1986.
Professional career
In 1961, the AFL's Dallas Texans and the NFL's Dallas Cowboys drafted Holub. He chose to sign with the Texans, where he started at linebacker and center during his career.
Even after nine knee surgeries, Holub was a leader, a "holler guy", and he was a team player, enduring pain to lead his team. He would spend hours in the training room, watching blood and liquid drain from his knee, then go out to the field and perform as though he was suffering from no physical problem.
He was an American Football League All-Star in 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965 and 1966 and was the only player to start two Super Bowls at two different positions. He started Super Bowl I at linebacker, then started Super Bowl IV at center and was a driving force in helping the Chiefs defeat the Minnesota Vikings 23-7. He is pictured snapping the ball to QB Len Dawson on the SPORTS ILLUSTRATED cover photo following the game (1/14/70).
With Holub's knees wearing out, the Chiefs selected his eventual successor, Jack Rudnay, in the 1969 NFL Draft. Rudnay took over the starting center position during the 1970 season, and Holub subsequently retired.